The Rest Is Football

Episode: Manchester City Win The Carabao Cup
Date: March 23, 2026
Hosts: Gary Lineker, Alan Shearer, Micah Richards

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into Manchester City’s triumph in the Carabao Cup Final over Arsenal—an event that not only saw City assert their domestic dominance but also left Arsenal's trophy hopes dented. Gary, Alan, and Micah dissect Pep Guardiola’s tactical masterclass, critical moments and managerial decisions from the final, and ponder the psychological repercussions for Arsenal. The show also moves through the England squad selection drama, touching on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s omission, and rounds up major Premier League storylines, notably a fiery North-East Derby, the relegation battle, and top-four races. As always, the trio’s insight, wit, and chemistry shine through.

1. Manchester City Claim the Carabao Cup

City’s Tactical Brilliance & Individual Performances

• [05:10] Gary Lineker: Introduces City’s win and notes the end of Arsenal’s quadruple hopes.
• [05:28] Micah Richards:
  • Applauds Guardiola’s setup: “5 in 10. He said afterwards, you Let everybody know. He’s just an incredible manager, isn’t he?”
  • Praises the attacking fluidity: “Semenya on the right, Doku on the left, Xerki behind Haaland. Arsenal didn’t know what had hit 'em… Man City just dominated.”
• [06:07] Alan Shearer:
  • Expected City’s backup defense to give Arsenal a chance, but City “didn’t give them any chances, did they?”

Nico O’Reilly’s Breakout Game

• [06:24] Gary Lineker:
  • Defends Pep’s trust in O’Reilly at left back: “He’s played left back a lot this season and he’s been absolutely fine.”
  • Highlights O’Reilly’s impact: “Not only did he play really well, he scored the only two goals of the game.”
• [06:45] Micah Richards:
  • Hails O’Reilly’s adaptability: “The ability to play midfield and left back… it’s just brilliant to see and to be so adaptable, so young.”
• [07:07] Alan Shearer:
  • Notes England’s emerging depth at left back: “There’s some competition for England and left back, by the way.”

The Hincapié Conundrum & Arsenal’s Struggles

• [07:46] Micah Richards:
  • Criticizes Arteta’s handling after Hincapié’s yellow: “That was the difference… should have used the left backs on the bench… City dominated.”
• [10:14] Alan Shearer:
  • On the Kepa goalkeeping decision: “You’re under huge pressure to win… what are your feelings about not playing your best team or keeper in the final?”
• [11:03] Micah Richards:
  • On Arsenal’s keepers dilemma: “You have to start Raya in the game, especially because… not a trophy for five and a half years.”

Was It a Momentum Shifter for Arsenal?

• [12:55] Gary Lineker:
  • Asks if this loss could “be a momentum shifter?”
• [12:58] Micah Richards:
  • Acknowledges psychological impact: “It gives them a little bit of out maybe… But I think with a goalkeeper, especially against Man City, you play your best.”

Quote:
“He’s made a key error which was a game changer which gave them the lead and that’s it. And we wouldn’t have been talking about it if Arsenal had won.”
— Alan Shearer [14:01]

2. Arsenal’s Prospects & Player Analysis

On Saka’s Form and Arsenal’s Attack

• [16:32] Micah Richards:
  • On Arsenal’s struggles to create: “I do feel as though they do need to take more risks in games… they’re having to do too much defensive work.”
• [18:07] Gary Lineker:
  • Notes Saka’s isolation: “By the time he gets it, the opposition… can double and sometimes treble up on him… Not easy for him.”
• [18:32] Alan Shearer:
  • Predicts no drastic tactical change: “They’re not changing though, guys… Arsenal not changing between now and the end of the season.”
• [19:00] Micah Richards:
  • Believes players need more agency: “Big players turn up in the big games and that’s what they need to do.”

3. Guardiola’s Mental Edge & Mind Games

• [21:09] Alan Shearer:
  • “Five League Cups. Just astonishing… huge respect.”
• [21:47] Gary Lineker:
  • Praises Guardiola’s intensity: “His enthusiasm and energy... is remarkable.”
• [22:04] Micah Richards:
  • On Pep’s subtle mind games: “He’s already planting little seeds… he knows what it means. If Man City win the next game… it’s only three points in it.”

4. England Squad Controversies & Selection Debates

Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Omission

• [23:06] Gary Lineker:
  • On the high bar for England selection: “It’s almost very difficult not to be in the squad.”
• [23:39] Gary Lineker:
  • Challenges the logic of omitting Trent: “Without Trent, it lessens your chances slightly, very slightly… Even if it’s half a percent.”
• [24:50] Alan Shearer:
  • Suggests Bellingham-Trent friendship might factor into Tuchel’s thinking.
• [25:11] Gary Lineker:
  • Calls idea ‘bizarre,’ suspects “maybe he’s leaving Trent out just to send another message.”

Quote:
“If you’re 15 minutes to go and you’re… one nil down, and he was on the bench and you could put that delivery and passing ability… I can’t see why you wouldn’t want that asset.”
— Gary Lineker [24:23]

England’s Overflowing Talent & Squad Management

• [26:21] Alan Shearer:
  • Supports rolling the squad to allow “a few days rest before, then come in and play your bit.”
• [27:32] Gary Lineker:
  • Notes Harvey Barnes’s late call-up, Anderson (Newcastle)’s opportunity.
• [28:14] Micah Richards:
  • On world-class fullbacks: “As a coach… it’s your responsibility to be able to get the best out of world class players like that… Top managers should be able to accommodate that type of player.”

5. Premiership Weekend Recap

North-East Derby: Sunderland vs Newcastle

[35:32 – 39:38]

• Gary & Alan, live from the Tyne-Wear Derby scene:
  • Gary: Describes pre-game atmosphere: “There were massive queues out of every pub… quarter to 10.”
  • Alan:
    • On Newcastle’s second-half collapse: “Sunderland wanted it more than Newcastle in the second half. And that is pretty damning.”
    • “Big questions will be asked… going to be a long two or three weeks for Newcastle now.”
  • On Anthony Gordon: “Ran himself into the ground… great finish.”

Relegation Battle: Spurs, Forest & More

[39:44 – 43:40]

• Alan Shearer:
  • Spurs’ woes: “I’d be really, really, really worried if I was a Spurs fan… there’s a huge chance they could be… relegated.”
  • Forest praised for defensive solidity and midfield class.
• Gary Lineker:
  • “You wonder what they do at this point… if they’re going to make a change, it would be now.”

6. Race for Champions League & Europe

Villa, Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea

[43:59 – 51:44]

• Manchester United:
  • Earn tough draw at Bournemouth; referee controversy over penalties and red cards.
  • “Could be a really important point” — Alan Shearer [45:31]
• Liverpool & Chelsea:
  • Both suffer damaging defeats.
  • Everton: Praised for intensity and organization.
  • Chelsea’s running stats: “Every team has outrun them this season… I think it’s amazing really.” — Alan Shearer [46:51]
• Manager under scrutiny:
  • On Chelsea manager Régis Le Senier:
    • “He’s a bright and articulate young man… but he’ll need to learn fast.” — Gary Lineker [48:53]
• David Moyes at Everton:
  • “He’s rinsing every bit of ability out of the players there.“ — Alan Shearer [51:24]
  • “He was sensational in the midfield as well.” — On Ghana [51:44]

7. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:28 | Micah | “He’s just an incredible manager, isn’t he?... City just dominated. Especially in that second half.” | | 06:45 | Micah | “To be so adaptable, so young… it’s just brilliant to see.” | | 14:01 | Alan | “He’s made a key error which was a game changer… we wouldn’t have been talking about it if Arsenal had won.” | | 24:23 | Gary | “I can’t see why you wouldn’t want that asset, even if you don’t see him as a starter because you’re worried about him defensively.” | | 35:51 | Alan | “They got batted in the second half against Barcelona… Newcastle should have scored another, maybe two more… Sunderland were the better team.” | | 46:51 | Alan | “Every team has outrun them this season… I think it’s amazing really.” | | 51:24 | Alan | “He’s rinsing every bit of ability out of the players there.” |

8. Final Thoughts

• Manchester City’s tactical flexibility and Pep’s eye for detail again prove decisive in cup finals, with Nico O’Reilly’s emergence a key storyline.
• Arsenal’s defeat stings but doesn’t doom their season; mentality and risk-taking will be central to their run-in.
• The England manager’s selection headaches—especially over talents like Trent Alexander-Arnold—stir ongoing debate about style vs system.
• The Premier League’s relegation race is heating up, while the fight for European spots remains fiercely competitive.
• Throughout, the interplay of on-pitch performance and off-pitch psychology—mind games, belief, momentum—remains central to football’s drama.

For football fans craving analysis, banter, and insight, this episode is essential listening.