Guardiola has shuffled his pack in Carabao Cup action this season, with competitive action on multiple fronts meaning that rotation has to be factored into the equation. The likes of Haaland, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Rayan Cherki started on the bench against Newcastle.
Impressive progress has still been made to another final, with the hope being that some of those nursing injuries at present will be welcomed back into the fold before another visit to Wembley is taken in.
City are also hoping that January arrival Marc Guehi will be granted special permission by the Football League to play in the final, having joined the Blues from Crystal Palace after the first leg of their semi-final clash with Newcastle took place.
The England international defender remains ineligible for now, but Guardiola and Co plan to address that issue. City’s boss said when asked about Guehi becoming another of those chasing down a first medal with new employers: “Why should he not play? We will try.”
City have games to take in across Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League competition before attention turns to the Carabao Cup final. The first of those is set to see them face old adversaries Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.