Pep Guardiola’s Strange Excuse Prior to Carabao Clash Suggests He Knew He Would Lose

• Manchester City were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Newcastle United on Wednesday, September 27
• There were hints the Citizens would struggle based on Pep Guardiola’s pre-match interview
• The Spaniard came up with what fans are now calling “the excuse of the season”

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola appeared to have already given up on the Carabao Cup, long before the defeat to Newcastle.

There will be no quadruple for Pep Guardiola and his players this season as they were dumped out of the cup by Newcastle United, who claimed a 1-0 victory on Wednesday, September 27.

Alexander Isak scored the only goal of the game for the Magpies with a goal in the second half to beat a much-changed Manchester City side.

Eddie Howe had also made 10 changes to the side that mauled Sheffield United 8-0 in the Premier League on Sunday, but from proceedings, it was clear who wanted it more.

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In the second half, Howe showed some bravery against the Premier League champions by bringing in Bruno Guimaraes and Anthony Gordon, who instantly transformed the game.

Guardiola’s excuse

Prior to that clash, Guardiola made some interesting sentiments which suggested his team would not go too far in the Carabao Cup.

City travelled up North to Newcastle, and Guardiola was critical of the tedious bus ride, which he suggested could affect his players’ performances.

"We don’t have a plane to travel back, so we have to take a bus.” He said as per SportBible.

"It's two or three hours later that we will arrive here - so, so late, arriving on Thursday.

"The day after, Friday, we travel to Wolves, so that's what you have to think about.

“Then we go to Germany to play RB Leipzig in the Champions League next week.

To be fair to Guardiola, he made some decent points, but there was a general feeling that he was making excuses, just in case his team bowed out of the Carabao Cup.

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Eddie Howe seeking redemption

Meanwhile, Eddie Howe said after the 1-0 victory that his side, who lost the final last season to Manchester United drew inspiration from coming so close only a few months ago.

"Pre-game, the run last year was in our thoughts," Howe told Sky Sports. "It was an inspiration to us and helped our season, albeit the final maybe affected our league results. We look back on it with real pride.

Guardiols’s new targets

Sports Brief also reported on Pep Guardiola’s new targets after the Carabao Cup exit.

After defeat to Newcastle, Guardiola came out to bizarrely claim they were not out to chase the quadruple, adding that their only target now is the treble.

“You think the target was the quadruple? We are more than happy with the treble...”, Fabrizio Romano quoted Pep saying.