Man City vs Newcastle live: Hosts seal Carabao Cup final place after first-half brace from Marmoush
Man City 3-1 Newcastle [agg. 5-1]: Three first-half goals from the hosts sealed the result and gave them a place in March’s Carabao Cup final
A first-half brace from Omar Marmoush sealed Manchester City’s spot in the Carabao Cup final as Pep Guardiola’s side dominated Newcastle United.
The visitors came into the match trailing 2-0 after the first leg and their hopes were quickly dashed as Marmoush bundled in after seven minutes, the Egyptian benefitting from a deflection off Dan Burn’s sliding challenge.
And Marmoush had a second to effectively seal the tie before the half-hour mark, heading in from a couple yards after Kieran Trippier’s failed clearance to effectively seal the result.
The match threatened to get away from the Magpies after that, with Tijjani Reijnders tapping in a third on the counter before half-time, and while the Magpies had chances and Anthony Elanga scored an impressive consolation, it was the hosts who cruised into the Carabao Cup final, with Pep Guardiola’s side facing Arsenal on 22 March in a repeat of the 2018 final.
Follow all the latest reaction from the Etihad below:
Manchester City to appeal Marc Guehi status ahead of Carabao Cup final
Pep Guardiola has told Manchester City to ask the Football League for permission to play Marc Guehi in the Carabao Cup final – even though his January signing is ineligible.
City progressed to meet Arsenal at Wembley on 22 March by beating Newcastle 3-1 at the Etihad Stadium, and 5-1 on aggregate.
But defender Guehi, a £20m buy from Crystal Palace, was not allowed to play as he was not signed in time for the first leg, which also rules him out of the final.
Manchester City to appeal Marc Guehi status ahead of Carabao Cup final
James Trafford will start Carabao Cup final ahead of Gianluigi Donnarumma confirms Pep Guardiola
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has already revealed a small part of his line-up for the Carabao Cup final, with the Spaniard suggesting that James Trafford will start for the Cityzens at Wembley.
Trafford deputised for Gianluigi Donnarumma in City’s 3-1 win over Newcastle in their League Cup semi-final second leg, with the Englishman making several key saves – particularly from Joe Willock and Anthony Gordon – to keep his side ahead.
And Guardiola was full of praise for the 23-year-old, adding that he is going to play his “first final of the Carabao Cup”.
Trafford will start Carabao Cup final ahead of Donnarumma confirms Guardiola
Carabao Cup final date
The Carabao Cup final will take place on Sunday, 22 March at Wembley, where Man City will face Arsenal in a repeat of the 2018 final.
City won 3-0 on that occasion but it will likely be Arsenal who head to Wembley as favourites this time.
Arsenal had their match against Wolves on 21 March re-arranged for 18 February, and City will likely have to have their game against Crystal Palace arranged to a similar time.
Howe: 'It could have been different but we accept the reality'
Here’s what Newcastle boss Eddie Howe had to say after the defeat:
"It was the start we didn't want. The first goal, Dan has gone to clear the ball and it's gone off their attacker and gone in. That sums up the start of the game we had. It was the opposite of what we wanted and it took the game away from us,” he explained.
“In both games if you look back, we are frustrated we only scored one goal in two games. We don't feel we should have lost the first leg 2-0 on the balance of opportunities created.
“It could have been different but we accept the reality. The last thing you want to do is have to chase a game. We were going for the match, we were trying to attack,” he added.
He also explains that the injury to Anthony Gordon “looks like hamstring injury, I don't think it looks too bad."
Guardiola questions rule over Guehi absence
Pep Guardiola has also questioned the rule that means Marc Guehi will be unavailable for the final despite Antoine Semenyo being allowed to feature.
“Hopefully in March we can arrive with players fit, hopefully we can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc [Guehi] can play in the final, becasue it’s difficult to understand the club making a big investment to take one player, he belongs to us, but I don’t understand why he can’t play in the final,” explained Guardiola.
“So, hopefully we make a letter, and hopefully they can change it,” he added.
More from Guardiola
On Omar Marmoush, Guardiola explains: "His movements are really top. The movements in behind and the incredible sense of goal.
“Really pleased for him. That type of game can always be complicated mentally but we started really well.”
On some players having the chance to win a first trophy with the club, he adds: "It will be good. You have to live this experience. The first title we won here was in the Carabao Cup. When you win something, it helps to win more. It's a pleasure to play against Arsenal, the best team right now in Europe and maybe the world."
Guardiola seems to confirm Trafford final berth
“I said from the beginning James is a top player, a top class keeper so he’s got an incredible future ahead of him. The position of keeper is special because of course he has to play,” said Guardiola on James Trafford, who deputised for Gianluigi Donnarumma in goal this evening.
“Some players like Nico O’Reilly can play left-back, attacking midfielder, in the pockets, holding midfielder but the keeper has to play keeper and there is just one of course.
“He’s an extraordinary keeper and I’m really pleased. With the final, he’s going to play the first final of Carabao Cup for him and in FA Cup of course everything can happen,” he added.
Guardiola: 'The guys were really good'
“With Newcastle you never control completely, they have a lot of 1-v-1s, especially in the first half.
“But we had a good pace, a good rhythm, but you saw how alive we were. Newcastle is a Champions League team, top-class players, all the time making an incredible intense game, but the guys were really good.
“At the end of March we go to Wembley again, and we’re going to travel to London, but we’re really happy to be back, and five times in 10 years is a really big milestone,” he added.
Reijnders reacts
Here’s what City midfielder Tijjani Reijnders had to say on Sky after the win:
“We were very eager to go to the final and we showed that from the first minute.
“Despite the goal we had against us, we controlled the game, and that’s something we have to build on.
“Everybody was sharp from the beginning, we weren’t as sharp before, so that helped us a lot. I was a bit surproised that there was so much space in between the lines, but with players like Phil and me we can attack very quick,” he explained.
On the final against Arsenal, he added: “I play football because I want to win trophies, and going to Wembley for the first time will be amazing.
“It will be a tough match but we will be very hungry. They play amazing and they are a really balanced team, but we have to analyse and see where we can win the game.”
Pep Guardiola once again stands on the brink of greatness and only Mikel Arteta can stop him
Pep Guardiola’s claim to greatness stems from much more than just the Carabao Cup but a man who has won much else is now one victory away from being out on his own as the most successful manager in its history. Only the ally turned enemy, Mikel Arteta, who was by his side for the first two of his four Wembley triumphs in this competition, can deny him a fifth, which would take him clear of Brian Clough, Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson.
Newcastle could not halt him. Their defence of their first major trophy since 1969 ended with a whimper. Their chances of a comeback were all but ended inside seven minutes, gone completely after 32 minutes and snuffed out in part by the goalkeeper they forever try to buy. They were dispatched from the competition by a much-weakened Manchester City side.
Guardiola once again stands on the brink of greatness and only Arteta can stop him
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