Guardiola blames FA Cup ball as Man City fire 20 shots off target against Plymouth
Pep Guardiola, the head coach of Manchester City, voiced his dissatisfaction with the match ball used in the FA Cup during his side’s 3-1 victory over Plymouth Argyle on Saturday. Despite the win, Guardiola’s team fired 20 shots off target, a performance that left him frustrated. City had to recover from a first-half deficit when Maksym Talovierov scored in the 38th minute, but they responded after Nico O’Reilly’s equalizer just before halftime. The second half saw Manchester City take control, with O’Reilly scoring again and Kevin De Bruyne sealing the victory in the dying moments of the game.
Manchester City dominated the match, registering 14 shots in the first half and 15 in the second, but many of these attempts missed the target. The team’s overall expected goals (xG) tally for the game stood at 4.27, highlighting their dominance in terms of chances created. However, Guardiola attributed the wayward shooting to the ball used in the FA Cup, suggesting that it was more difficult to control compared to the balls used in the Premier League and Champions League.
In his post-match comments, Guardiola expressed his frustration with the quality of the match ball, saying that the ball used in the Champions League and the Premier League was “exceptional,” whereas the FA Cup ball was not. He noted that controlling the ball felt difficult, and he argued that it was one of the reasons for the number of shots that went off target. He further explained that this issue had been a recurring problem in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup over the years. Guardiola added that, although it might sound like a complaint, he was simply pointing out the ball’s inadequacies. He referenced how many shots in similar circumstances would typically have found the back of the net, highlighting that the ball’s lack of responsiveness had led to many of his team’s shots missing the mark.
Despite the complaints about the ball, it’s worth noting that Manchester City had actually performed better in terms of shooting accuracy in the FA Cup than in other competitions this season. With a shooting accuracy of 59.18% (excluding blocked shots) in the competition, they had a higher percentage than in their league or European matches. Furthermore, City had registered more shots on target in the FA Cup than in any other competition, with an average of 9.7 shots on target per game. They were also taking more shots in general, with 24.3 shots per game across their FA Cup fixtures. However, Guardiola’s comments suggest that the discrepancy in performance could still be attributed to the ball, which he believed was a contributing factor to his team’s struggles in converting their chances against Plymouth.
An official spokesperson for the FA responded to Guardiola’s comments, stating that the Mitre Ultimax Pro ball, used in the FA Cup and other FA competitions, had been tested in accordance with FIFA’s rigorous requirements. The spokesperson emphasized that all footballs used in professional games are required to meet FIFA’s Quality Pro accreditation, and the FA Cup ball was said to meet these standards. Despite Guardiola’s criticisms, the response from the FA was clear that the ball had passed all necessary testing and was deemed to perform well for professional football matches.
Manchester City’s victory over Plymouth ensured their progression to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup, where they will face Bournemouth. While Guardiola may have been displeased with the ball’s performance, his team’s dominance in the game, both in terms of possession and shot attempts, suggests that they were still able to impose their style of play despite the difficulties they encountered. Guardiola’s remarks about the ball sparked discussion about the challenges teams face when playing with different equipment, but his team’s eventual victory showed that their quality and resilience still managed to shine through.
