Pep Guardiola Receives a Brief Respite from Defensive Injury Woes Due to FA Cup Regulation Change
Manchester City defender Marc Guehi will be able to play in the FA Cup following a recent adjustment to the rules. City is gearing up to compete against Salford City, a League Two team, in the fourth round this Saturday.
Guehi, who transferred from Crystal Palace during the January transfer window for £20 million, has quickly integrated into the squad. Though he participated in the earlier round representing his former club, he is now eligible to compete against Salford City this weekend.
Previously, Guehi captained Crystal Palace in their surprising defeat to Macclesfield last month. Under prior regulations, he would not have been permitted to play for Manchester City while pursuing FA Cup success.
Changes to the FA Cup rules this season allow players to represent more than one club, provided they don’t play for multiple teams in the same round of the tournament. The relevant guideline specifies that a player can participate for one club during the competition but can switch clubs as long as it’s not within the same round.
This rule modification comes as a relief for Guardiola’s squad, who have been grappling with defensive injuries, missing key players like John Stones and Josko Gvardiol. Ruben Dias has recently returned to the team, although Abdukodir Khusanov was believed to have suffered a concussion.
The alteration in the FA Cup regulations allows Pep Guardiola to utilize Guehi, unlike in the Carabao Cup, where Guehi wasn’t eligible for the second leg against Newcastle. City sought adjustments to the rules before their cup final against Arsenal, which were ultimately denied. However, Guehi’s participation can significantly bolster City’s chances in the FA Cup.
Guardiola’s team dominated the prior round, securing a 10-1 win against Exeter City, where new signing Semenyo also scored. Salford advanced after winning against Swindon Town, and now face a strong City side at the Etihad Stadium. Salford manager Karl Robinson commended his team’s progress despite facing challenging opponents throughout their cup run.
