MARC GUEHI’S hopes of winning a late reprieve and playing in the Carabao Cup final next month have been dashed.
Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola wants his club to ask the EFL for the rules to be changed to allow the England defender to feature against Arsenal.
He said on Wednesday night he could not understand why the £20million January signing from Crystal Palace was not permitted to play.
However EFL sources said on Thursday morning there will be no change to the rules ahead of the final which will take place on Sunday March 22.
And that means Guehi will be in the stands at Wembley and will miss out on his opportunity to win a first medal with City.
Pep’s confusion arose because his other January signing Antoine Semenyo has featured in both semi-finals – even though he played for Bournemouth earlier in the tournament.
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A tweak to the regulations at the start of this season meant the Ghanaian got the green light – and he was important in both legs against Newcastle.
Yet the change means players can only take advantage and play for two clubs in the same season if they sign before the first leg of the semi-final.
And Guehi – who played three games for ex-club Crystal Palace in this season’s competition – did not finalise his move until January 19.
By that time, the first leg at St James’ Park – which City won 2-0 – had already been and gone.
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Speaking after his team clinched a 5-1 aggregate win over the Toon, Guardiola said it was ‘pure logic’ that his new £20m defender should play.
He said: “Hopefully in March, we can arrive with the players fit and hopefully you can convince the Carabao Cup that Marc Guehi can play in the final.
“It’s difficult to understand that the club who make a big investment to pay one player who belongs to us and I don’t understand why he cannot play the final.
“I would like the club to ask. “We will write a letter and hopefully they will can change it and he can play.
“Do I expect them to change? No, no way.”
However the EFL have indicated that even if City’s letter does arrive, there will be no more changes to the rules.
They read as follows….
.4: A Registered Player shall be permitted to play for up to two Clubs (or clubs) in the Competition in any one Season where such Player;
6.4.1 has appeared for his parent or loan Club (or club) in the Competition prior to the closure of the Summer Transfer Window and has either been recalled by the parent Club or subsequently moved to a different Club (or club) on a Temporary Loan Transfer (or Temporary Transfer where a Premier League Club) or permanent Transfer prior to the end of that Summer Transfer Window; or
6.4.2 has appeared for his parent or loan Club in the Competition prior to the closure of the Winter Transfer Window or the first leg of the Semi – Final (whichever is sooner) and has either been recalled by the parent Club or subsequently moved to a different Club on a Temporary Loan Transfer (or Temporary Transfer where a Premier League Club) or permanent Transfer prior to the closure of the Winter Transfer Window, or the first leg of the Semi – Final (whichever is sooner); or
6.4.3 such Player moves on an Emergency Goalkeeper Loan at any time during the Season