‘pure Logic’ And A Final Fantasy: Manchester City Will Have To Play By The Rules | Football Daily

RETURN OF THE MARC?

In immoderate different season, Antoine Semenyo would not person been allowed to characteristic for Manchester City successful nan semi-final of Fizzy Cup owed to being “cup-tied” aft playing for Bournemouth successful their August conclusion to Brentford. Luckily for Semenyo, a alteration to nan rules meant that Manchester City’s shiny caller £65m winger is allowed to person a 2nd ace astatine Fizzy Cup, because he was signed earlier nan first limb of nan semi-final, successful which he played a starring domiciled to thief obliterate holders Newcastle United (a first limb successful which Max Alleyne besides excelled for City, contempt having already represented Watford successful nan title earlier this season). Having seen his squad intelligibly use from this revolutionary tweak of Fizzy Cup norm 6.4.2, you’d expect Pep Guardiola to beryllium delighted, eh? Oh.

In nan aftermath of past night’s weird 2nd limb successful which Newcastle had their corporate backside handed to them contempt creating and missing capable chances to triumph respective matches, Pep decided to disregard nan conspicuous upsides of nan caller norm regarding eligibility and attraction alternatively connected what he saw arsenic their inexplicably baffling downside. Specifically nan 1 that states a subordinate tin only correspond 2 clubs successful Fizzy Cup if he joins nan 2nd 1 before a shot has been kicked successful nan semi-final. Sadly for Pep, it intends his different January acquisition, Marc Guéhi, is now ineligible to play successful nan last because he didn’t get astatine nan Etihad until after City had conquered St James’ Park.

“Antoine arrived earlier nan first [leg] truthful could play,” said Pep. “And now it’s nan final. Why should he [Guéhi] not play? Why not? We salary his salary, he is our player. I said to nan club, they person to ask, definitely. I don’t understand nan logic why he cannot play successful nan last successful March, erstwhile I person been present for a agelong time. The rules to bargain a subordinate depends connected Fifa, Uefa, nan Premier League who say, OK nan transportation model is open, erstwhile you bargain a subordinate you person to play, no? It’s logic. Of people we are going to effort to inquire [for] him to play. Pure logic.” While Football Daily would ne'er beryllium truthful bold arsenic to impeach immoderate head of being moreover remotely self-serving, we can’t thief but consciousness that Pep’s irritation astatine having to travel a competition’s intelligibly signposted rules mightiness person thing to do pinch nan protect wounded situation successful which his squad presently find themselves, which successful move prompted nan acquisition of Guéhi successful nan first place.

The EFL person fto it beryllium known that immoderate entreaty to clear Guéhi to play successful nan last will beryllium firmly rebuffed but fixed their penchant for pushing nan envelope, City whitethorn consequence picking him anyhow safe successful nan knowledge that immoderate consequent investigation into their behaviour will return aeons to complete. The bully news for Pep is that different norm alteration intends Guéhi will beryllium allowed to correspond his caller squad successful nan FA Cup, taxable to him having cleansed himself of nan stink of Crystal Palace’s conclusion against Macclesfield past clip out.

QUOTE OF THE DAY

“James Milner is simply a domiciled model, still playing connected nan level he plays and besides training connected nan level he trains. I deliberation that will beryllium a typical point for him but he is focused connected nan ambitions from nan nine arsenic well. He wants to beryllium ever successful, for illustration he was his full life” – Brighton head Fabian Hürzeler, who was 9 years aged erstwhile Milner made his top-flight debut successful 2002, prepares to manus nan seasoned midfielder his record-equalling 653rd Premier League appearance.

Respect your elders: Fabian Hürzeler greets James Milner aft Brighton’s triumph complete Burnley past month. Photograph: Simon Dael/Shutterstock

“Football Daily is correct successful claiming that america Arsenal fans are really not counting immoderate chickens regarding nan quadruple. But then, we tin besides opportunity we’ve already done it once backmost successful 2006-07” – Mark Bennett.

“Re: Arsenal’s quest for 4 trophies: their adjacent Bigger Cup necktie is successful what, if representation serves, was erstwhile referred to present arsenic nan Round of Arsenal. A sanction possibly owed for revival?” – Mark Waters.

“No disrespect to anyone – slightest of each Kev McCready [yesterday’s Letters]. In immoderate equine analogy, Milner surely is nan ever reliable draughthorse and Timo Werner is nan thoroughbred down nan greenish screens …” – Tony Schwensen.

If you person any, please nonstop letters to the.boss@theguardian.com. Today’s prizeless missive o’ nan time victor is … Mark Bennett. Terms and conditions for our competitions, erstwhile we tally them, are here. 

RECOMMENDED LISTENING

Football Weekly Extra is here! Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning, Sam Dalling and Dan Bardell talk nan Fizzy Cup semi-finals and look up to Liverpool v Manchester City. Listen here aliases watch nan video version if you prefer.

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