Pep’s in the haul of fame
Boss Guardiola celebrates his third Carabao Cup win on the spin
NO ONE delivers trophies with quite the regularity of Pep Guardiola.
Incredibly, this was Pep’s eighth domestic trophy from the last nine on offer in a glorious, unparalleled reign as Manchester City boss.
They now come to Wembley every season expecting to win and that gives them one hell of an edge in any final. But Guardiola just loves this particular trophy.
It’s three years running they have lifted the Carabao Cup and it’s a huge credit to Aston Villa that they actually made this final a proper contest right until the bitter end.
But ultimately City were on a different level because their dressing room is full of winners, it is part of their DNA and success breeds success.
Phil Foden is 19, the youngest player on the pitch, but the man of the match just slotted into this team and England could be blessed with one of the best young midfield talents in Europe.
But, amid all of the talent, all of the big-name stars, Guardiola showed incredible faith to start with Foden and his trust was rewarded with a dynamic and inventive performance.
Guardiola buzzed with excitement when talking about Foden after the game, just as he did with Claudio Bravo after his last-gasp save helped City hold on.
City were in cruise control, Sergio Aguero and Rodri put them in command and yet a John Stones’ error – depressingly all too common in a class defender shorn of confidence – allowed Villa to get themselves back into the game through Mbwana Samatta.
However, Stones refused to let his head drop, he was excellent as Villa piled on the pressure and Guardiola made a special point of hugging him after the game which just underlined his connection with the players.
That is what sets City apart, they have a serial winner as a manager who is so passionate about his players and trophies, having won three League Cups, an FA Cup, two Premier League titles and two Community Shields.
It has been a lame surrender to Liverpool in the title race this season but they have an endless love affair with Wembley.
Villa started quite well as Anwar El Ghazi headed an early chance over but City’s pressure told after 20 minutes when Rodri’s cross was headed back by Foden and Aguero smashed home a shot. After half an
hour it was 2-0. It should never have been a corner as the ball came off Ilkay Gundogan. But it was then Gundogan who put it over and Rodri powered above the Villa defence to head home.
It was then you feared the worst. It could be a repeat of the 6-0 slaughter Watford suffered in the FA Cup Final.
But Villa showed more heart and desire. Tyrone Mings rallied the players and led by example and, when Stones slipped, El Ghazi escaped down the left, put over a cross and Samatta dived in to head home. City were dominant in the second half, on came Kevin de Bruyne (strangely starting from the bench) and yet they could not find another goal to kill off Villa.
Then it was Villa pushing until the bitter end.
Villa substitute Conor Hourihane put the ball over and there was Bjorn Engels whose header was destined for the top corner and Bravo somehow clawed the ball on to the post.
It was an incredible save, the moment City secured yet another trophy and it was no more than they deserved. Guardiola hugged lifelong City fan Noel Gallagher as he left the pitch and Pep has now become the rock star of football managers.
But Villa boss Dean Smith gathered his players together in a huddle after the game and will no doubt have told them if they play like that for the rest of the season then they will surely stay up.