London — Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola expressed his astonishment at his team’s dominant performance in their Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal at Wembley, describing the win as a significant achievement after a challenging season.
City secured their fifth League Cup under Guardiola and their 16th major trophy overall with a 2-0 victory, thanks to Nico O’Reilly’s goals in the 60th and 64th minutes. The final was goalless at halftime before City took control in the second half.
Guardiola said, “Today I made one substitution, with Phil Foden coming on, but it’s never over at 2-0. I felt the team was there. Jérémy [Doku], Antoine [Semenyo], Bernardo [Silva], and Rodri kept the ball well. I’ve been saying recently that the team has been close to its best, and winning helps us progress. Winning the Carabao Cup makes this season’s achievement even more special, especially considering the challenges we faced.”
He highlighted City’s resilience, noting, “They initially suffocated us in the first 15 minutes, but after that, we started winning second balls. Beating Arsenal in this final makes the trophy particularly meaningful, even though it’s not the Champions League or Premier League. Achieving a fifth Carabao Cup in ten years is not easy, and every title feels more difficult than the last.”
Guardiola also reflected on the season’s difficulties, saying, “Honestly, I didn’t expect to win today. We lost to Nottingham Forest and West Ham in the league, and we were eliminated by Madrid in the Champions League last 16. But our players—both experienced and young—proved their quality. Their performance, especially in the second half with and without the ball, was unbelievable. I couldn’t believe how well we played.”
He praised the entire squad’s effort, including goalkeeper James Trafford, who made crucial saves early on, and young defender Max Alleyne, who played despite injuries. Guardiola emphasized the importance of squad depth in competitions like these, stating, “Everyone contributed. We need everyone involved to succeed.”
