The latest addition to their glowing trophy cabinet cements the Etihad club's status as the absolute dominant force in this particular domestic cup over the last decade. Adding the 2026 crown to their previous successes in 1970, 1976, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021 proves their incredible consistency. The Carabao Cup is clearly manager Pep Guardiola's favourite tournament too, as he has now won the trophy five times as City boss, setting a brilliant new record in English football. He surpasses Brian Clough, Sir Alex Ferguson, and Jose Mourinho, who all won four titles. As the blue confetti finally rained down, it was a stark reminder of the squad's innate ability to perform under pressure when silverware is directly on the line.