Pep Guardiola criticized the lack of major finals held in Northern England after Manchester City defeated Newcastle 3-1 to set up a Carabao Cup final clash with Arsenal on March 22.
Manchester City secured their place in the 2026 Carabao Cup final with a dominant 3-1 victory over Newcastle United, winning 5-1 on aggregate.
Following the second-leg triumph at the Etihad, Pep Guardiola expressed frustration over the tradition of playing major finals exclusively in London.
He noted that while northern clubs must constantly travel, their southern rivals often enjoy a logistical advantage near their own backyard.
The final, set for March 22 at Wembley, will see City face Arsenal, who progressed after overcoming Chelsea.
Guardiola emphasized that while he is thrilled to be back in a major final, the geographical disparity remains a point of contention.
Arsenal’s qualification sets up a high-stakes encounter between the Premier League’s top title contenders, promising a “magical” but travel-heavy showdown for the Manchester side.