Man City's six winners and losers after Carabao Cup trophy ignites title race

Manchester City secured their first silverware of the season after beating Arsenal 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday

Manchester City have entered the final international break of the season with fresh optimism after beating Arsenal 2-0 in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday. The victory and the manner of it has led many to back City to catch the Gunners in what would be a superb turnaround.

Regardless of whether or not they manage it, winning the League Cup is incredibly important for this group of players as they aim to replicate the dominance of the previous Pep Guardiola generation. With a new sense of confidence and belief, City will enjoy the next few weeks.

With the season heading towards an exciting crescendo, MEN Sport has taken a look at the six winners and losers from this campaign so far.

Winners

Nico O'Reilly

This is not merely recency bias, O'Reilly has enjoyed a brilliant year for the Blues. Guardiola hailed him as the 'signing of the season' after the Carabao Cup final and you can see where he was coming from.

O'Reilly is the latest midfielder who has had to adapt to playing left-back but he has done so, excellently. The 21-year-old provided cover when needed but has shown he is more than just a stand-in for City.

In midfield, he has performed well despite bigger names arriving in the summer. His brace at Wembley was just rewards for an impressive campaign.

Bernardo Silva

If this is to be his final chapter, Bernardo is looking to go out on a high. The original utility player for Guardiola has led by example this season and fully deserved to lift that trophy on Sunday.

Should he leave at the end of the campaign, expect Guardiola to shed a tear like he has when the likes of Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne left. The midfielder should be held in the same high regard as those club legends.

Winning silverware this season also means Bernardo's time at City does not end on a sour note, regardless of what happens between now and May.

Gianluigi Donnarumma

Erling Haaland's patchy form in recent weeks means he just misses out as being the third winner on the list to Donnarumma. The Italian goalkeeper has been sensational this campaign with his performance at Anfield just one that will live long in the memory.

He arrived as the anti-Guardiola goalkeeper in many ways. While his ability to play out from the back has been understated, he was never going to be the next Ederson.

Instead, he is one of the best shot stoppers in the world and this has led him to keep another sensational goalkeeper out of the team.

Losers

James Trafford

That other sensational goalkeeper is Trafford. Having signed from Burnley, the 23-year-old would have felt he was going to be first choice, until Donnarumma came along.

He has had to make do with a lack of games but City's performances in the FA and Carabao Cup has given him more minutes than he perhaps would have received. As is the nature of this season, even those who have lost out have had moments to shine.

Trafford's moment was under the arch on Sunday and nobody could have been happier for him than Guardiola and Donnarumma.

Phil Foden

After a brilliant November into December period, Foden has gone off the boil for the Blues. He has not scored since the win over Crystal Palace in December and since the Manchester derby, he has been forced into cameo roles from the bench.

This season was expected to be the response after a difficult 2024/25 where fixture congestion took its toll. But it has not quite happened for the midfielder.

He is in the England squad for this international break but there is no guarantee he will go to the World Cup if he does not, a) play more games and b) contribute more goals and assists.

John Stones

Stones has also made the England squad this month but he won't think his spot on the plane is guaranteed either. The centre-back has had a decorated career at City despite injuries plaguing his career.

This season, a thigh issue kept him out for two months and he has struggled to find a rhythm since. It is expected he will leave at the end of this campaign and whoever snaps up the 31-year-old will be getting a brilliant defender.

But injuries have meant this season has not been the potential farewell tour he deserved.