Why Guardiola Celebrated Wildly for a Minor League Cup Victory: Only One Runner-Up Finish in Six Competitions Over Nearly 19 Months

In the 2025-26 season League Cup final, Manchester City defeated Arsenal 2-0 to win the championship! This is Manchester City's ninth League Cup title in club history and Guardiola's 40th trophy in his managerial career. Guardiola has now secured the League Cup five times, making him the first person in history to accomplish this.

So the question is: the League Cup is originally the smallest of the four competitions for Premier League powerhouse teams. Why did this minor League Cup victory cause Manchester City's title-winning manager Guardiola to run wildly in celebration?

The reason is simple: it's like "a long-awaited relief after drought." Guardiola's Manchester City endured an unusual season of failing to win any major trophies last season, meaning the club had been without a championship for 19 months. During these 19 months, Guardiola led Manchester City through six competitions but achieved zero titles, only one runner-up finish.

Starting from the 2024-25 season, Manchester City won the Community Shield by defeating Manchester United in a penalty shootout.Last season, Manchester City lost 1-2 to Tottenham in the League Cup, exiting in the round of 16; they were eliminated 3-6 by Real Madrid in the Champions League knockout play-offs, missing the round of 16; they lost 0-1 to Crystal Palace in the FA Cup final, forfeiting the title; and they finished third in the Premier League last season.resulting in a season without any major trophies.

In the 2025-26 season, Manchester City currently trails Arsenal by 9 points in the Premier League with one fewer match played, making championship hopes slim; they were knocked out in the Champions League round of 16 after being twice defeated by a depleted Real Madrid squad; they have advanced to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, facing Liverpool in the next round; now, by beating Arsenal in the League Cup final to win the trophy, Manchester City has ended a 19-month championship drought. Interestingly, this also marks Guardiola's 19th trophy as Manchester City's manager!

A championship drought lasting over a year feels incredibly long for Guardiola and Manchester City...