Pep Guardiola was not impressed by the FA Cup-Matchball after Manchester City 20 shots from Target in their 3-1 fifth round victory over Plymouth Argyle on Saturday.
City walked shortly behind the 38th -minute goal of Maksym Talovierov, but after the equalizer of Nico O'Reilly in the break, the Guardiola team took the lead in the Etihad Stadium.
O'reilly scored again while a wave of persistent pressure finally told, before Kevin De Bruyne took the victory in the 90th minute.
City spimulated the goal of Plymouth, with 14 shots in the first half and 15 after the break, while collecting 4.27 expected goals, but Guardiola believes that the ball dropped his team, because he claimed that those used in the Premier League and Champions League were easier to control.
He said: “The ball in the Champions League is exceptional, the ball in the Premier League is exceptional, it is not. It's hard to control.
“If you lose it [sounds like] You complain, but the ball is not good. In many years it happened in the FA Cup and Carabao Cup, I know it is a company and that they come to similarities.
“Do you know how many shots have been? Look at other games. Normally the ball goes in from these recordings.”
Full -time | In the #facup quarterfinals
3-1 #mancity | @okx pic.twitter.com/sdcxkfzxdh
– Manchester City (@Mancity) March 1, 2025
City has actually been more accurate with their shooting in the FA Cup than all others this season, albeit in just three games against opposition with a lower league.
The winners of 2023 have posted a shooting accuracy of 59.18% (excluding blocks) in the competition, a higher percentage than in one of the other three tournaments in which they played.
They have also placed more shots on goal – 9.7 per game – than in any other competition, as well as 24.3 shots per game in total.
A FA spokesperson then confirmed that the ball was produced in accordance with FIFA requirements.
They said: “Miter's Ultimax Pro Ball – used in the Emirates FA Cup and all other FA competitions – has been tested in accordance with FIFA tests.
“All footballs in the professional game must meet the FIFA Quality Pro Accreditation, and this ball delivers against all test requirements.”
City will be confronted with Bournemouth in the quarterfinals.
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