EPL: Set-pieces are a threat, it’s like playing Stoke – Guardiola admits

Manchester City manager, Pep Guardiola, has admitted set-pieces are a threat again in the Premier League.

According to him, most games are now reminiscent of facing Stoke City under Tony Pulis.

Statistics have revealed that almost 19 per cent of all league goals across the division have come from corners.

That figure is nearly five per cent higher than any other year.

“It’s true that people use every throw-in like a corner and put 10 players there in the box,” Guardiola said.

“We suffered when we played at Brentford, or look at Brentford against Liverpool which we saw in our hotel, every action (Michael) Kayode put in the box. And Kayode was man of the match.

“Today set pieces are a threat. I remember a long time ago with Sean Dyche in Burnley. Burnley were an incredible threat in the long balls, second balls. Dyche is one of the best by far doing these kind of aspects.

“It’s not new, he did it before. Or Sam Allardyce. Or I remember when I was not here, Stoke City. Do you remember Stoke City when they made the throws? Now it’s just more and more teams doing that but back then maybe Stoke was the exception.

“I remember when I was at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, Arsene Wenger talked about going to play at Stoke City but now it happens a lot of times.”