Manchester City are through to the Carabao Cup semifinals, and the message sent by the 2–0 win over Brentford goes well beyond the scoreline. In the middle of a season squeezed by matches, injuries and forced rotation, Pep Guardiola showed that the squad responds when called upon. With a stunning goal from Rayan Cherki, a decisive burst from Savinho and seven academy graduates in the lineup, City returned to a semifinal in the competition for the first time since 2020/21, the same season they last lifted the trophy. On a night of heavy rain at the Etihad Stadium, the team won with control, personality and a freshness that’s becoming rare in such a suffocating schedule.
Cherki takes control and delivers with class
Savinho and Oscar Bobb, two of the changes from the side that beat Crystal Palace, brought width and energy right from the opening minutes. A dangerous cross from Savinho and a low shot from Bobb, saved by Hakon Valdimarsson, made it clear City wanted to push Brentford back. With two wide players stretching the field, Cherki began to drift inside, floating between the lines, asking for the ball and setting the tempo. It didn’t take long for him to become the focal point.
Brentford tried to make the game more physical, appealed for a possible red card for Abdukodir Khusanov after a foul on Kevin Schade and then lost Valdimarsson to injury in the first half, but City’s dominance was clear. When Divine Mukasa’s corner was cleared to the edge of the box, Cherki had time, confidence and technique. He casually slipped past a defender and unleashed a powerful shot from around 20 yards into the top corner. The kind of goal that shifts the mood inside the stadium and justifies all the buzz around a creative player given freedom.
Savinho seals the place and the squad responds
Even with the lead, City didn’t ease off. The second half opened with a scare as James Trafford had to make a strong save on a long range shot from Kristoffer Ajer. At the other end, Valdimarsson still managed to stop a low effort from Foden, but the balance didn’t last long. One well executed counterattack was enough to settle the game.
Savinho surged forward at pace, stretched Brentford’s defense and took the shot. The ball deflected off Ajer, looped over the goalkeeper and ended any hope of a comeback. The 2–0 scoreline not only secured the semifinal spot but also allowed City to manage the match with calm and control.
After the game, Guardiola made it clear that the result was closely tied to squad management. “We’ve had a long run of games for Erling (Haaland, for example, and Ruben Dias) and the others, and they need to be ready.” The coach then explained the tight schedule ahead. “After the game against West Ham, we have seven days before the match against Nottingham Forest and four or five days before the game against Sunderland, and after that, once again, a crazy schedule.”
His assessment went beyond simple calendar math. “So we have to do this, and we’ve talked a lot about it lately: everyone needs to stay connected. The guys on the bench too, connected, and they proved it. Matheus was super focused, Bernardo as always. Everyone was there. Josko was there and incredibly committed.”