The English League Cup has become something of a by-word for success as far as City are concerned over the past few seasons.
Pep Guardiola’s squad are seeking what would be a remarkable third consecutive Carabao Cup triumph and a fifth League Cup success for the Club in the past seven seasons.
Last February’s latest Carabao Cup final triumph came courtesy of a dramatic 4-3 penalty shoot-out win over Chelsea after the two teams had remained goalless over 120 minutes and was sealed by Raheem Sterling’s decisive spot-kick.
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It was a victory that not only saw us retain the silverware we had lifted 12 months earlier over Arsenal but also one which served as the touchstone for our historic Fourmidables campaign which ended with City securing all four English trophies - the first time such a feat has ever been achieved.
Overall, City have reigned supreme six times in the League Cup – under its various different guises – and the event has become synonymous with several of the most memorable moments in our history.
Our maiden success in the tournament came in the 1969/70 campaign courtesy of the legendary, swashbuckling side assembled by manager Joe Mercer and memorably coached by Malcolm Allison.
City overcame first division rivals West Brom 2-1 in the showpiece in extra time on a mud-heap of a Wembley surface, memorably described by Mercer afterwards as a ‘pig of a pitch’.
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Full-back Glyn Pardoe – deployed in midfield for the final - proved our unlikely match-winner, firing home in the 102nd minute after Mike Doyle’s effort on the hour mark had cancelled out Jeff Astle’s early opener.
Six years later came our second League Cup success – and with it one of the most iconic goals ever seen in Wembley’s long, illustrious history.
Pitted against Newcastle United in the 1976 final, Tony Book’s City had taken an early advantage thanks to Peter Barnes’ thrilling 11th minute opener only for the Magpies to draw level thanks to Alan Gowling’s 24th minute effort.
With the final in the balance, that was the cue for Dennis Tueart to take centre-stage in the 46th minute.
Left-back Willie Donachie floated a fine ball to the back post, where it was met by central defender Tommy Booth, who headed back across the goal.
England winger Tueart, with his back to goal, instinctively met it with a spectacular bicycle kick that nestled in the bottom corner, for one of the most famous goals in the Club’s history.
It was an effort worthy of winning any final and ensured that Book become the first figure to both captain and manage a League Cup winning side.
We had to wait until 2014 for our next League Cup final triumph… but Yaya Toure ensured it was worth the wait as the Ivorian midfield maestro conjured up another wonder-strike that was to enter Wembley folklore.
Pitted against Sunderland in what was rebranded the Capital One Cup final, City were trailing 1-0 to Fabio Borini’s early effort when Yaya took centre stage.
Seizing the ball on 55 minutes, he drove forward before curling home an exquisite 25-yard shot that served to inspire Manuel Pellegrini’s side.
Within 60 seconds we were ahead thanks to Samir Nasri and Jesus Navas then struck again in injury time to set the seal on our third League Cup triumph.
Two years later, Pellegrini’s squad were victorious again with goalkeeper Willy Caballero proving the man for the big occasion as we overcame Liverpool 3-1 in a penalty shoot-out after the sides ended 120 minutes all square at 1-1.
With the final going to a penalty shoot-out as Fernandinho’s early second half opener was cancelled out by Philippe Coutinho’s late leveller, the Argentine goalkeeper produced three superb saves in the spot-kick drama to ensure City reigned supreme on the big occasion once more.
By the time of Pep Guardiola’s second season at the City helm in 2017/18 the competition had been rebranded as the Carabao Cup – and it was to hold the distinction of being our first piece of silverware under the Catalan’s inspired leadership.
With the boss also using the competition to blood several of our promising youngsters, City blazed a trail to Wembley where we were pitted against Arsenal in the 2018 final.
A superb all-round performance saw us emerge 3-0 victors with Sergio Aguero, skipper Vincent Kompany and David Silva all on target to secure a fifth League Cup triumph.
That was followed by another Wembley day to remember 12 months ago with Raheem Sterling’s memorable ‘top bins’ spot kick securing our successful defence of the Carabao Cup.
Now we eagerly await to see how the latest chapter unfolds in our proud League Cup story…
