In the aftermath of Manchester City’s loss, Pep Guardiola raises concerns about the impact of new time rules.
Pep Guardiola expressed his frustration with the officiating changes that played a part in Arsenal’s dramatic Community Shield shootout victory at Wembley on Sunday. Manchester City held a 1-0 lead with Cole Palmer’s goal in the 77th minute, but Leandro Trossard equalized in the 11th minute of added time with a deflected shot off Manuel Akanji.
Initially, referee Stuart Attwell had signaled eight additional minutes, but due to a head clash between Kyle Walker and Thomas Partey during that period, the time was extended further. The added time was part of an effort to tackle time-wasting, as referees were instructed to account for in-game delays, which Guardiola believes could significantly impact the outcome of matches.
“It is not annoying, we have to get used to it,” Guardiola said. “I had the feeling, not because we were winning 1-0, it was just the fact I had a feeling that much didn’t happen to extend by eight minutes.
“But it is a good question for the [rule-making International Football Association Board] and all the people because they don’t consult the managers, they don’t consult the players.
“What is their opinion, we have to accept it. Now the games will be 100 minutes, that’s for sure. It never happened today and it was eight minutes, imagine if they extend for goals and every time you score a goal in a game [that is] 4-3. You put 30 seconds, 45 seconds on for seven goals, tomorrow morning 9 a.m. I am here playing.”
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta also said some of the new rules can be frustrating after he was booked for gesturing for a yellow card — another clampdown from officials as part of a new technical area code of conduct.
“I just said, ‘I cannot change my behaviour in three days,”‘ Arteta said. “It’s a very difficult thing to do and I understand that next time we cannot say tomorrow we play with no offsides and then the next time the linesman says, ‘Oh what is he doing?’
“We try our best, I try my best. I understand the rules and where they’re coming from. Sometimes we get frustrated there because we don’t know in what part of the technical area we are. It’s fine. We’ll adapt.”
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