Guardiola and City stars at odds over Carabao Cup win’s Premier League meaning

London — Pep Guardiola and several of his Manchester City players offered sharply contrasting takes on what Sunday’s Carabao Cup final victory over Arsenal will mean for the Premier League title race, exposing a rare public divergence of opinion inside the Etihad camp.

City survived an early Arsenal barrage at Wembley before second-half goals sealed a 2-0 win and a record-extending triumph in the competition. Guardiola, who joked he “wouldn’t have bet £1” on such a polished performance, nevertheless insisted the result will have “no impact” on the league table, where Arsenal currently hold a nine-point advantage over the champions.

“I would like to have nine points in front of Arsenal,” the Catalan said. “Different competitions.”

Yet match-winner Nico O’Reilly, pressed by CBS Sports on whether the squad can now “smell blood” in the championship chase, replied without hesitation: “Yeah, 100%. The blood never went—we’ve always smelt blood. We’re confident in ourselves… they’ve got to come to our place, which is a tough place to come.”

Rodri echoed the youngster’s optimism, arguing the psychological boost stretches beyond the trophy cabinet. “That’s why I say it’s a game not only for this title but to show that we can beat them,” the midfielder stressed, while admitting the recent Champions League elimination by Real Madrid had left the squad determined to channel their energies into the domestic cups.

Guardiola, however, sounded a cautious note, suggesting Arsenal could emerge more motivated for the league meeting at the Etihad on 19 April. “They will be more concerned when they come to Etihad,” he predicted.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, still smarting from only his fourth defeat of the campaign, promised to channel the setback into “the most amazing two months” of his tenure. History offers the Gunners encouragement: after each previous loss this season they have stitched together lengthy unbeaten runs.

City’s game in hand means the gap can shrink to three points before kickoff that spring evening in Manchester, but whether Sunday’s Wembley statement truly alters the trajectory of the title fight remains a matter of fierce debate—inside the City dressing room as much as anywhere else.

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