Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has called for a change in the EFL Cup rules to allow Marc Guehi to play in the Wembley final. The Spanish coach expressed frustration over the rule that prevents players from playing for two clubs in the same competition, stating, 'You buy a player for a lot of money and he is not able to play for a rule I don't understand. Hopefully they can change it.'
City's January signings, winger Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guehi, have been a part of the team's success this season. Semenyo, who joined from Bournemouth, was able to play in the semi-final due to a rule change that allows players to play for two teams in the same competition. However, Guehi, who was signed from Chelsea, is unable to play in the final due to the same rule.
Guardiola added, 'Antoine arrived before the first [game] so could play. And now it's the final. Why should he [Guehi] not play? Why not? We pay his salary, he is our player.'
The City boss has already benefited from one rule change this season, and he is now calling for another. He said, 'I said to the club, they have to ask, definitely. I don't understand the reason why he cannot play in the final in March, when I have been here for a long time.'
The rules surrounding player transfers are set by FIFA, UEFA, and the Premier League. Guardiola believes that it is logical for a player to be able to play for a new club once the transfer window opens. He added, 'The rules to buy a player depends on Fifa, Uefa, the Premier League who say, OK the transfer window is open, when you buy a player you have to play, no? It's logic. Of course we are going to try to ask [for] him to play. Pure logic.'
When asked about the EFL's potential response, Guardiola said, 'No. But we will try.' City have already benefited from one rule change this season, and they are now hoping for another one to allow Marc Guehi to play in the Wembley final.
