MAN CITY 1, TOTTENHAM 0
Manchester City fans were able to witness their record-equalling fourth successive Carabao Cup victory and eighth overall as they also matched Liverpool record number of wins in the competition.
There were 2,000 supporters in a crowd of 7,773 at Wembley where a late goal from Aymeric Laporte earned City their first piece of silverware of the campaign and hopefully the first part of a treble, also with the Premier League and Champions League.
It was no more than City deserved as they dominated and, had their finishing been more clinical, they would have won by a more emphatic margin.
They mustered 21 goal attempts to two from Spurs, but all they had to show for their efforts was a rare goal from Frenchman Laporte, only his second of the season.
And it was another trophy for Guardiola, the 25th major trophy of his managerial career – some sources reported it as his 30th honour – and he also maintained his perfect record in finals at Wembley as this was the eighth honour won at the home of English football.
City matched Liverpool’s haul of four successive League Cups between 1981-84, but that was achieved with two managers while Guardiola has been at the helm for all City’s successes.
And City captain Fernandinho collected his sixth League Cup winners’ medal since joining the club in 2013.
Embed from Getty ImagesGuardiola, reacting to fans being able to see the side for the first time in more than 12 months, said: “It’s not full [in the stadium] but it was a great noise [from the supporters].
“Today we are incredible happy that we have four in a row in this competition. We tried to win the game, created a lot of chances. They had some chances on the counter but in general we had a good game.”
On whether his side practice set-pieces, Guardiola explained: “We don’t have time to work. Just the principles from the beginning so we know what to do and we just try to recover. It is tough but it is what it is – the schedule is this way.”
And on winning his 30th trophy as a manager, Guardiola added: “It’s good. I was in big clubs so that is why it is easier to do it.”
Matchwinner Laporte said: “It’s very special for us after we lost in the FA Cup. We needed to get confidence and keep going. In the last two months we have been so good. We have to keep this rhythm, to win more titles.
“It was difficult today, they were a good team. It’s never easy. Today we have done very well.
“I was thinking about my yellow card. We know a little mistake can cost you. I was being careful.
“We are so happy to see our supporters back. I wish there could have been more, but we are so happy to have their support.”
And on having the fans back, man-of-the-match Riyad Mahrez added: “They made a massive difference, 8,000 was amazing and we look forward to having more of them back.”
But there was further heartbreak for Spurs who sacked manager Jose Mourinho earlier in the week.
This was their fourth successive loss in a final with their last silverware won in this competition in 2008.
City made six changes from their midweek Premier League win at Aston Villa.
Kevin De Bruyne was the headline return after proving his fitness following an ankle knock but Sergio Aguero began on the bench.
Zack Steffen started in goal while Laporte, Joao Cancelo, Fernandinho and Raheem Sterling were the other returnees.
The players to lose out after the Villa victory were the suspended John Stones, Ederson, Gabriel Jesus, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Rodri and Bernardo Silva.
Harry Kane carried Tottenham’s hopes of an upset after recovering in quickfire fashion from his own ankle issues.
Harry Winks also earned a recall with Gareth Bale and Tanguy Ndombele the men to make away from the midweek Premier League win over Southampton.
City made a statement of intent from the start as Phil Foden and Sterling had early chances, though neither could hit the target.
Sterling then had a goalbound shot blocked by Eric Dier who then deflected Foden’s effort on to the upright as City came agonisingly close to breaking the deadlock.
City kept creating chances as Sterling chipped goalkeeper Hugo Lloris but pulled the effort wide.
Riyad Mahrez had two great chances in quick succession as he bent one just wide while the second narrowly cleared the crossbar.
Then in first half stoppage time Joao Cancelo forced a first save from either keeper, a terrific leap to his right to keep out the left back’s shot.
Spurs were more positive from the restart and Steffen was forced to make his first save of the match in the 47th minute, a terrific stop low to his right to keep out a shot from Giovani Lo Celso which was bending in.
Mason made two changes midway through the second period as Lo Celson and Lucas Moura made way for Gareth Bale and Moussa Sissoko.
City gradually began to reimpose themselves as Ilkay Gundogan, with 16 goals to his credit this season, had two chances to add to his best-ever tally and the livewire Mahrez forced another smart save from Lloris.
And the breakthrough came with eight minutes left from an unlikely source, centre back Laporte.
Sergio Aurier fouled Sterling near the corner flag. De Bruyne provided the assist with the free kick which Laporte met glancing home a header from inside the six-yard box.
Spurs brought to Del Alli for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg while City introduced Rodri and Bernardo Silva for De Bruyne and Fernandinho.
City thought they had doubled their lead in the third of three added minutes when man-of-the-match and Alan Hardaker Trophy winner Mahrez found the net with a far post tap-in, but there was an offside in the build-up.