Will Pep Guardiola miss League Cup final after 2-game ban?

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola will serve a two-match touchline suspension after picking up his sixth domestic yellow card of the season during Saturday night’s FA Cup last-16 win at Newcastle United, but the sanction will not affect his presence for the forthcoming League Cup final against Arsenal.

Under regulations introduced this campaign, coaches incur an automatic one-game ban at three cautions and a two-game ban once they reach six. Guardiola’s animated protests at St James’ Park took him to that half-dozen mark, triggering the stiffer punishment.

Because manager cautions count only in Premier League and FA Cup fixtures, European and League Cup matches are exempt. That legislative quirk means Guardiola will be free to take his place in the technical area for Wednesday’s Champions League round-of-16 first leg at Real Madrid and for the League Cup final versus Arsenal at Wembley.

The Catalan will, however, be absent from the dugout for the Premier League trip to West Ham United and again for City’s FA Cup quarter-final, the identity of their opponents still to be determined when the draw is made. Should Arsenal be paired with City in that last-eight tie, Guardiola would miss a second meeting with the Gunners inside a fortnight.

Speaking after the Newcastle victory, Guardiola voiced frustration at both the caution and what he perceives as consistently harsh treatment of his side.

“When Jeremy Doku dribbles Trippier and goes alone to the box and is being pulled from behind, I’m not asking for a yellow card but please – it’s a foul,” he said. “I will defend my team. We have all the records in this country – all of them. Despite everything, we have all of them. And we have the record of the manager with the most yellow cards. I have always wanted this record and now I have it. Two game banned now, and I will go on holidays. Oh my god. Oh. My. God. There are things that still after 10 years I cannot understand.”

City’s title rivals, including Arsenal, will monitor the situation closely, hoping the temporary absence of the serial trophy winner could open the door for points to be dropped in both league and cup pursuits.