Manchester City dashed Arsenal’s hopes of Quadruple immortality as Pep Guardiola revealed there is more to come from his young team after lifting a record fifth League Cup.
Nico O’Reilly’s brace downed the Premier League leaders at Wembley, with the academy product labelled ‘extraordinary’ by the City manager.
Guardiola claimed that his team were huge underdogs and can use the Carabao Cup triumph as a platform for future success.
‘Nobody – even myself – would (bet) £1 today for a victory,’ Guardiola said. ‘Arsenal were on an incredible run and we could not win against Nottingham Forest at home or West Ham away.
‘We lost 5-1 aggregate against Real Madrid. So few people, really few people (believed we could win) but the players proved it again – the older players and especially the new ones.
‘I can smell how this team can flourish. I told the players we will see what our level is against the best. The first final they play for some of them. It was the same 10 years ago. You never know (how they will react). It’s an experience. That is good, they need it.
Pep Guardiola admitted not even he thought Manchester City would beat Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final
‘When a group of players win and win, it makes them think, “OK we can do it’. But still we have to prove that we are the team we can be.
‘We are still not a team that we should be. That requires time and hopefully at the end of the season and next season we can do it.’
Guardiola shut down suggestions that the 2-0 win could have a bearing on the title race but Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told his players to refocus ahead of the run in.
‘We’re very sad, very hard one to take, especially for our players and our supporters because we know how much it means to them and how much we want it,’ Arteta said.
‘And the fact that we haven’t managed to deliver that obviously is disappointing and sad, and it leaves you with a really bad taste.
‘We’ll put some perspective on it and what this team has done in the last eight months has been incredible. We’re going to use this disappointment and this fire in the belly to have the most amazing two months that we have ever had together.
‘That’s on us and we’ll manage that energy in the right way. Now we have to go through that pain and disappointment and it’s normal and it’s part of football.’
Arteta – who had no regret over starting Kepa Arrizabalaga despite the goalkeeper’s gaffe for the opener – confirmed that Eberechi Eze will miss international duty with a calf injury, while O’Reilly heads to the England camp with an additional spring in his step during a breakthrough campaign.
Guardiola also hailed Nico O’Reilly, who scored the two goals in the game, after the match
‘Nico has been so surprising even for me, the season he has done so far has been extraordinary,’ Guardiola added. ‘Wow. He played as a holding midfielder in Newcastle and was unbelievable against Tonali, Bruno, and Joelinton. Maybe the signing of the season.’
O’Reilly, who turned 21 on Saturday, said: ‘It’s an unbelievable feeling. To win a final, to beat this team – we know how good they are.
‘We need to build on it, it will give us good momentum. Buzzing with today. Bit of disbelief seeing all the fans cheering like that when I scored those goals. Really a good feeling and a great birthday weekend.
‘Since I was a kid I always played in midfield, I was always arriving in the box and scoring goals. To bring it in at senior level and the highest level, it’s good for me and adds goals to my game. A great feeling.’
