MANCHESTER — Manchester City booked their place in the 2026 League Cup final on Wednesday, February 4, dismantling the defending champions Newcastle United in a ruthless first-half display. A 3-1 victory at the Etihad Stadium (5-1 on aggregate) ensured Pep Guardiola’s side will return to Wembley for the first time in five years to face Premier League rivals Arsenal.
1. The Match: Marmoush Leads the Charge
Carrying a 2-0 lead from the first leg on Tyneside, City wasted no time extinguishing any hopes of a Newcastle comeback.
- 7th Minute: Omar Marmoush broke the deadlock with a stroke of fortune. After racing into the box, a last-ditch tackle from Dan Burn saw the ball ricochet off the Egyptian forward and loop over Aaron Ramsdale into the net.
- 29th Minute: Marmoush grabbed his second, nodding home from close range after Antoine Semenyo’s cross was misjudged by Kieran Trippier. It was Marmoush’s 12th goal of the season and his fifth against the Magpies at the Etihad.
- 32nd Minute: The rout was effectively sealed when Tijjani Reijnders finished a lightning-fast counter-attack, slotting a low drive into the bottom corner.
- The Consolation: Newcastle showed grit after the interval, with Anthony Elanga curling a fine effort past James Trafford in the 62nd minute, but the holders’ reign was already over.
2. Guardiola’s “Sarcastic” Defense of City’s Spending
In the wake of the victory, Pep Guardiola addressed mounting criticism regarding the club’s financial power. Using both wit and concrete statistics, the City boss pointed out that despite their success, City’s net spend over the last five years ranks only 7th in the Premier League.
Premier League Net Spend: The Last 5 Years (2021–2026)
“I am a little bit sad and upset because in net spend the last five years we are seventh… I want to be the first! I don’t understand why the club don’t spend more money!” — Pep Guardiola
| Rank | Club | Estimated Net Spend (USD) |
| 1 | Manchester United | $925 Million |
| 2 | Arsenal | $908 Million |
| 3 | Chelsea | $892 Million |
| 4 | Tottenham | $786 Million |
| 5 | Newcastle United | $581 Million |
| 6 | Liverpool | $575 Million |
| 7 | Manchester City | $543 Million |
3. A Wembley Date with Destiny
The final, set for Sunday, March 22, 2026, represents a high-stakes tactical battle between Guardiola and his former assistant, Mikel Arteta.
- The Context: Arsenal reached the final after knocking out Chelsea on Tuesday.
- The Stakes: City haven’t won the League Cup since their 2018–2021 dominance. After a trophyless 2024-25 season, Guardiola is eager to silence talk of his team’s “decline” with early silverware.
- Title Race Tensions: The final will take place amidst a tight Premier League title race, where City currently trail leaders Arsenal by six points.
4. Post-Match Reactions
Eddie Howe (Newcastle Manager): “Really annoyed with the first half display. Individually, our duels were off and it gave us huge problems. We weren’t good enough against a side of City’s quality.”
Pep Guardiola: “It’s a pleasure to play against Arsenal, the best team right now in Europe. Reaching five finals in ten years is a big milestone for this club.”