Aston Villa 1-2 Manchester City – PLAYER RATINGS: Carabao Cup final

Manchester City retained their Carabao Cup crown after beating Aston Villa in a lively affair at Wembley.

Sergio Aguero and Rodri gave Pep Guardiola‘s side a two-goal cushion after 30 minutes before Mbwana Samata pulled one back before half-time. It wasn’t enough as City lifted the trophy for the third time in succession. 

Sportsmail’s ADAM SHERGOLD was at Wembley to rate the performances of both sets of players.

Manchester City beat Aston Villa to win the Carabao Cup for a third successive time

Manchester City beat Aston Villa to win the Carabao Cup for a third successive time

ASTON VILLA (4-2-3-1)

Orjan Nyland – 6

Little he could do about City’s goals, especially Sergio Aguero’s deflected opener off Tyrone Mings’ leg. 

Frederic Guilbert – 5.5

Guilty of losing track of Rodri for City’s second goal and generally overran by Zinchenko and others. 

Bjorn Engels – 6.5

Spent much of the contest trying to stop the City tide. Some crucial blocks kept Villa in contention and almost levelled near the end. 

Tyrone Mings – 6.5

Battled bravely to keep City at bay. Unfortunate with deflection off his leg for Aguero’s opener. 

Matt Targett – 5

Tormented by Phil Foden, who was allowed far too much space to create the first goal and other chances. 

Nakamba (R) fought a hopeless battle in midfield as City worked the ball easily around him

Nakamba (R) fought a hopeless battle in midfield as City worked the ball easily around him

Douglas Luiz – 6

Lacked bite when it came to stopping City’s forward flow and struggled in transition to attack. 

Marvelous Nakamba – 5

Fighting a hopeless battle in midfield as City worked the ball easily around him. Booked for strong slide tackle on Aguero. 

Ahmed Elmohamady – 6

Saw precious little of the ball to make any impression and preoccupied by the advanced Zinchenko outside him. 

Jack Grealish – 6

City marshalled Villa’s talisman effectively and the usual magic was lacking as a result. 

Anwar El-Ghazi – 7

Villa’s most effective player with a couple of early chances and a very good cross for the goal. 

Mbwana Samatta – 6.5

An excellent diving header just before half-time gave Villa hope. Otherwise starved of service. 

Mbwana Samata scored an excellent diving header just before half-time gave Villa hope

Mbwana Samata scored an excellent diving header just before half-time gave Villa hope

Substitutions 

Mahmoud Trezeguet (for Elmohamady 70) 6

Came on as a final roll of the dice with 20 minutes to go but couldn’t conjure a miracle.

Conor Hourihane (for El Ghazi 70) 6 

Fresh legs and another body in midfield as Villa searched for an equaliser but not to be. 

Keinan Davis (for Samatta 79)

Subs not used: Pepe Reina (GK); Neil Taylor, Henri Lansbury, Ezri Konsa

Manager: Dean Smith – 6

Villa refused to be overwhelmed when City threatened to run up a cricket score. They will take renewed confidence into their Premier League relegation fight despite this outcome. 

MANCHESTER CITY (4-3-3)

Claudio Bravo – 6.5

Called into action rarely as City dominated the play but alert to make a brilliant save to deny Engels at the death. 

Kyle Walker – 6

Less active going forward than Zinchenko but played supporting role when City attacked down the right. 

John Stones – 5

Slipped over embarrassingly in the lead-up to Villa’s goal and again looked short of confidence. 

Oleksandr Zinchenko provided his team with an attacking threat with his cross-field passes

Oleksandr Zinchenko provided his team with an attacking threat with his cross-field passes

Fernandinho – 6

Not stress tested too often which was just as well given his clearing headers and reactions are far from perfect. 

Oleksandr Zinchenko – 7.5

Master of the cross-field pass, especially to Foden. More than happy to push forward to good effect. 

Rodri – 7.5

Caught the eye with a lovely dinked pass to find Foden for the opener and well-timed burst to head second. 

Ilkay Gundogan – 6

Solid if unspectacular in the centre of the park. Little wonder he was replaced early in second-half. 

Rodri made a well-timed burst to head in a second goal for City on the half-hour mark

Rodri made a well-timed burst to head in a second goal for City on the half-hour mark

Phil Foden – 8 (Star man)

Class act. Excellent assist for Aguero’s opener, some silky touches and a constant threat. Confirmed he belongs on the biggest stage. 

David Silva – 6.5

Nimble around the Villa penalty box as you’d expect but lacking the killer pass on this occasion. 

Raheem Sterling – 6.5

Not his most buccaneering Wembley performance but showed the odd flash of brilliance. 

Sergio Aguero – 7

Another poacher’s goal set City on their way as the Argentine added another medal to his large collection. 

Phil Foden (left) and Sergio Aguero (right) were instrumental as City win another trophy

Phil Foden (left) and Sergio Aguero (right) were instrumental as City win another trophy

Substitutions

Kevin De Bruyne (for Gundogan 58) 6

Introduced to try and find a contest-killing third goal but failed to make his normal impact.

Bernardo Silva (for David Silva 76) 

Gabriel Jesus (for Aguero 83)

Subs not used: Ederson (GK); Benjamin Mendy, Riyad Mahrez, Nicolas Otamendi

Manager: Pep Guardiola – 7

City were far from their free-flowing best but Pep’s a winner and his teams know exactly how to get the job done. Love affair with the Carabao Cup continues. 

Referee: Lee Mason – 6

Controversy over the corner that led to City’s second goal – it clearly should have been a goal kick.

Attendance: 82,149 

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