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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has acknowledged that set-pieces pose a significant threat in the Premier League once again.
He noted that many matches now resemble encounters against Stoke City during Tony Pulis's tenure.
Statistics indicate that nearly 19 percent of all league goals this season have originated from corners.
This percentage is almost five percent higher than in previous years.
“It’s true that teams are treating every throw-in like a corner and are placing 10 players in the box,” Guardiola remarked.
“We experienced difficulties when we played at Brentford, and we observed Brentford's match against Liverpool from our hotel, where every set piece delivered by Michael Kayode proved effective. Kayode was named man of the match.”
“Today, set-pieces are a considerable threat. I recall a long time ago when Sean Dyche was at Burnley. Burnley posed an incredible threat with long balls and second balls. Dyche is undoubtedly one of the best at executing these strategies.”
“This isn’t a new phenomenon; he has done it before. The same goes for Sam Allardyce. I also remember when I was not here, Stoke City was known for their throw-ins. Nowadays, more teams are adopting that approach, whereas back then, Stoke was somewhat of an anomaly.”
“I recall my time at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, where Arsene Wenger discussed playing at Stoke City, but now it’s something we encounter frequently.”
Why are set-pieces considered a threat in the Premier League?
Set-pieces are a threat because nearly 19 percent of all league goals this season have come from corners, which is a significant increase compared to previous years. Teams are now treating throw-ins similarly to corners, maximizing their effectiveness.
What historical context did Guardiola provide regarding set-pieces?
Guardiola referenced past managers like Sean Dyche and Sam Allardyce, who effectively utilized long balls and set-pieces. He also mentioned that Stoke City was once known for their exceptional throw-ins, which has now become a common strategy among many teams.
