Brave or stupid? Guardiola confirms this Man City star will start Carabao Cup final vs Arsenal

20 March 2026 at 17:51

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has confirmed the surprise decision to start with James Trafford as his goalkeeper against Arsenal this weekend.

Man City take on the Gunners in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, and it seems Guardiola is prepared to stick with his cup ‘keeper even for this hugely important game.

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The Spanish tactician, speaking at his press conference today, was asked about starting with Trafford over his usual no.1 Gianluigi Donnarumma, and confirmed he would be doing so.

As per BBC Sport, Guardiola said Trafford would be starting and described it as a “big moment for the team.”

James Trafford’s difficult time at Manchester City so far

Trafford joined City from Burnley in the summer, but Donnarumma joined from Paris Saint-Germain not long after.

It perhaps looked initially like Trafford would be Guardiola’s first-choice ‘keeper this season, but it hasn’t worked out that way.

The 23-year-old is a fine talent who will probably feel he could be starting for a number of other Premier League clubs, so it will be interesting to see what he decides about his future this summer.

Still, for the time being Trafford will be given the chance to make himself a hero this weekend.

What about Arsenal’s goalkeeper for the cup final?

Interestingly, it also wouldn’t be too surprising if Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also neglected to use his usual no.1 ‘keeper for this game.

Kepa Arrizabalaga has played for Arsenal in all of their League Cup and FA Cup games so far, so that would probably suggest he’ll be in the starting XI on Sunday as well.

Pep Guardiola calls emergency meeting at Man City to make shock decision

CaughtOffside

By:Ahad Shaukat

19 March 2026 at 11:41

Speculation surrounding Pep Guardiola’s future at Manchester City has intensified following reports that the Spanish manager has held urgent discussions with senior club officials.

Guardiola is seriously considering stepping down at the end of the current season, prompting concern within the club’s hierarchy, according to a source on X.

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While no official decision has been announced, the situation has quickly become one of the most significant talking points in European football, given Guardiola’s transformative impact on Man City over the past decade.

Guardiola’s legacy at Man City

Since arriving at the Etihad Stadium in 2016, Guardiola has overseen one of the most dominant periods in English football history.

Under his leadership, Manchester City have secured multiple Premier League titles, domestic cups, and the club’s first-ever UEFA Champions League triumph.

His ability to evolve systems and develop players has been widely praised, turning City into a consistent force both domestically and in Europe.

However, after nearly a decade at the club, questions about long-term motivation and the desire for a new challenge have occasionally surfaced in recent seasons.

Reasons behind Guardiola’s uncertain future at Etihad

Pep Guardiola applauds the Manchester City fans (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Although the exact reasons behind Guardiola’s reported considerations remain unclear, several factors could be influencing his thinking.

His team’s performance this season could be one of the reasons.

The Spanish manager has been knocked out of the Champions League at the Round of 16 stage by Real Madrid, who won 5-1 on aggregate against the Premier League giants.

City are also second favourites in the Premier League title race with Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal sitting in a convincing position at the moment.

Another possible reason could be Guardiola needing a break from football management.

Managing at the highest level for an extended period often brings intense pressure, and Guardiola has previously spoken about the mental demands of elite coaching.

Additionally, the natural cycle of squad evolution and the challenge of maintaining dominance year after year may also play a role.

City’s leadership is keen to convince Guardiola to continue, recognising his importance to the club’s long-term ambitions. The board is believed to be engaged in discussions aimed at addressing any concerns and outlining a clear vision for the future.

Cesc Fabregas, Enzo Maresca and Xabi Alonso are being linked with the City hot seat if Guardiola leaves in the near future.

Not Real Madrid: Guardiola names another club as his biggest challenge as Man City boss

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Real Madrid are not biggest career challenge for Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola (Video)

UEFA Champions League News, Results, Fixtures & Tables

By:Veselin Trajkovic

18 March 2026 at 22:58

Manchester City and Real Madrid have developed quite a rivalry, having faced each other six times in the last seven seasons in the Champions League knockout stages. What’s more, City boss Pep Guardiola was a legendary player and later extremely successful coach at Barcelona, Real’s arch-rivals. Nonetheless, Guardiola does not consider Real Madrid to have […]

The post Real Madrid are not biggest career challenge for Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola (Video) appeared first on Soccer News.