{"id":1106519,"date":"2019-09-15T15:55:30","date_gmt":"2019-09-15T14:55:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1106519"},"modified":"2022-09-20T22:44:20","modified_gmt":"2022-09-20T21:44:20","slug":"pep-guardiola-man-city-set-piece-weakness-criticism","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/pep-guardiola-man-city-set-piece-weakness-criticism\/","title":{"rendered":"Pep Guardiola rejects Man City’s ‘set-piece weakness’ criticism"},"content":{"rendered":"

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has dismissed the notion that his side has a problem defending at set-pieces following their shock 3-2 defeat at Norwich City.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The defending Premier League champions suffered a first defeat of the season to Daniel Farke’s men which subsequently led to many questioning their defensive prowess.<\/p>\n

Do Man City have a set-piece problem? Five key things to know\u2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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  • No team has conceded more from set-pieces this season than Man City (3).<\/li>\n
  • Kenny McLean’s opener in Norwich’s 3-2 win came from a corner.<\/li>\n
  • It follows similar efforts from Lucas Moura (Spurs) and Harry Wilson (Bournemouth) earlier this season.<\/li>\n
  • Guardiola, though, stressed defending set-pieces isn’t a weakness for his side.<\/li>\n
  • Defeat at Carrow Road has left the defending champions five points behind pacesetters Liverpool.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7367517-de-bruyne-is-on-course-to-break-henry-s-most-impressive-premier-league-record<\/p>\n

    City found themselves 2-0 down inside the opening 30 minutes with both Norwich goals easily preventable; the first via a corner and the second came after right-back Kyle Walker kept the Canaries’ attack onside.<\/p>\n

    Being the high-quality side they are, City got back into the game through a Sergio Aguero header, but the hosts restored their two-goal lead when Emiliano Buendia robbed compatriot Nicolas Otamendi to tee up Teemu Pukki for his sixth goal of the season.<\/p>\n

    Rodri pulled one back late on, however, the damage was already done. It means after five matches played City are five points behind early pacesetters Liverpool, who are yet to drop any points.<\/p>\n

    Guardiola, naturally, was pressed for answers post-match but the two-time Premier League winner was adamant defending set-pieces is not City’s kryptonite.<\/p>\n