Manchester City secured a narrow 2-1 victory over Watford in the Carabao Cup fourth round with goals from Jeremy Doku and Matheus Nunes. Pep Guardiola made nine changes to his side, allowing young players like Savinho to shine. Despite a late goal from Tom Ince for Watford, City comfortably passed the assignment, bouncing back from recent frustrations.
The win comes at a crucial time for City, who have suffered draws against Inter Milan and Arsenal and a serious injury to key midfielder Rodri. Guardiola will be pleased with the performance of his squad players and young guns, such as James McAtee, Rico Lewis, Braithwaite, and Nico O’Reilly, who seized their opportunity in the cup competition. City will be aiming to defend their Carabao Cup title, which they have won four times in a row from 2018-2021.
Savinho was named the player of the match for his energetic performance, constantly taking on defenders and creating scoring opportunities for City. The 20-year-old Brazilian winger was unfortunate not to score with a shot cleared off the line and hitting the post. City’s overall player ratings were positive, with Nunes and Grealish also putting in strong performances.
Watford had their moments in the match, with Kwadwo Baah having a goal disallowed for a foul and Vakoun Bayo missing a free header wide. Ince’s late goal provided a glimmer of hope for Watford, but it was not enough to secure a comeback. The Hornets will now turn their focus back to the Championship, where they will be facing Sunderland in their next fixture.
Overall, the match provided City with a much-needed win and an opportunity for their squad players to gain valuable playing time. Guardiola will be looking ahead to the next round of the Carabao Cup and the upcoming Premier League fixture against Newcastle United, as City continue their quest for silverware this season. The young guns who impressed in this match will be looking to make a bigger impact and push City towards further success in both domestic and European competitions.
