Manchester City beat Brentford 2-0, including a stunning opener from Rayan Cherki, to reach the Carabao Cup semi-finals for the first time since winning the Carabao Cup in 2021.
However, the game was not without its problems and before Cherki’s belter, Brentford felt as if Abdukhodir Kusanov should have been sent off for a final foul on Kevin Shade. Referee Samuel Barot was fully aware of the incident, but only ruled it a yellow card violation and VAR was not activated.
“Kusanov defended poorly,” Andy Hinchcliffe said live on Sky Sports. “It was a clear foul. He was on goal. For me it should have been a red card.”
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Manchester City’s Abdukkodir Kusanov beat Brentford’s Kevin Shade and raced across goal, but was lucky to avoid a red card.
But instead of being encouraged by the perceived injustice, the Bees slumped disappointingly and were unable to test stand-in goalkeeper James Trafford. Trafford had been unstable since losing his place to Gianluigi Donnarumma and received a vote of confidence from Pep Guardiola before the game.
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Rayan Cherki scores Manchester City’s opening goal with a powerful finish against Brentford in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals at the Etihad Stadium.
In the end, Keith Andrews’ side woke up midway through the second period with a hard punch from Sabinho, who connected expertly with Phil Foden and fired a looping shot that was deflected over a stranded Hakon Valdimarsson. What looked like a difficult task on paper turned out to be a comfortable one in practice, setting up a much-changed City trip to Newcastle in the first leg of the semi-final.
They will play a staggering nine games in four different competitions during January’s jam-packed schedule, including Premier League matches against Chelsea and Manchester United.
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In the Carabao Cup quarter-finals at the Etihad Stadium, Sabinho scored a 2–0 win against Man City thanks to a deflection from Brentford’s Christopher Ajer.
Man City showing threatening form
Sky Sports’ Laura Hunter analysis at the Etihad Stadium:
It will have come as a surprise to many that up until Wednesday, Manchester City had not progressed beyond the quarter-final stage in this competition since they last won it four years ago. The club has dominated all domestic trophies for quite some time, but their recent performance in the Carabao Cup has been poor.
Clearly Josep Guardiola felt he could not discount the possibility of reaching the semi-finals. Keith Andrews gave Jordan Henderson and Igor Thiago a night’s rest, but Erling Haaland and Phil Foden were not so lucky. The latter was needed and was involved in scoring the second goal.
Rayan Cherki scores a great opening goal as Man City progress to the last four of the Carabao Cup
Pep’s seven changes reflect the fact that chasing down Arsenal in the Premier League is a priority, but gone are the days when silver medals were more or less easy to win. And the chance to reach the semifinals was too tempting to overcome after a barren season.
Guardiola said after the match that everyone was “very connected”. The team was “incredibly dedicated,” he added. City are in great form, having won six games in a row, and are starting to resemble the ruthless side that once dominated these shores. Recent evidence suggests they will be hard to stop.
Andrews laments ‘crazy tackle’ and red card denial
Brentford manager Keith Andrews:
“There were some big moments and that was one of them,” Kusanov said of avoiding the red. “I’m quick to defend the guys involved, but I haven’t been dragged into anything so far this season, but it’s one of those things that I feel like they didn’t get right.”
“The explanation that he took a touch off the goal doesn’t sit well with me. He’s going straight towards the goal. It’s a crazy tackle. It puts him out. I can’t think of anything other than a red card.”
Regarding the performance: “We could have hurt them a little bit better, we could have stepped into territory where we really punished them, but we just didn’t make the most of the opportunities that were there.”
‘Great’ Cherki praises Pep
Man City manager Josep Guardiola:
“I’m glad to have made it to the semi-finals. A lot of players didn’t play much in the last game, but they played really well. Brentford are always tough.”
On Cherki: “A great goal. He didn’t play well after that, but he was great in front of the goal and after the goal. We’re lucky that this type of player can score these types of goals. He’s a great player. We’ve seen these types of goals with Phil and previously with Kevin De Bruyne, so I’m glad it opened the game.”
On Trafford: “What a question. He’s a goalkeeper, but I can only play goalkeeper. He can’t play left-back. At the moment, with Gigi playing, he’s a top keeper, there’s no doubt about that. He’s a guy I want to give a chance to.”
Man City’s January schedule:
Carabao Cup Semi-finals 2025/26
Thursday 1 January: Sunderland vs Man City – Premier League, 8pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports
Sunday 4th January: Man City vs Chelsea – Premier League, 5.30pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports
Wednesday 7th January: Man City v Brighton – Premier League, 7.30pm kick-off
Saturday 10th January: Man City v Exeter City – FA Cup 3rd Round, 3pm kick-off
W/C January 12: Newcastle vs Man City – Carabao Cup semi-final first leg
Saturday 17th January: Man United v Man City – Premier League, 12.30pm kick-off, live on Sky Sports
Tuesday 20th January: Bodø/Glimt vs Man City – Champions League, 5.45pm kick-off
Saturday 24 January: Man City v Wolves – Premier League, 3pm kick-off
Wednesday 28th January: Man City vs Galatasaray – Champions League, 8pm kick-off
