INSIDE PEP GUARDIOLA’S "UNDERDOG" STRATEGY THAT SECURED CITY’S RECORD FIFTH LEAGUE CUP
Nico O’Reilly celebrated his 21st birthday by leading Manchester City to victory over Arsenal in the Wembley final.
Manchester City ended Arsenal’s push for a historic quadruple, with Pep Guardiola hinting there’s still plenty to come from his youthful squad after clinching a record fifth League Cup.
Nico O’Reilly, a homegrown talent, netted both goals at Wembley, earning praise from Guardiola, who called him "extraordinary".
Guardiola admitted his team were clear underdogs but sees this Carabao Cup win as a stepping stone. "Nobody, not even me, would have bet a pound on us today,” he said. Arsenal were on an incredible run. We hadn’t beaten Nottingham Forest at home or West Ham away. We’d lost heavily to Real Madrid. Very few believed we could pull this off, but the players showed otherwise, both the veterans and the newcomers.”
He went on to express his optimism for the squad’s future, saying, “I can sense how this team can develop. I told the players that this is their first final for some of them. Ten years ago, it was the same situation. You never know how they’ll respond. It’s a valuable experience. We need it.”
Guardiola was candid about the team’s progress, adding, “When a group wins repeatedly, it changes your mindset. They start to believe it’s possible. But we still have to prove what kind of team we can be. We’re not there yet. It takes time. Hopefully, by the end of this season or next, we’ll get there.”
He brushed off suggestions that this win shakes up the Premier League title race. Meanwhile, Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta urged his players to refocus as they approach the season’s conclusion.
“We’re very sad; this is tough, especially for our players and supporters who wanted it so badly,” Arteta said. “Not delivering is disappointing and leaves a bitter taste. But if we look back at what the team has achieved over eight months, it’s been incredible. We’ll channel this disappointment into energy for what’s ahead. That fire will fuel us through the next two months. That’s our responsibility now. We’ll manage this pain; it’s part of the game.”
Arteta stood by his decision to start goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga despite the error that led to City’s opener. He also confirmed Eberechi Eze will miss international duty with a calf injury, while O’Reilly heads to England camp carrying the confidence from a breakthrough season.
Guardiola’s praise for O’Reilly didn’t stop at his goals. “Nico has surprised even me. The season he’s had is extraordinary. He played holding midfield at Newcastle and was outstanding against players like Tonali, Bruno, and Joelinton. Honestly, he might be our signing of the season.”
O’Reilly, who turned 21 that weekend, shared his excitement: “It’s an unbelievable feeling. To win a final and beat a team like Arsenal, who are so good, gives us momentum. Seeing the fans celebrate after my goals was a bit surreal, a great way to spend my birthday weekend.”
He added, “I’ve always played midfield since I was a kid, arriving late in the box and scoring. Bringing that to a senior level, especially at this stage, is really satisfying and adds a new dimension to my game. It feels great.”
THE REAL: REASON JEREMY DOKU BELIEVES THE NEXT FOUR GAMES WILL DEFINE CITY’S SEASON
Jeremy Doku praises City's pride after Bernardo Silva's red card, eyeing redemption in Sunday's Carabao Cup final.
Jérémy Doku sees winning the Carabao Cup as a helpful way for Manchester City to bounce back from their Champions League disappointment. After being knocked out by Real Madrid for the third consecutive year, with a 5-1 aggregate loss in the round of 16, the team faces a tough challenge to regroup quickly.
Pep Guardiola's squad now has to shift focus to their upcoming trip to Wembley, where they’ll take on Arsenal on Sunday. Despite the setback in Europe, Doku feels that lifting a trophy this week would help erase the recent frustration.
He said, “It’s a good way to recover. We’ll do everything we can to win that game and bring home a trophy. The next four matches really matter. We have to recover well for Sunday and then take it one game at a time.”
What lies ahead will likely define the city's season. After the Carabao Cup final, they face an FA Cup quarterfinal against Liverpool following the international break, as well as two critical Premier League games against Chelsea and Arsenal.
“There’s still plenty at stake,” Doku added. “We’re competing in three different competitions, with three trophies still on the table. If we manage to win one, it’ll still be a strong season for us. Of course, missing out on the Champions League is disappointing. It’s always a special trophy. But we have to learn from those games against Real Madrid, recover properly, and focus on what’s next.”
City endured a tough week, following a 3-0 loss in Madrid with a narrow 2-1 defeat at the Etihad. One pivotal moment was Bernardo Silva’s early red card in the second leg.
Yet, Doku draws some confidence from how the team performed despite being down to 10 men against such a formidable opponent.
“We have reasons to be proud,” he reflected. “Playing against a team like Real Madrid with one less player and still causing them problems isn’t something every team can do. We didn’t get the win, but we can look each other in the eye knowing we gave a good performance both with 11 players and with 10. We created chances and played well.”
He went on to say, “If we bring that kind of effort to every match, we’ll trouble many teams. There are valuable takeaways from this game that we can carry into the next.”
WHY PEP GUARDIOLA CANCELLED TRAINING BEFORE MANCHESTER CITY’S CHAMPIONS LEAGUE REMATCH
Pep Guardiola cancels Manchester City training to combat fatigue ahead of the 3-0 comeback attempt vs Real Madrid.
Pep Guardiola has shared his reasoning for skipping training the day before Manchester City’s crucial Champions League last-16 second leg against Real Madrid at the Etihad. Facing a tough three-goal deficit from their 3-0 loss at the Bernabeu last week, City are up against the difficult task of overturning this against a team that has won Europe’s top trophy 15 times.
Historically, only four teams have managed to claw back a gap of three or more goals in the knockout stages, so the challenge ahead is immense. Guardiola acknowledges his players will need to deliver an almost flawless performance if they hope to stage a remarkable comeback on home turf. Still, he remains hopeful they will create plenty of scoring chances against Alvaro Arbeloa’s side.
In a somewhat unexpected move, Guardiola has decided to give his first team a day off on Monday, opting for a light session just hours before kickoff on Tuesday. At Monday’s press conference, he explained the logic behind this approach, citing the fatigue from travel and recent matches. After returning late from Madrid, then heading to London for a Premier League draw against West Ham, the players have had a packed schedule. Guardiola feels a day of rest will serve them better than trying to squeeze in more training.
He further emphasised the mental aspect, pointing out that mental strength plays a big role in how well they perform. He plans to assess the players’ condition and conduct training on Tuesday afternoon. With travel taking its toll and players spontaneously connecting with their families, he believes keeping them relaxed and fresh is crucial.
Captain Bernardo Silva, who was the only City player present for media duties, supported Guardiola’s decision. He reflected on past occasions when the team took rest days following both wins and losses, trusting the manager’s judgement to help them regroup and come back stronger.
On team news, Guardiola revealed he has most of his starting lineup settled, though one spot remains uncertain. Josko Gvardiol (tibial fracture) and Rico Lewis (ankle) are sidelined, but Mateo Kovacic has returned to the bench after recovering from a lengthy ankle and heel injury. With these preparations in place, City will be charging into a daunting but pivotal night against one of Europe’s giants.
