LONDON, United Kingdom, March 1 – Manchester City claimed
the League Cup for the fourth time in five seasons by beating Aston Villa 2-1
at Wembley on Sunday thanks to goals from Sergio Aguero and Rodrigo.

Mbwana Samatta pulled a goal back for Villa, but their wait
for the club’s first silverware since 1996 goes on as Pep Guardiola’s men have
now won six of the last seven major trophies in English football.

Guardiola made eight changes from the side that won 2-1 at
Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday with Kevin De Bruyne among
those left on the bench.

However, it mattered little as City had the luxury of
recalling Aguero, Raheem Sterling and David Silva to the starting XI, and the
gulf in class showed.

Guardiola’s raft of changes also handed a rare start to Phil
Foden and the 19-year-old more than justified his selection.

Rodrigo’s fine pass picked out Foden to head back into the
path of Aguero and the Argentine’s deflected effort beat Orjan Nyland in the
Villa goal to open the scoring on 20 minutes.

Foden was then inches away from a goal himself with a
deflected shot that flew inches wide.

Villa felt aggrieved when City were awarded another corner
moments later after Jack Grealish fired the ball off Ilkay Gundogan for what
should have been a goal kick.

Instead, City doubled their lead as Gundogan’s corner was
met with a powerful downward header from Rodrigo.

Villa could barely even get a touch for the next 10 minutes
as the holders threatened to run riot in a repeat of the 6-1 thrashing they
handed the hosts at Villa Park last month.

Sterling had a glorious chance for his first goal of 2020
deflected behind by a brave block from Tyrone Mings.

But moments later the reason Mings is ahead of John Stones
in the pecking order for England selection became clear as the City defender
inexplicably fell to the floor to give Villa a lifeline.

A long ball forward eventually came to Anwar El Ghazi and
from his cross Samatta headed low past Claudio Bravo to the delight of the
travelling thousands from Birmingham and Villa fan Prince William in the
stands.

The difference in the desperation for success between the
supports was obvious as Villa were roared on vociferously throughout, while
City failed to sell out their allocation.

That did not compensate for the difference in quality on the
field as City quickly settled back into their rhythm and could then introduce
De Bruyne for the final half hour.

However, City failed to turn their dominance into more goals
as Rodrigo was denied by a fine save by Nyland from another corner before
Aguero then fired into the side-netting to give Villa hope for the last 10
minutes.

And they were very nearly punished as the often-criticised
Bravo had to make a brilliant save three minutes from time to turn Bjorn
Engels’ header onto the post and maintain City’s grip on the competition.

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