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Man City’s Carabao Victory Can be a Catalyst for the End of Their Season

ByMark Temnycky|
Manchester City's Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho lifts the winners trophy after the English League Cup final football match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium, northwest London on April 25, 2021. - Manchester City claimed a fourth consecutive League Cup on Sunday with a dominant display to beat Tottenham 1-0 in front of 8,000 fans at Wembley. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by CARL RECINE / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by CARL RECINE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City's Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho lifts the winners trophy after the English League Cup final football match between Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley Stadium, northwest London on April 25, 2021. - Manchester City claimed a fourth consecutive League Cup on Sunday with a dominant display to beat Tottenham 1-0 in front of 8,000 fans at Wembley. - RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by CARL RECINE / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by CARL RECINE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

On 26 April, Manchester City won their fourth consecutive EFL “Carabao” Cup Final.

Traditionally held at the end of February or early March, the Carabao Cup can help serve as a motivational boost for the club that wins the title. In recent years, the Carabao trophy (formerly the Capital One Cup) has served as a catalyst for winning additional trophies in the same season. This has been the case on several occasions.

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During the 2018/19, 2017/18, and 2013/14 seasons, Manchester City won the Carabao Cup Final. This victory helped inspire the Sky Blues to go on and win the English Premier League (EPL) title in those respective seasons. Similarly, Chelsea won both the EPL and Carabao (Capital One) Cup during the 2014/15 and 2004/05 seasons. Manchester United’s Carabao Cup victory in the 2016/17 season saw them go on to win the UEFA Europa League trophy.

In other words, while the Carabao Cup is unfairly regarded as an unimportant competition, winning the trophy has helped clubs win additional pieces of silverware in the same season.

Having won the Carabao Cup Final on Sunday, the sense of victory and accomplishment could help City prepare for the final portion of their season. Currently, the Sky Blues need six points from their remaining five league matches to win the 2020/21 EPL title. This assumes that second-placed United will win their remaining five matches.

Winning the Carabao Cup could have greater implications, however. On 28 April, City will compete in only their second UEFA Champions League Semi-final. Their opponent Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will be very difficult, and PSG will surely test City’s defense, something that many teams have lacked this season. Nonetheless, winning a title three days before the first leg of this crucial match-up could help City reach the Champions League Final for the first time in their history.

Perhaps putting too much stock into the Carabao Cup Final may be foolish, but stranger things have happened in football.

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