The Carabao Cup has brought Man City such joy yet their exit may be a good thing

Pep Guardiola, a successful manager in the Carabao Cup, seemed untroubled following Manchester City's recent 2-1 defeat against Tottenham Hotspur, a game he previously remarked as not crucial. City, having won 23 of the past 24 games in this competition, have now lost four of their last eight. Guardiola has been vocal about preserving his players' health amid a hectic schedule, a sentiment highlighted by recent injuries to Manuel Akanji and Savinho.

City's relationship with the Carabao Cup is intertwined with the club's modern success, yet as the fixture list expands, this tournament appears more burdensome than beneficial. Guardiola made tactical rotations, swapping six players from the prior Southampton victory and nine from the match against Watford, reflecting a strategy focused on the greater season ambitions rather than this cup.

Despite the exit, the competition offered glimpses of promising talent, with debuts for several academy players who are poised for bright futures. Key performances included Matheus Nunes' impressive display, bolstered by scoring a well-deserved goal. While the loss halted a 13-game unbeaten run, the match featured positive takeaways, suggesting that the decision to deprioritize the cup might be necessary.