Pep Guardiola said “I am a human being” as he defended his wild celebrations in Manchester City’s 2-0 Carabao Cup final victory against Arsenal.

Guardiola channelled his inner Jose Mourinho as he sprinted along the Wembley touchline before kicking an advertising board following Nico O’Reilly’s quickfire second-half brace.

Riccardo Calafiori hit a post, and Gabriel Jesus struck the crossbar, as Arsenal went in search of a response but City saw out the win as Guardiola landed the 19th trophy of his remarkable 10-season City tenure.

“I wanted another yellow card and that is why I did it,” joked Guardiola when quizzed about his celebration. “That was the target.

“Listen, if I can’t celebrate in the moment against a team like Arsenal, and the way we were playing… My emotions are related to the way we are playing. I react when it is OK, we scored a goal, and emotions came out.

“I am not artificially intelligent, I am a human being, and I want to celebrate. It was not showing disrespect to Arsenal or for the other fans, I just celebrated with my people. And when I feel it, I express it.”

Guardiola became the first manager in history to win the Carabao Cup five times, and, despite question marks over his City future, he indicated he has no desire to walk away at the end of the season.

“It is so difficult to win titles, it doesn’t matter if it is the Premier League or the Champions League, but to win against that team made the title special,” he added.

“Alongside Barcelona and Bayern Munich as well, they are the best team in Europe. And what we have done by winning 19 titles in 10 years in the modern era, in England, in Europe, it is hat’s off to the whole organisation.

“I still have the joy to compete. Today was a real challenge, nobody gave us anything. I said to the players: ‘Today, we are going to see what our level is’. They are the best so far, no doubt about that, so let’s prove ourselves and in the second half, I could not believe we could do it against Arsenal, and we did it.”

City are nine points behind the Gunners in the race for the Premier League title. However, Guardiola’s side have a game in hand, and host Arteta’s men at the Etihad next month.

Arsenal will also be wounded by City derailing their outside chance of an unprecedented quadruple.

Guardiola continued: “I would like to be nine points in front of Arsenal, and I don’t know if I would change the trophy for the nine points to fight for the Premier League.

“It is a different competition, and they will be more controlled when they come to the Etihad. Maybe for that game it will help us, but the Premier League is in their hands. Is that team going to drop points? We will try to win our games and then see what happens.”

With free agency slowing down and the draft approaching, speculation around the Vikings is intensifying — especially given the team’s current lack of a general manager. While some rumors are purely entertaining, others warrant closer scrutiny.

A few loud narratives still didn’t hold up.

This weekly column will address the rumors that seem unlikely and reexamine persistent narratives that lack support.

Several Vikings Talking Points Now Need a Reality Check

The weekly Nopedy Nopes are here.

The Nopedy Nope: Carson Wentz is the current odds-on favorite to earn the Vikings’ QB1 job in September.

When Minnesota re-signed Wentz on Thursday, the move barely registered with most fans. Some even expected it. He performed reliably as a replacement for J.J. McCarthy, who was sidelined with a high ankle sprain last September and October. That performance evidently impressed some, including Ben Leber, who speculated that Wentz might even compete for the starting position in 2026.

Leber tweeted after the Wentz addition, “I believe there will be a true QB competition. So as of right now I would guess the depth chart would be: Wentz, Murray, McCarthy. May the best man win.”

Many Twitter (X) users had to reread Leber’s comments multiple times to confirm the account wasn’t a parody.

The account was genuine, however, and Leber stood by his opinion. Wentz recently met with the New York Jets to discuss a potential role on Aaron Glenn’s team, where he could have competed for a starting position or served as QB2 behind Geno Smith. Ultimately, no agreement was reached, and Wentz returned to Minnesota.

This decision suggests Wentz believes he has a legitimate opportunity in Minnesota, likely aiming to secure the QB2 position over McCarthy. If Leber’s assessment is accurate, training camp in Eagan could feature a competitive battle between Murray and Wentz, drawing significant attention.

But let’s face it: the Vikings didn’t sign Murray just to turn around and give the job to Wentz, a journeyman passer.

The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Wentz as the QB1 solution. That is Murray’s calling.

The Nopedy Nope: Minnesota is the NFL’s eighth-worst team.

The Vikings subtracted four starters in free agency: Jalen Nailor (WR, Las Vegas Raiders), Jonathan Allen (DT, Cincinnati Bengals), Javon Hargrave (DT, Green Bay Packers), and Ryan Wright (P, New Orleans Saints).

For NFL.com’s Eric Edholm, that’s a death sentence. He called Minnesota the NFL’s 25th-best team this week and explained, “The Vikings have had an odd and uncomfortable March so far, getting noticeably weaker up the middle on both sides of the ball. Losing linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave hurts the defensive front, and Ryan Kelly’s retirement leaves a hole at center.”

“Receiver Jalen Nailor’s exit was quietly a big one for a team that needs all the non-Justin Jefferson targets it can hold on to. Fullback C.J. Ham retired, and longtime stalwart Harrison Smith could do the same, potentially creating a major void at safety.”

While most fans believed Murray’s arrival improved the team, Edholm wasn’t buying it.

Edholm added, “Even signing Kyler Murray to a league-minimum deal, cheap as it was, delivered a certain awkwardness, thanks to the presence of former first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. Murray’s no-tag clause tells me he’s more likely to start than not, which would make McCarthy’s future even more muddled.”

Edholm even ranked the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons ahead of the Vikings.

The Verdict: Nopedy nope on the Vikings living in the league’s bottom tier. They finished 9-8 last year with putrid quarterback play and will only improve in 2026. Book it.

The Nopedy Nope: Andy Dalton was a serious offseason option at quarterback via trade.

The Philadelphia Eagles are now the proud owners of an Andy Dalton

CBS News’ Tom Dougerty reported Wednesday, “The Philadelphia Eagles are reportedly adding a veteran quarterback to add experience and depth behind Jalen Hurts. The Eagles have acquired 38-year-old Andy Dalton from the Carolina Panthers, according to CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported the Birds are sending a 2027 seventh-round draft pick to the Panthers.”

“Dalton, a long-time starting QB who made three Pro Bowls with the Cincinnati Bengals, spent the last three seasons in Carolina. In 2024, Panthers head coach Dave Canales benched Bryce Young, who was born in Wynnewood, for Dalton after Week 2. Dalton started five games before he sprained his thumb in a car accident before Carolina’s Week 8 game against the Denver Broncos.”

A few weeks ago, national media whispered Dalton as an option for the Vikings at QB2. That died when Kyler Murray entered the mix.

The Verdict: Nopedy nope on Dalton as Minnesota’s big quarterback fix behind McCarthy.

Ireland’s Kate O’Connor won a bronze medal at the World Indoor Championships this evening and in the process becomes the first Irishwoman to win two World Indoor medals.

The Dundalk St Gerard’s AC athlete began the final event of the day, the 800m, in Poland in a strong position.

O’Connor produced a personal best of 2:10.26 to take the bronze medal. She finished only 49 points behind gold medallist Sofie Dokter of The Netherlands on a score of 4,888. American Anna Hall took silver with 4,860 points.

𝐒𝐇𝐄’𝐒 𝐃𝐎𝐍𝐄 𝐈𝐓 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍!!!🙌

It’s BRONZE for Kate O’Connor who continues her remarkable medal-winning-run at major championships🤩 The first Irishwoman to win two World Indoor medals👏Outstanding!!!!

Advertisement

⏱️2:10.26 PB over 800m for a new 4839 National Record🤯… pic.twitter.com/5ZDYtc4fw9

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) March 22, 2026

Kate O’Connor’s reaction

Reacting to her achievement this evening, Kate O’Connor stated:

“I came here with very high expectations and although I maybe didn’t meet them, I’m coming away a world bronze medallist and I really can’t complain with that. I think it’s probably a good thing that I am walking away thinking I could do a little better, but ultimately I’m delighted.”

Hear from our World Indoor bronze medalist Kate O’Connor! 🥉#IrishAthletics #WorldIndoorChamps pic.twitter.com/UuAOuPQ8ch

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) March 22, 2026

Good start in 60m hurdles

O’Connor started the 60m hurdles strongly this morning as she clocked 8.23 seconds – just 0.02 outside her personal best set at the recent National Indoor Championships. She then achieved a best clearance of 1.81m in the high jump, achieved on her final attempt despite tripping on a cable during her opening run-up.

In the shot put, the final event of the morning session, the 25-year-old opened with 14.59m, improved to a 1cm personal best of 14.65m in her second round, and then extended that further to 14.70m with her final throw.

The Irish athlete began the evening session with a foul in the long jump before producing a best of 6.38m on her final attempt.

Array of medals

This result continues a remarkable run of success at major championships for O’Connor. In 2025, the Dundalk athlete claimed a bronze medal at the European Indoor Championships, took silver at the World Indoor Championships, struck gold at the World University Games, and silver at the World Outdoor Championships.

Only two Irish athletes, Sonia O’Sullivan and Catherina McKiernan, have now won more individual global medals at senior championships.

Outlining her plans for this season, O’Connor explained:

“My plan is to do the Commonwealth Games and European Championships. I’ll open at the Commonwealths, and then the Europeans are the main aim for me. I want to try and win gold. It’s going to be a tough competition, but if you don’t go in with the mindset to win gold, you’re never going to do it. I’m going to work really hard for the next four or five months and put myself in the position to win that gold.”

Day 3 Results Summary

• Kate O’Connor – Pentathlon – 60m Hurdles: 8.23
• Kate O’Connor – Pentathlon – High Jump: 1.81m
• Kate O’Connor – Pentathlon – Shot Put: 14.70m
• Sarah Lavin – 60m Hurdles Heats – 8.08 (5th, did not advance)
• Kate O’Connor – Pentathlon – Long Jump: 6.38m
• Kate O’Connor – Pentathlon – 800m: 2:10.26 PB
• Kate O’Connor – Pentathlon – BRONZE (4839 Points NR)

Team Ireland Results Summary

• Kate O’Connor – Women’s Pentathlon – BRONZE NR
• Nick Griggs – Men’s 3000m – Final – 9^th overall
• Andrew Coscoran – Men’s 3000m – Final – 13^th overall
• Mark English – Men’s 800m – SF Stage – 14^th overall
• Bori Akinola – Men’s 60m – SF Stage – 15^th overall
• Maeve O’Neill – Women’s 800m – SF Stage – 18^th overall
• Lauren Roy – Women’s 60m- SF Stage – 19^th overall
• Emma Moore – Women’s 800m – Heats – 22^nd overall
• James Gormley – Men’s 1500m – Heats – 29^th overall
• Ciara Neville – Women’s 60m – Heats – 31^st overall
• Sarah Lavin – Women’s 60m Hurdles – Heats – 32^nd overall

LiveScores Now Available at IrishScores.com

Mikel Arteta said it would have been “very unfair” to drop Kepa Arrizabalaga for the Carabao Cup final as he defended his decision to pick the goalkeeper whose mistake gifted victory to Manchester City.

Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper David Raya was left on the bench as his deputy Arrizabalaga started and spilled Rayan Cherki’s cross for Nico O’Reilly to open the scoring in City’s 2-0 win at Wembley.

The Spaniard, a summer signing from Chelsea, has played throughout Arsenal’s Carabao Cup run but defeat means they have still not won a major trophy since 2020, while Raya has the most clean sheets in the Premier League.

“I understand that but I have to do what I feel is right, which is honest and which is fair,” said Arteta. “I think we have understanding with Kepa, he’s played all the competition and I think it would have been very, very unfair for him and for the team to do something different.”

Arteta denied he had guaranteed Arrizabalaga he would play in domestic cup competitions when he joined, saying he felt the 31-year-old had deserved to play.

“I can never promise a player to play certain competitions because at the end they have to earn it and they have to do enough like any other position to do that,” he explained.

“We are guided by what we’ve seen and what he’s done, what he’s done in the competition, and he helped us to go all the way through here. I believe it’s the right thing to do and that’s it. Errors are part of football and today it happened unfortunately in a crucial moment.”

Arteta said defeat left a “bad taste” for Arsenal as he struggled to process his disappointment.

He added: “I’m very sad. It’s a very hard one to take, especially for our players and our supporters because we know how much it means to them and how much we want it, and the fact that we haven’t managed to deliver that obviously is disappointing and sad, and it leaves you with a really bad taste.”

Premier League leaders Arsenal still have a potential treble to play for and Arteta believes they will have more hunger now.

He added: “What this team has done in the last eight months has been incredible, and we’re going to use this disappointment and this fire in the belly to have the most amazing two months that we have ever had together.”

Eberechi Eze was ruled out of the final with a calf problem and will undergo a scan later this week but Arteta has ruled him out of the England squad to play Uruguay and Japan.

Akor Adams was left out of the starting line-up as Sevilla lost 2-0 to Valencia, with coach Matías Almeyda explaining his decision after the match.

Adams, who is Sevilla’s top scorer this season with seven goals and four assists in 23 games, had been expected to start the match. The Nigerian striker has been one of the team’s key players since returning from international duty.

However, Almeyda chose to start Neal Maupay instead. The decision did not go well for Sevilla, as they went two goals down before half-time through strikes from Hugo Duro and Largie Ramazani.

Adams was introduced at the start of the second half and made an immediate impact, adding energy and attacking threat to the team. Sevilla improved after the break and controlled much of the game, but they were unable to score.

The defeat leaves Sevilla in 15th place with 31 points from 29 matches, just three points above the relegation zone. Valencia, meanwhile, moved up to 11th place and are now comfortably clear of danger.

After the game, Almeyda said he dropped Adams because he was not satisfied with his performance in their previous match against Barcelona. He also explained that he wanted to rotate his strikers and give others a chance.

“We have three strikers and I am trying different options to see who can score,” Almeyda said. “I was not happy with Akor’s last game, so I decided to make a change.”

Sevilla now face a difficult run of matches as they try to move away from the relegation zone, and Adams is expected to return to the starting line-up in their next game.

R Ashwin feels playing home matches at different venues might be detrimental for RR.© YouTube

Most of the splashy happenings from Minnesota Vikings’ 2026 free agency — there weren’t many, other than Kyler Murray’s arrival — are over. The club can still sign depth free-agent pieces, but the firestorm of free-agent movement is done. So, let’s look at the “losers” from the process.

Minnesota’s roster shuffle came with collateral damage.

The criteria? Players most affected — not in a good way — by new arrivals and the front office’s decision-making. The players on this list are in ascending order (No. 1 = biggest “loser”).

Some Vikings Now Face Steeper Climbing This Summer

Who do you consider the biggest loser?

4. Dwight McGlothern (CB)

McGlothern may not have been the smoking-gun candidate to earn Minnesota’s CB3 job in 2026, and the signing of veteran defensive back James Pierre made sure of that.

Minnesota found McGlothern via undrafted free agency in 2024, and since then, many fans have held high hopes for a breakout performance because of his tremendous size and production at LSU and Arkansas. So far, it’s just not meant to be, as he’s banked just 50 defensive snaps in two seasons.

McGlothern still profiles as a practice squad candidate in 2026 and could even make the active roster, but with the Vikings likely to draft a cornerback or two in April, his outlook is shaky. He probably needed to contribute more in 2024 and 2025 to have a puncher’s chance at the CB3 or CB4 post this autumn.

3. Will Reichard (K)

Reichard’s fine; no need to worry. He is not a real “loser.” Still, he lost his holder at the start of free agency when the New Orleans Saints stole punter Ryan Wright, handing the specialist a contract worth $14 million over the next four years.

In return, the Vikings signed six-time All-Pro punter Johnny Hekker this week, whom Minnesota hopes will turn back the clock to his glory days of a decade ago. Hekker was an average punter last season.

The 36-year-old also holds extra points and field goals. Reichard will need a competent holder to continue his All-Pro career. If it’s not Hekker, look for Minnesota to find a rookie punter late in the draft or from undrafted free agency.

2. Max Brosmer (QB)

Minnesota rarely carries four quarterbacks on its regular-season roster, sometimes keeping only two, suggesting a roster reduction is coming. Brosmer was already likely headed for the practice squad or outright release, but Carson Wentz’s re-arrival earlier in the week brought a significantly narrower path for Brosmer to potentially secure the QB3 role.

Brosmer’s prospects have now shifted dramatically. Once an intriguing undrafted free agent—with some even drawing loose comparisons to Brock Purdy — he is now likely destined for the practice squad or outright release. The momentum simply isn’t there.

With the recent additions and re-signings, the quarterback depth chart now includes Murray, J.J. McCarthy, Wentz, and Brosmer, leaving little room for surprises when final cuts are made. It was a tough week for Brosmer.

Our Janik Eckardt on Brosmer’s hellish week: “Sure, he hasn’t particularly earned more reps or trust, but it’s important to note that he didn’t enter the league with high expectations. A developmental undrafted quarterback needs time to grow as a player to become a reliable backup down the line.”

“Completely writing him off after 71 passes is not entirely fair, given his draft status. However, the NFL isn’t fair and if a player can’t get it done, he’ll be replaced, regardless of whether he was supposed to be ready or not. The good news is that Brosmer’s career isn’t over with a stint on the practice squad.”

1. J.J. McCarthy (QB)

McCarthy has encountered an extremely wicked, shockingly evil, and vile offseason. There’s no way around it.

The Vikings don’t have to trade McCarthy — at 23, he has time to develop — but recent developments cast doubt on the team’s long-term commitment to him. If the Vikings were fully behind McCarthy, their quarterback situation would likely look different, especially with Murray now expected to be QB1.

Some speculate that McCarthy was general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s preferred pick, while head coach Kevin O’Connell favored alternatives like Sam Darnold, Daniel Jones, Aaron Rodgers, or Drake Maye. If that’s the case, Minnesota might move on from McCarthy sooner than anticipated, potentially trading him to a team such as the Arizona Cardinals or Pittsburgh Steelers for a mid-round pick.

This offseason, Minnesota replaced the executive who drafted McCarthy, acquired Murray, and re-signed Wentz, presumably as a QB2 contender. None of these moves suggests a promising future for McCarthy with the team.

The last couple of months have been a nightmare for McCarthy’s long-term outlook.

Arsenal and Manchester City will face off at Wembley on Sunday in the Carabao Cup final, in what promises to be a defining moment in their battle this season.

This is not just another final. Both teams are chasing success on multiple fronts, and the result at Wembley could shape how the rest of the campaign unfolds.

Arsenal arrive in strong form under Mikel Arteta. They currently sit nine points clear at the top of the Premier League and have also reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. Confidence is high, and the Gunners will see this as a big chance to win their first trophy in several years.

For Manchester City, the situation is different. Pep Guardiola and his team are looking to respond after their recent exit from Europe. Winning this final would offer them a chance to bounce back and regain momentum as the season enters a crucial stage.

Both sides are still involved in the FA Cup, and they are also set to meet again in the league next month. There is even a chance they could face each other once more before the season ends. That makes this final even more important, as it could give the winner a psychological advantage going into those matches.

For Arsenal, the game is also about ending a long wait for silverware. Since lifting the FA Cup in 2020, they have come close on several occasions but failed to go all the way. Reaching the final is a step forward, but they will be determined to finish the job this time.

Manchester City, on the other hand, have enjoyed great success in recent years, winning several major trophies under Guardiola. However, they will be eager to add another title and avoid ending the season without silverware.

Kick-off is set for 5pm, and with both teams having plenty to play for, a tense and exciting contest is expected at Wembley.