Manchester City secured a hard-fought 3-1 victory over Championship side Plymouth Argyle in the FA Cup on Saturday. Despite dominating the game with 29 shots, Pep Guardiola’s side found it difficult to convert chances, with the City boss attributing part of the struggle to the match ball—mirroring a previous complaint from Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
Guardiola Criticizes FA Cup Ball Performance
Pep Guardiola expressed frustration over the FA Cup ball, manufactured by Mitre, as his team faced difficulties in their finishing. His remarks echoed those made by Mikel Arteta in January when the Arsenal manager partially blamed his team’s Carabao Cup defeat to Newcastle on the Puma-manufactured match ball.
Arteta had remarked, “It’s tricky that this ball flies a lot. We discussed that as well, so there are details that we can do better. It’s just very different to the Premier League ball made by Nike, and you have to adapt because it flies differently. The grip is very different as well.”
Following City’s 3-1 win, Guardiola voiced a similar concern, stating, “I don’t know how many chances or shots we had that maybe were not on target due to the ball. The ball is difficult to bring where you want because sometimes it does whatever it wants.” Despite his frustrations, he praised his team’s resilience and commitment in securing a quarter-final spot.
Manchester City’s Wastefulness in Front of Goal
While Manchester City controlled the match, their finishing left much to be desired. Of their 29 shots, only nine were on target. Plymouth goalkeeper Conor Hazard, who played a pivotal role in their previous FA Cup upset against Liverpool, once again proved to be a formidable opponent. However, City’s quality ultimately prevailed, overcoming an early setback to secure the win.
The Championship side took a shock lead in the first half, forcing Guardiola’s men to respond. Two goals from rising star Nico O’Reilly turned the game around before Kevin De Bruyne sealed the victory with a late strike.
Guardiola Applauds Plymouth’s Performance
Despite the victory, Guardiola acknowledged the challenge posed by Plymouth, commending their defensive discipline and organization. Speaking to ITV after the match, he said, “Big compliments to Plymouth for making our job so difficult. They were incredibly organized, but we played a good game—really good. We conceded a goal but remained solid. I’m really pleased with our performance.”
The win extends City’s remarkable FA Cup consistency, as they push for yet another deep run in the competition. “No team has been in the FA Cup semi-finals five or six times in a row. Now we will fight, see the draw, and see what happens,” Guardiola added.
Manchester City Awaits Quarter-Final Draw
City will discover their quarter-final opponents on Sunday when the FA Cup draw takes place following Manchester United’s fixture against Fulham at 4:30 PM. With their sights set on another domestic trophy, Guardiola’s men will look to refine their finishing ahead of the next round.
Despite concerns over the match ball, City’s quality ultimately shone through, keeping their hopes alive for another FA Cup triumph. The focus now shifts to their upcoming fixtures as they continue to compete on multiple fronts.
