Set against the rumours of a departure at the end of the season, or at least the idea that he is considering whether to see out the final year of his contract or not, we could be witnessing the final months of the Pep Guardiola era at City.
In that respect, any trophy that can be won this season would have added sentimental value. For Guardiola, he will know that what he has achieved at City will already speak for itself.
Achievements like a 100-point season, a domestic treble, a ‘proper’ treble, four League Cups and four Premier League titles in a row were unthinkable when he arrived in England a decade ago, especially for him.
But the way he has fallen in love with English domestic competitions, with their trips to old-fashioned stadiums and ‘welcoming’ fans, would mean that winning the League Cup again on Sunday would be very emotional.
Especially given he will have done it with a team that is largely new.
