MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER Pep Guardiola labelled the match ball used in the Carabao Cup “unacceptable” after his side reached the quarter-finals.
City, so dominant in the Premier League this season, were unable to find a breakthrough against Wolves last night — needing penalty shoot-out heroics from Claudio Bravo to progress after a 0-0 draw.
Guardiola was unhappy with the Mitre match ball, which is usually used in Football League matches.
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“It is not acceptable,” the Spaniard said. “The ball was unacceptable for a high-level competition.
Sergio Aguero chips the ball in question down the middle to score the winning penalty. Richard Sellers
Richard Sellers
“It is too light, it moves all over the place, it is not a good ball. It is impossible to score with a ball like that and I can say that because we won, I’m not making excuses.
All of my players said, ‘What is that?’ I’m sorry [but the] Carabao Cup is not a serious ball for a serious competition.
“It’s [for] marketing, money, okay but it’s not acceptable – [it has] no weight, nothing.”
Bravo made saves from Alfred N’Diaye and Conor Coady in the shoot-out, sealing a 4-1 win on penalties for City.
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'It's impossible to score with' - Guardiola blames match ball for Man City's performance
MANCHESTER CITY MANAGER Pep Guardiola labelled the match ball used in the Carabao Cup “unacceptable” after his side reached the quarter-finals.
City, so dominant in the Premier League this season, were unable to find a breakthrough against Wolves last night — needing penalty shoot-out heroics from Claudio Bravo to progress after a 0-0 draw.
Guardiola was unhappy with the Mitre match ball, which is usually used in Football League matches.
“It is not acceptable,” the Spaniard said. “The ball was unacceptable for a high-level competition.
“It is too light, it moves all over the place, it is not a good ball. It is impossible to score with a ball like that and I can say that because we won, I’m not making excuses.
“It’s [for] marketing, money, okay but it’s not acceptable – [it has] no weight, nothing.”
Bravo made saves from Alfred N’Diaye and Conor Coady in the shoot-out, sealing a 4-1 win on penalties for City.
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EFL Cup Excuses Football Lightweight Manchester City Pep Guardiola Wolves