Guardiola Critiques FA Cup Ball Following City's 20 Shot Miss in Plymouth Victory
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Synopsis
On March 3, Guardiola criticized the Mitre ball used in the FA Cup after Manchester City narrowly defeated Plymouth Argyle. Despite dominating the shot count, Guardiola highlighted control issues with the ball. The Football Association defended the ball's quality, asserting it meets FIFA standards. City will face Bournemouth in the quarterfinals.
Key Takeaways
- Pep Guardiola is dissatisfied with the Mitre ball.
- Manchester City beat Plymouth Argyle to advance in the FA Cup.
- Guardiola noted difficulties in controlling the ball.
- The Football Association stated the ball meets Fifa standards.
- City has a strong historical record against Bournemouth.
Manchester, March 3 (NationPress) The manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola, voiced his concerns regarding the Mitre ball utilized in the FA Cup after his team secured a win against Plymouth Argyle in the fifth round, advancing to the quarterfinals of the tournament.
City managed to land nine of their 29 attempts on target, with a double strike from Nico O'Reilly and a last-minute goal from Kevin De Bruyne neutralizing Maksym Talovierov's unexpected opening goal, which was Plymouth's sole shot in the match.
Guardiola stated, "The ball in the Champions League is outstanding, the ball in the Premier League is fantastic, but this one isn't. It's hard to manage." This remark was reported by BBC.
"When you express dissatisfaction, it sounds like you're complaining, but the ball simply isn't right. This has happened multiple times in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup. I understand it's a business and they come to agreements. Just observe how many shots went over the bar? Look at other matches. Typically, those shots would go in," he continued.
Nike and Adidas provide balls for the Premier League and UEFA Champions League, respectively, while Mitre supplies the balls for the FA Cup and the Carabao Cup.
In response to Guardiola's remarks, a Football Association representative stated, "The Mitre Ultimax Pro ball, used in the Emirates FA Cup and all other FA competitions, has undergone testing according to Fifa standards.
"All footballs in professional play must meet the Fifa Quality Pro accreditation, and this ball fulfills all testing requirements.
"Together with Mitre, we recognize that preferences can vary, but we are confident in the ball's performance. With over 350 goals scored in the knockout stages so far, it adds an exciting factor to this fiercely competitive tournament."
City has been matched against Bournemouth in the FA Cup quarterfinals. Historically, they have faced the south-coast team 22 times, achieving 19 victories, 2 draws, and just 1 loss.
