Guardiola delighted to see Marmoush back among the goals for Man City

Pep Guardiola was delighted that Omar Marmoush rediscovered his scoring touch during Manchester City's 3-1 win over Swansea City in the EFL Cup on Wednesday. 

Marmoush marked his first start since a 2-1 defeat to Brighton in the Premier League on August 31 with a stunning close-range finish to put City 2-1 up in the 77th minute. 

His goal came after Jeremy Doku's deflected equaliser had cancelled out Goncalo Franco's sublime early opener at Swansea.com Stadium. 

Rayan Cherki, who starred on his return from injury, sealed City's progression to the quarter-finals, where they face Brentford, in the third minute of second-half stoppage time.

Marmoush led the line for Guardiola's side with Erling Haaland rested following City's Premier League defeat to Aston Villa at the weekend, and registered a team-high total of shots against Swansea (five, level with Doku and Cherki). 

Guardiola had praise for many of his team, having made 10 changes from the loss at Villa Park, though he was particularly pleased to see Marmoush back among the goals as he looks to add more firepower into his City side. 

"With him, with that system, five in the back, with centre defenders around, with Erling, he knows perfectly how to be patient, how to be in small spaces, how to be consistent, to go to the runs in behind," said Guardiola.

"We have incredibly good deliveries with Phil (Foden), especially with Rayan Cherki and, of course, Nico Gonzalez. He's getting better and getting better. Now he's fundamental for us, Nico.

"But all of them, the guys who came to the bench, John (Stones), Josko (Gvardiol), Phil – everyone was really good. I'm happy for [Omar] more because a striker needs goals and for his confidence it will be important.

"He's been injured a long time and of course playing in the position from Erling is important. But we know in many games we need both and having him back is so nice."

The result perhaps did not do full justice to Man City's domination of proceedings in South Wales.

In total, they racked up 24 shots to Swansea's two, with six of those on target. They also hit the woodwork, and registered 78 final-third entries and 54 touches in the opposition box to the hosts' respective 36 and two.

Victory here represented the first time Man City have won after conceding the opening goal in an EFL Cup clash since September 21, 2021 against Wycombe Wanderers.

"Swansea started really well. We started with a really good tempo," Guardiola added. 

"We were not flat but they were better. In this competition, the first minutes the home team always gives a boost and they deserved a goal.

"I would say they were impressive but [from] 20–25 minutes, we took the game.

"In general, the team was a little bit better. We arrived with more chances and in the second half everybody was there, and the movements were perfect at the right moment.

"The second half was really good. I am really pleased for the game because I know how difficult it is away, and we are in the quarter-finals."