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Preview: Manchester City head to Swansea City in the Carabao

Preview: Manchester City head to Swansea City in the Carabao

Shiriki

One of the more one-sided ties in the EFL fourth round takes place in Wales on Wednesday where even a heavily rotated Manchester City side should see off Swansea City – with Pep Guardiola’s side aiming for a first final in five years in a competition they once dominated.

By Karl Matchett

From four in a row to two off top

The strength in depth is what kept City competitive in this competition in the early part of Guardiola’s tenure, with even changed teams still boasting hosts of internationals and big-money signings. It led to an incredible six League Cup trophies in the space of eight seasons, including four in a row from 2016 to 2020. It also took City to joint-record holders alongside Liverpool with the most wins in the competition – but the depth now perhaps isn’t quite what it was in that particular period.

Man City’s list of honours in the Carabao Cup

City haven’t made the final in what will be five years come the Wembley date later this season, with Liverpool winning twice more in that period to reestablish supremacy in this second-tier tournament. But if winning the League Cup is not on the list of requirements for owners, big-club coaches have seen it as a springboard to greater successes. After last year’s fall from grace you can be sure Guardiola and his squad would love to kickstart things by winning the EFL Cup in March 2026.

A who’s who of nearly made it

Opponents and hosts Swansea have bigger things on their mind than an improbable run to Wembley right now. Another middling campaign so far of hit-and-miss football leaves them in bang average territory: Championship midtable, 13th, zero goal difference, as many matches won as drawn…as lost.

The squad speaks to a collection of could-have-beens and almost-men, once-young-hopefuls and career journeymen. There is nothing of shame or disrepute in that – these players are a single step away from the elite. But, the shortcoming of the modern-day Swansea side is perhaps that almost all of them have always been a step away from that.

Jay Fulton managed 11 games one season in the Premier League, but was never a regular until the second tier beckoned. Josh Tymon couldn’t crack it with Stoke until they were relegated. Ben Cabango didn’t break through until after Swansea went down. Cameron Burgess has yet to play a top-flight game anywhere and Ethan Galbraith debuted for Man United, but had never even played Championship level league action until this year. On-loan Malick Yalcouyé will hope in time to break that trend but he’s yet to debut for Brighton.

Recent form

Swansea have two wins, two draws and two defeats in six. Man City had won five of six prior to the weekend but lost at Aston Villa.

Team news

Ricardo Santos is missing for the hosts, with Rodri and Rayan Aït-Nouri out for the visitors.

Key player

Omar Marmoush has just returned so should start here and is a matchwinner: over the past year he’s top 82% for chances created, 92% for shots and 70% for goals compared to Europe’s finest.

Prediction

Nothing too clever about an away win really: Swansea 0-3 Man City.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Carabao Cup with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Preview: Manchester City head to Swansea City in the Carabao

One of the more one-sided ties in the EFL fourth round takes place in Wales on Wednesday where even a heavily rotated Manchester City side should see off Swansea City – with Pep Guardiola’s side aiming for a first final in five years in a competition they once dominated.

By Karl Matchett

From four in a row to two off top

The strength in depth is what kept City competitive in this competition in the early part of Guardiola’s tenure, with even changed teams still boasting hosts of internationals and big-money signings. It led to an incredible six League Cup trophies in the space of eight seasons, including four in a row from 2016 to 2020. It also took City to joint-record holders alongside Liverpool with the most wins in the competition – but the depth now perhaps isn’t quite what it was in that particular period.

Man City’s list of honours in the Carabao Cup

City haven’t made the final in what will be five years come the Wembley date later this season, with Liverpool winning twice more in that period to reestablish supremacy in this second-tier tournament. But if winning the League Cup is not on the list of requirements for owners, big-club coaches have seen it as a springboard to greater successes. After last year’s fall from grace you can be sure Guardiola and his squad would love to kickstart things by winning the EFL Cup in March 2026.

A who’s who of nearly made it

Opponents and hosts Swansea have bigger things on their mind than an improbable run to Wembley right now. Another middling campaign so far of hit-and-miss football leaves them in bang average territory: Championship midtable, 13th, zero goal difference, as many matches won as drawn…as lost.

The squad speaks to a collection of could-have-beens and almost-men, once-young-hopefuls and career journeymen. There is nothing of shame or disrepute in that – these players are a single step away from the elite. But, the shortcoming of the modern-day Swansea side is perhaps that almost all of them have always been a step away from that.

Jay Fulton managed 11 games one season in the Premier League, but was never a regular until the second tier beckoned. Josh Tymon couldn’t crack it with Stoke until they were relegated. Ben Cabango didn’t break through until after Swansea went down. Cameron Burgess has yet to play a top-flight game anywhere and Ethan Galbraith debuted for Man United, but had never even played Championship level league action until this year. On-loan Malick Yalcouyé will hope in time to break that trend but he’s yet to debut for Brighton.

Recent form

Swansea have two wins, two draws and two defeats in six. Man City had won five of six prior to the weekend but lost at Aston Villa.

Team news

Ricardo Santos is missing for the hosts, with Rodri and Rayan Aït-Nouri out for the visitors.

Key player

Omar Marmoush has just returned so should start here and is a matchwinner: over the past year he’s top 82% for chances created, 92% for shots and 70% for goals compared to Europe’s finest.

Prediction

Nothing too clever about an away win really: Swansea 0-3 Man City.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Carabao Cup with FotMob this season – featuring deep stats coverage, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.