Watch Carabao Cup final for free – TV channel, live stream and kick-off time – Manchester Evening News
Need to know
How to watch the Carabao Cup final on terrestrial TV as Arsenal and Manchester City battle for the season’s first piece of silverware
The Carabao Cup final will be available to watch for free for fans who can’t get to Wembley(Image: Sportsphoto/Allstar, Getty Images)
How to watch the Carabao Cup final between Arsenal and Manchester City for free on UK TV
ITV in Sky agreement: A sub-licensing deal, struck in 2024, permits a selection of EFL and Carabao Cup matches to be aired on terrestrial television alongside Sky Sports’ comprehensive coverage. This includes Sunday’s final.
Duration of agreement: The existing broadcast deal extends until the conclusion of the 2026/27 season. This ensures fans can count on the final being accessible on terrestrial TV for at least another year following Sunday’s spectacle.
Value of agreement: The sub-licensing deal is reportedly valued at around £15 million. This extra income from ITV helps boost financial distribution to all 72 EFL clubs, supporting the wider English football pyramid beyond the Premier League.
Start time for coverage: Coverage on ITV and STV commences at 3.30pm with interviews and analysis. The match gets underway at 4.30pm.
UK streaming: Supporters can also tune in for free via the ITVX and STV Player apps with a verified account. This enables streaming on mobile phones, tablets and smart TVs across the country.
Sky’s involvement: While ITV offers the free-to-air option, Sky, as the main rights holder, continues to air every single match of the tournament live across its various channels and the Sky Sports+ platform.
Sky coverage: The build-up commences on the Sky Sports Football channel at 3.30pm, while Sky Sports Main Event will also broadcast the match following the conclusion of the relegation clash between Tottenham and Nottingham Forest.
US viewers: The match is exclusive to Paramount+. The streaming service will kick off its coverage at 11.30am ET. Although a subscription is required, new users can often utilise a seven-day free trial to watch the final.
UK radio: BBC Radio 5 Live and talkSPORT will provide full coverage. Both stations will deliver full live commentary, pre-match analysis and post-match reaction.
READ MORE: ‘I scored a sensational winner against the team that rejected me to give Man City cup final glory – but I missed the celebrations’
Arsenal and Manchester City face off in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday afternoon for the season’s first chance at silverware
Manchester City will take on Arsenal on Sunday afternoon(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Manchester City and Arsenal clash in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday with both sides seeking to secure the season’s opening piece of silverware. While the Gunners command the Premier League title race, City will be looking to avenge their midweek Champions League exit at the hands of Real Madrid.
Arsenal progressed to the quarter-finals following a 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen, while City exited Europe after suffering a 5-1 aggregate defeat to their Spanish opponents. Focus now shifts to Wembley and the opportunity to seize a psychological edge before the season’s final few games.
City trail Arsenal by nine points in the league – but they do have a game in hand and could heap further pressure on Mikel Arteta’s squad with victory in the final. On the other hand, the Gunners could establish greater mental separation from City by claiming their first trophy since the Community Shield in 2023.
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Judging by recent performances, Arsenal ought to hold the advantage. The Gunners advanced in Europe and are enjoying a 13-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, which featured a thrilling victory over Everton last weekend.
City have secured just one victory from their previous five outings and that came in the FA Cup against Newcastle. Two losses to Real Madrid, alongside draws with West Ham and Nottingham Forest, have ended their European aspirations and hindered their domestic campaign.
However, a one-off cup match between the two teams presents a different scenario, with form likely not factored in. Here, the MEN examines the predictions of seven of the game’s leading pundits ahead of Sunday’s clash.
Merson is backing his old side to lift the trophy against City. Speaking to Sportskeeda, the former Arsenal player said: “If I had to choose a team, I would go Arsenal.
“But that doesn’t mean it will be straightforward. We’re aware Manchester City can play, and if they hit their stride, they can damage any team.”
The ex-England international is of the opinion that if the Gunners do clinch the Carabao Cup, then the quadruple dream could become a reality. Merson added: “I believe the quadruple dream is still very much alive if the Gunners win this final.
“The Premier League is wrapped up, they’ve got a favourable draw in the FA Cup and face Sporting in the Champions League quarter-final. I’m aware they could meet Barcelona or Atletico in the semi-final, but we all know how tough they are to overcome as a team. So I’m not abandoning hope!”
Joe Cole – Arsenal win
Cole will be attending the final as a spectator rather than an analyst and anticipates seeing his former city rivals lift the trophy. Speaking on The Dressing Room podcast, the ex-Chelsea star said: “I’m not working on the Carabao Cup final but I’m going as a fan which I actually haven’t done for a long time.
“I fancy Arsenal, I think Arsenal beat them. Having watched Man City live, I fancy Arsenal – but it’s a great game for the neutral.
“I’ll make another prediction, I think there will be a bit of needle and a little bit of nastiness on the benches. There’s a lot of tension building at this point in the season so look out for that.”
Chris Sutton – City win
Sutton doesn’t believe this final will influence the title race and feels Arsenal are dominating the Premier League. However, he does think that Guardiola will triumph over his former colleague and secure the Carabao Cup via penalties.
The pundit wrote on his BBC Sport column: “I don’t think this game has any bearing on the Premier League title race. The narrative that has been doing the rounds for a long time is that whoever wins this game wins the title, but that is not the case now – City are not catching Arsenal whatever happens at Wembley.
“City are out of the Champions League now but I have got to say I thought they were brilliant on Tuesday against Real Madrid, before and after they went down to 10 men. They went for it and they were not just brave, they created plenty of chances.
“With the unpredictable nature of the Premier League this season, I anticipate a very different game. I fear this will be a really drab and uneventful encounter, with both teams playing it safe. Prediction: 0-0 after extra time, City to win on penalties.”
Tim Sherwood – City win
Former Tottenham player Sherwood has tipped City to hoist the cup by Sunday afternoon’s end. Speaking on Premier League Productions, he said: “They play in the cup final against each other as well. I think Man City might win that one.”
On the subject of the title race, Sherwood added: “But I don’t see them winning the Premier League, I think that’s gonna be red and white ribbons on that cup, and very, very soon.”
Alan Shearer – Arsenal win
Alan Shearer watched his beloved Newcastle clinch the Carabao Cup a year ago. This time, his team were knocked out by City in the semi-finals.
He believes the Gunners will avenge the Magpies in what he predicts will be a closely contested match at Wembley. He told Betfair: “I think it’ll be a great game. I think there’ll be loads of talking points. It wouldn’t even surprise me if it went to penalties. But I think Arsenal might just edge it. I think it’ll be a really, really tight game, but I’m going to back an Arsenal win.
“There is pressure on both clubs and pressure for different reasons. There is talk about this being Pep’s last season. Man City have been nowhere near what they’ve been in the past in terms of their defence. They’ve given so many opportunities away which was summed them up the other night against Real Madrid.
“It’ll be a highly charged game. There’ll be plenty of excitement. There’ll be a bit of bite in the game as well because of obvious reasons. But I’m really looking forward to the game. It should be a great Sunday with Newcastle kicking off early and then the Cup final as well. So yeah, it’ll be amazing.”
Gabby Agbonlahor – Arsenal win
Aston Villa legend Agbonlahor predicted that Arsenal will claim the Carabao Cup while analysing the Champions League on talkSPORT. Speaking prior to City’s elimination from Europe, he said: “Arsenal win, Arsenal win, Ally (McCoist), for me.
“I just think they know how important that game is. I just think when I look at Man City, I just think Gabriel (Magalhaes) and (William) Saliba are going to be so aggressive on (Erling) Haaland, the form that he’s been in.
“And I think it’s going to get spicy on the touchline. I know they’re friends, (Mikel) Arteta and Guardiola, but I think everything’s on the line in this game.”
Clinton Morrison – City win
Sky Sports pundit Clinton Morrison thinks City will secure the trophy at Wembley, though he doesn’t believe it will influence the Premier League title battle. He told FreeBets: “Something in me says City can do it.
“Arsenal are favourites, but I think this game is actually more important for Man City than it is for Arsenal right now. I think Arsenal will win the Premier League regardless of what happens on Sunday, I just can’t see City catching them. But for City, this is a must-win. If they lose the Carabao Cup and they’re out of the Champions League, they’ve only got the FA Cup left to play for. That’s not where Manchester City expect to be.
“It’s absolutely massive for Man City. They’ve won trophies for fun in recent years and now their season is going to be defined by this one afternoon at Wembley. But that gives me confidence in them, they know how to turn up for finals, they know how to win at Wembley. Both teams will go for it, there’s a lot of quality on show, and I think it’ll be a brilliant final. But I’m backing City.”
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Kepa Arrizabalaga has started ahead of David Raya for all of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup and FA Cup games this season (Getty)
Mikel Arteta is set to start Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal for Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday.
Kepa has started in all five of Arsenal’s Carabao Cup matches this season, as well as the three matches in the FA Cup.
But Raya’s impressive performances in recent weeks has led to a section of Arsenal supporters calling for him to start ahead of Kepa for Sunday’s final at Wembley.
According to The Athletic, ‘sources with knowledge of the club’s plans’ are suggesting that Arteta has opted to stick with Kepa in goal for the final against Manchester City.
Asked if Kepa will keep his place for the final, Arteta said during his pre-match press conference on Friday: ‘We will see how everybody is [after training on Saturday], and then we’ll make the decision.’
When asked if changing goalkeepers makes a difference, Arteta replied: ‘No, because we don’t have that feeling amongst players.
Mikel Arteta is set to keep faith in Kepa Arrizabalaga for Arsenal’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City on Sunday (AFP via Getty)
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‘We really trust our teammates and in that case especially when you work with the quality of the keepers that we have right now at Arsenal. They played at the highest level with other clubs and they have the experience to deal with any kind of situation.’
Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson, who won the League Cup with the Gunners in 1993, also believes Arteta should continue to play Kepa.
‘The big decision that Arsenal need to make is whether they go with Kepa Arrizabalaga or David Raya in goal,’ Merson told Sportskeeda.
‘Kepa has been first-choice in the Carabao Cup, and I think they should stick with him. It’s only fair because he played well and got you to this stage.
‘But I must admit, Raya is world-class. The saves he made against Everton and Leverkusen were absolutely phenomenal.
‘However, if I were the manager, I would still stick to my principles and choose Kepa as the keeper for the final. He’s not let the team down in this competition and deserves to start.’
Manchester City midfielder Nico O’Reilly is aiming to right the wrongs of the last trip to Wembley Stadium
Manchester City star Nico O’Reilly(Image: Visionhaus/Getty Images)
Growing up, Nico O’Reilly followed Manchester City closely. Whenever he could get a ticket, the future star was in the stands supporting the Blues. When he couldn’t, like for City’s major cup finals at Wembley Stadium, O’Reilly was glued to the TV screens as his team became the dominant force in English football.
On Sunday, O’Reilly will likely be in the XI as City look to win the first major trophy of the season and land an important blow on Arsenal in the process. “[I’m] really looking forward to it,” he said. “Wembley is a special place. I’ve played there a few times – Community Shield we won, FA Cup we didn’t win. So, yeah, it’d be nice to go there and hopefully win.”
“We know how good they are,” O’Reilly said when asked about the Gunners. “We know it’s going to be difficult. They’ve been very good this season. But we look forward to big games and it should be a good one. They play a bit different to us. They’ve got some amazing players, individual players, they play well as a team, they know what they’re doing.
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“So it’s going to be a tough game. We know that. But it’ll be a tough game for them as well. We’re looking forward to it.”
Mikel Arteta’s side have been synonymous with set pieces this season and have faced criticism for their approach. But O’Reilly hopes his team can draw on past experience to keep the Gunners out.
“It’s a strong point in their team. They use them very well,” he said. “”We need to prepare for it. We did it in the game when we went to their place. I thought we were very good then.
“We just need to prepare for it well and stop them as much as possible. They’re very good at set-pieces, they’re aggressive. They have good takers.
“When it’s a corner, obviously, we don’t want to be in those situations because we know how good they are but we’ll obviously need to deal with it and prepare well for it.”
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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.
O’Reilly signed a new contract at City in September last year, keeping him at the Etihad Stadium until 2030. That was a huge milestone for the 20-year-old who has become one of City’s most versatile players. The midfielder’s family are his biggest supporters, attending every match and keeping him grounded along the way. O’Reilly has not forgotten his roots either. He lived in Collyhurst in the east side of Manchester and has the city’s area code ‘0161’ tattooed on him.
“It’s me, really, like how I became who I am today,” O’Reilly concluded. “Growing up there, I really enjoyed it. I used to go out, play football every day with my friends. It was a good place to grow up. I recently moved away from there but it was a great place. I’m still with my family, which is good. They’re there to look after me a bit and still support me. I enjoy it.”
Manchester City have been handed a slight boost in their quest to derail Arsenal from the top of the Premier League table in the coming weeks
Mikel Arteta will face a tough run of games in April(Image: Catherine Ivill – AMA, Getty Images)
Manchester City will benefit from a week away from action as Arsenal play out a congested run of fixtures next month, in a slight boost in the race for the Premier League title.
With just seven league matches remaining, the Gunners’ involvement in the Carabao Cup, FA Cup and Champions League has created complications.
Next month will see Mikel Arteta’s squad play a remarkable five matches in 15 days across all competitions, beginning with an April 4 FA Cup quarter-final clash with Southampton away from home.
Just three days later, Arsenal head to Lisbon to face Sporting CP in the quarter-finals of the Champions League, before they return to Premier League duties against Bournemouth at home on April 11.
Their return Champions League leg with Sporting then follows at the Emirates Stadium four days later, before Arsenal take to the pitch against City in a crucial six-pointer for the Premier League title on April 19.
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Following their Champions League exit to Real Madrid this week 5-1 on aggregate, combined with Crystal Palace progressing to the next round of the Europa Conference League, meanwhile, Manchester City’s workload will be somewhat lighter.
City and Palace were originally scheduled to meet on Saturday, March 21, but that fixture was postponed due to Pep Guardiola’s Sky Blues reaching this weekend’s Carabao Cup final against Arsenal.
The game could have potentially been rearranged for the same week that Arsenal face Sporting CP in either of their UCL legs, but that possibility is no longer viable with the Eagles set to meet Fiorentina on April 9 and April 16.
Consequently, it appears probable that City will instead take on Palace in either late April or May, meaning that they will benefit from a free week off whilst Arsenal are in the midst of an extraordinary five game run with minimal time for recovery.
Manchester City vs Liverpool – FA Cup (H) – Saturday, April 4
Chelsea vs Manchester City – Premier League (A) – Sunday, April 12
Manchester City vs Arsenal – Premier League (H) – Saturday, April 19
Burnley vs Manchester City – Premier League (A) – Sunday, April 26
Arsenal’s April run of fixtures
Southampton vs Arsenal – FA Cup (A) – Saturday, April 4
Sporting CP vs Arsenal – Champions League quarter-finals first leg (A) – Tuesday, April 7
Arsenal vs Bournemouth – Premier League (H) – Saturday, April 11
Arsenal vs Sporting CP – Champions League quarter-finals second leg (H) – Wednesday, April 15
Manchester City vs Arsenal – Premier League (A) – Saturday, April 19
Arsenal vs Newcastle United – Premier League (H) – Saturday, April 25
With City currently holding a game in hand over Arsenal, given that the Gunners and Wolves are the only two teams to have played 31 fixtures thus far this season, it also provides Guardiola a slight advantage on what is required to dethrone them in their pursuit of their first Premier League title in two decades.
And should Arsenal advance to the semi-finals and ultimately final of the Champions League, Arteta will also see his club’s schedule for May affected further.
The Gunners will already be tasked with matches against Fulham, West Ham, Burnley and Palace, and additional games could have an impact on player fitness and potential injury in the crucial stages of the Premier League.
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Manchester City have Wembley on their mind as they prepare to face Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola and Gianluigi Donnarumma congratulate Manchester City goalkeeper James Trafford(Image: Ben Roberts – Danehouse/Getty Images)
We may be two days out from the Carabao Cup final, but Manchester City already know one player who will be starting against Arsenal on Sunday. After beating Newcastle, Pep Guardiola confirmed James Trafford would be in goal against the Gunners. “He’s an extraordinary ‘keeper and I’m really pleased,” City’s head coach said.
“With the final, he’s going to play the first final of Carabao Cup for him and in FA Cup of course everything can happen.” It has been well documented how tough this season has been for Trafford. Arriving from Burnley under the impression he would eventually be the club’s first choice, the 23-year-old soon lost his spot to Gianluigi Donnarumma.
The Italian has barely put a foot wrong since arriving and that has left Trafford on the fringes. He has been consigned to FA Cup and Carabao Cup appearances. His only start in the Champions League ended in defeat to Bayer Leverkusen and Donnarumma returning for the remaining games in the competition.
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In the summer, Trafford will pursue an exit from City. The goalkeeper should be playing regular first-team football, but while Donnarumma remains in Manchester, Trafford will not get that at the Etihad Stadium. And this leaves City with a problem to solve.
Guardiola never stands in the way of a player looking for a fresh opportunity. But Trafford’s lack of game time puts a ceiling on the price City can demand for his services.
Trafford has spent the season sitting on the bench and, as a result, teams will feel they have an advantage in negotiations because he wants something City can’t provide.
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The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.
However, a brilliant performance in the Carabao Cup final could change the narrative. Suddenly, City could point to the final as an example of a player who is ready to step into any side and perform straightaway, rather than a player who could take time to get up to speed having spent so long playing second fiddle.
Newcastle were interested in Trafford last summer and the Magpies are likely to return at the end of the season.
Nick Pope’s time as Eddie Howe’s No.1 seems to be over and Trafford would be an improvement on Aaron Ramsdale. But performing well in a game of this magnitude will increase the interest and potentially launch a bidding war.
That would be the perfect scenario for City. Regardless of the score on Sunday, if Trafford performs, the Blues could add millions to Trafford’s price tag.
Manchester City fans can book their seat at Wembley Stadium as Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta go head-to-head in their first shot at silverware this season.
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Man City and Arsenal drew 1-1 when they last met in September.
Manchester City fans can still secure a seat at Wembley for the Carabao Cup final. On Sunday (March 22), the Blues will face their Premier League rivals in their first shot at silverware this season, and fans can book last-minute tickets today.
Pep Guardiola’s side may be trailing Arsenal in the league, but they could end the Gunners’ hopes of a historic quadruple with a win at Wembley. The two teams drew 1-1 when they last met in September, but a lot has happened since then, with City strengthening their squad with new signings like Antoine Semenyo and Marc Guéhi.
Man City enjoyed an incredible run of four straight League Cup wins from 2018 to 2021 and could lift the trophy for a ninth time should they beat Arsenal on Sunday. The club’s own allocation of tickets has sold out, but there are still plenty available from other official channels like Seat Unique, where fans can book a range of luxury Carabao Cup Final VIP and hospitality packages.
They don’t come cheap, with prices starting at £1,399 per person for a Taphouse Social – Manchester City ticket, but this is touted as ‘the ultimate luxury matchday experience’. Included in the price is premium seating on Level Two, Wembley’s middle tier with padded seats offering stellar views of the pitch.
Guests will have access to the stadium 2.5 hours before kick-off, when they can enjoy the Taphouse Social, Wembley’s new premium area full of exclusive food and drink outlets. This includes a bar with 48 taps pouring beers, wine, cocktails, spirits and soft drinks, plus pies and pastries from Taphouse Bites.
The Carabao Cup Final will see Arsenal v Manchester City at London’s Wembley Stadium this March.
Fans can access Taphouse Social on two sides of the stadium – West and East – but only tickets to the dedicated Man City area are available. However, fans should note the stadium will close one hour after the final whistle.
Seat Unique’s other VIP package is the luxury Bobby Moore Lounge at £3,499 per person. This includes unrivalled premium seating on the halfway line, offering ‘the very best views of the match’ close to the dugout and trophy route.
The exclusive Bobby Moore lounge is said to be one of Wembley’s ‘finest hospitality lounges’. A ticket provides a seat at a shared table for up to three hours before kick-off and an hour after the match.
Here, guests can enjoy Canapés on arrival and unlimited Laurent Perrier Champagne both pre and post-match. Perhaps more importantly, a ticket includes a complimentary bar of beers, fine wines, spirits and soft drinks.
As well as a four-course meal and cheeseboard served after the game.
Similar packages may be available directly from Wembley Stadium. With supporters able to enquire via this online form.
For those watching at home, the Carabao Cup final will be shown live on ITV and Sky Sports. Kick-off is at 4.30pm on Sunday, March 22.
Manchester City were knocked out of the Champions League on Wednesday night and they have another huge game coming up this weekend.
Haaland was taken off vs Real
It might just be the biggest compliment Pep Guardiola can ever hand down to Arsenal, while also offering a clear indication of the sheer magnitude of this weekend’s Carabao Cup final between Manchester City and their biggest rivals.
When a team needs three goals just to draw level on aggregate with Real Madrid in the Champions League, having Erling Haaland in it has to be a given.
Which is just the scenario Guardiola and City faced at the Etihad this week. So what did Guardiola do? He hauled off the most lethal forward in world football – with less than an hour of the second leg gone.
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Some would regard this as professional suicide on Guardiola’s behalf. Waving the white flag in the direction of those in black from Madrid.
Haaland had just scored his 30th goal of the season in all competitions to offer his side a glimmer of hope that some sort of famous fightback could happen. He had looked dangerous throughout the game. He had appeared to have found some of his form again following a difficult few weeks.
But Guardiola has never been afraid to make the kind of decisions that sometimes baffle people, but in his own head, make complete sense. The Catalan never stops thinking about the future. And he knows City’s next game could well go on to define his club’s entire season. A season which is now in serious danger of imploding.
Watching his players get run ragged by Real (again) was far from the ideal preparation for Sunday’s showdown with Arsenal at Wembley. So Guardiola decided to sacrifice Haaland.
In the decade Guardiola has presided over almost constant success in Manchester, the Carabao Cup has felt like nothing more than a bit of gloss added to the footballing masterpiece he has painted. Guardiola wasn’t lured from Bayern Munich to win League Cups, but league titles and Champions League crowns. And he did.
But getting his hands on the least significant of the four trophies available to Guardiola is now crucial. City failed to win silverware last season and are now out of Europe. They also need an Arsenal collapse to make their way back into the title race.
Back-to-back campaigns without a single trophy is as unimaginable as it would be unacceptable. Not least considering Liverpool’s demise.
Guardiola’s legacy will never be touched, but his reputation could be tarnished. Lose to Arsenal this weekend and Guardiola could be left with just the FA Cup to play for.
So all those connected with City can do now is sit back and hope his decision, where Haaland is concerned, was the right one.
Pep Guardiola is reportedly set to consider his long-term future at Manchester City after the Carabao Cup final with five potential successors identified
Pep Guardiola is set to make a decision regarding his Manchester City future(Image: Getty)
Pep Guardiola is reportedly set to contemplate his long-term future at Manchester City following the upcoming Carabao Cup final this weekend. The Blues will face off against Arsenal at Wembley Stadium in a bid for silverware on Sunday.
This crucial match comes hot on the heels of City’s Champions League exit, having been defeated 5-1 on aggregate by Real Madrid in the round of 16. Guardiola’s team suffered a 3-0 loss at the Bernabeu last week and were dealt a further blow when Bernardo Silva was sent off early in the return leg at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola reportedly plans to take some time out immediately after the Carabao Cup final to consider what’s best for both him and the club. The 55-year-old’s current contract extends until 2027, following an extension signed in November 2024.
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Despite the length of his contract, speculation about Guardiola’s future has been rife. Former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca is among those rumoured to be in the running as a potential successor when Guardiola eventually steps down. The Manchester Evening News takes a look at five managers who could potentially replace him.
Enzo Maresca
The former Chelsea manager was linked with the City job during his tenure at Stamford Bridge. The Italian is currently without a club after parting ways with the west London side in January.
During his 18-month tenure, Maresca secured the Europa Conference League and Club World Cup with Chelsea. Maresca has had two previous stints with City, first overseeing the Elite Development squad and subsequently returning as a first-team assistant in 2022.
He was linked with the City position towards the conclusion of his Chelsea tenure and is understood to have held discussions with the club. The 46-year-old is presently regarded as the bookmakers’ frontrunner to take over from Guardiola.
Luis Enrique
Luis Enrique is the most decorated manager on this list. The 55-year-old has already followed in Guardiola’s footsteps once during his career, when he took over from him as Barcelona B boss in 2008.
Following periods at Roma and Celta Vigo, Enrique became the first-team manager at the Camp Nou and guided the Catalan side to two La Liga titles and Champions League success in 2015. Two periods in charge of Spain followed but it is his achievements at Paris Saint-Germain that are currently earning recognition.
Enrique was the manager who eventually delivered PSG a Champions League trophy last season. Like Guardiola, his contract is set to expire in 2027, though there have been suggestions of a potential extension.
Xabi Alonso
The former Liverpool midfielder is currently available after leaving Real Madrid in January. Alonso’s earlier achievements at Bayer Leverkusen showcased his managerial credentials. Guardiola initially brought Alonso to Germany when he signed him for Bayern Munich in 2014.
Following his retirement from playing, the 44-year-old spent several years coaching youth teams before taking charge at Leverkusen in 2022. During his second campaign, Alonso guided the club to their maiden Bundesliga championship, going undefeated throughout the league season, whilst also securing the 2024 DFB-Pokal.
Vincent Kompany
A City icon, Kompany is now thriving in management. Questions were asked when the former Burnley manager replaced Thomas Tuchel at Bayern Munich in 2024, though the Belgian rose to the challenge, claiming the Bundesliga last term.
Kompany featured under Guardiola for three seasons during the latter stages of his City playing days and would probably embrace a sentimental return to the club at some point. Nevertheless, the Bayern manager penned a contract extension until 2029 in October.
Pep Lijnders
An unconventional choice for City. The former Liverpool assistant joined Guardiola’s backroom team in June 2025. Lijnders collaborated with Jurgen Klopp throughout much of his spell at Anfield.
He has previously held two managerial positions with NEC Nijmegen and Red Bull Salzburg, respectively. The blueprint for Guardiola being replaced by his assistant was established by the late Tito Vilanova at Barcelona in 2012.
Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
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Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle for the 2025/26 season, saving £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky shows at least 215 live Premier League games each season, an increase of up to 100, plus Formula 1, darts, golf and more.
