Carabao Cup to undergo big changes next season after Pep Guardiola's fixture congestion warning

The Carabao Cup is set to undergo a major overhaul next season. The annual knockout competition in men's domestic football in England is reportedly adopting a ‘seeding system’ to avoid a clash with the Champions League and Europa League. This move could massively favour the bigger clubs.  

The main reason behind the Carabao Cup being forced to make changes is the extended Champions League format for next season. The number of matches in the new format of Europe's most prestigious club competition will increase from 125 to 189.  

The new system sees teams playing in Europe avoid each other in the early rounds. This will ensure that the teams in the Champions League do not draw others in the competition, as well as any other side in the UEFA Europa League. In addition, the third round of the Carabao Cup will also be spread over two weeks to ensure it can be completed on time.

Pep Guardiola among managers/teams who raised concerns about fixture congestion

Several big teams like Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea have raised concerns over the busy schedule. Meanwhile, City boss Pep Guardiola had warned that he might field a reserve squad in the Carabao Cup due to fixture congestion concerns. All eyes will be on the biggest competition Champions League and no teams will want to risk their main players for other competitions. 

“Next season, when we play in the Champions League, hopefully, we will qualify, it is the same week as the Carabao Cup. How are we going to play? Will we play EDS (development squad) in the Carabao Cup?” Guardiola expressed his concerns

“After next season, we go to the Club World Cup. We are incredibly happy, a lot of money, incredibly prestigious. But how many days do I give off to the players? It’s unsustainable,” he added.

Meanwhile, the English Football League (EFL) is understood to be unhappy with the proposed changes. Replays have already been scrapped in the FA Cup to benefit the giants, and the new move could hamper any potential opportunities for lower clubs.