Pep Guardiola has said there is no point in complaining about the rising prevalence of set pieces, with Manchester City’s manager recognising the need to adapt.
While City’s 57 goals in the Premier League is one fewer than Arsenal, the leading scorers, only nine have derived from dead balls, a rate of 15.8%, the division’s lowest.
Arsenal’s 24 is the most, representing 41.3% of their total amount. On Monday, the Liverpool manager, Arne Slot, said that the league is “not as joyful” due to the growing emphasis on set pieces.
Guardiola said on Tuesday: “Set pieces have started to be an important part of strategy. It was different when I started as a manager [in 2008]. When I was a young boy in Spain we said the people in England celebrate corners and free-kicks like a goal – I remember perfectly so nothing has changed in that way.
“It is true Arsenal dictate a little bit how they [every team] do it and it is important. Four years ago, in the NBA, the three-shot point was not involved as much but the Golden State Warriors with Stephen Curry [started] to make three points more and more and everyone adapted, now so many teams do it.
“It is part of the evolution and part of the dynamics. You can sit and complain but you have to adapt. It’s part of the game. I know the game is stopped with set pieces, it is not dynamic but it is part of the game. You have to adapt and especially adapt in the way it is whistled [refereed] and conducted in the Premier League.
“Every country has a specific way to do it and every club have specific ways to play. I understand completely the reason why Arne said that and in some aspects, I agree.”
Guardiola would not be drawn regarding the heightened jostling that can occur in the area at setpieces. “I have my own opinion,” he said. “I share with my players a lot but what happens inside the box and outside the box remains absolutely to me and I don’t want to share it with you.”
City host Nottingham Forest on Wednesday evening and Guardiola stated that Erling Haaland and Nico O’Reilly face fitness tests after missing Saturday’s 1-0 win at Leeds due to injury. Guardiola has previously managed against the Forest head coach, Vítor Pereira, when his Barcelona beat the Portuguese’s Porto 2-0 in the 2011 Uefa Super Cup final.
In 2014, Pereira also offered advice when Guardiola was in charge of Bayern Munich regarding the transition of his team from defence. Guardiola joked when asked about this. “I’m pretty sure he gave me good advice and I gave him shit ones,” the 55-year-old said.
