Even as the investigations continue into how Manchester City’s squad was funded, its ability to collect trophies is undisputed.
Particularly the League Cup.
It’s only the secondary cup competition but it is the first major piece of silverware handed out each season in England. And for the third consecutive season, it was Pep Guardiola’s side picking it up at Wembley thanks to a 2-1 victory over Aston Villa on Sunday.
“Since we won the first title against Arsenal,” Guardiola reflected on the 2018 League Cup final, “we have played 11 competitions and won eight … so that’s a lot. It’s not just about one title, it’s to show every game to try to win and that’s the best thing we can give for our club.”
Not since Liverpool in the 1980s has a hat trick of League Cups been achieved. Liverpool will prevent City achieving such a three-peat in the Premier League, with the top two separated by 22 points.
But City has Liverpool in its sights for a bigger prize — dethroning them as Champions League winners. It could be the last opportunity before a two-season ban from European competition that is being challenged in court by City lawyers.
The strength’s squad — the most expensively assembled in football history — was clear against Villa at Wembley. Eight players could be changed from a lineup that beat Real Madrid 2-1 in the Champions League last-16 first leg on Wednesday and still see off Villa, not with ease but comfortably enough.
Agüero struck the opener after 20 minutes after Rodri’s cross was headed into his path by Phil Foden.
Rodri was on target himself with a header on the half-hour after Ilkay Gundogan swung in a corner that should have actually been a Villa goal kick.
A despairing Prince William was soon seen celebrating though in an executive box when a slip by John Stones allowed Anwar El Ghazi to set up Mbwana Samatta to pull one back in the 41st.
It ensured City didn’t run away with this game, but the struggling Birmingham side could find no way of forcing the game to extra time.
For the fourth time in five seasons, City lifted the League Cup.
“At the end, we suffered a little bit,” Rodri said. “We knew we could never give up.”
