Pep Guardiola had a pop at English football’s new radical approach to stoppage time after Arsenal’s late equaliser helped them towards Community Shield victory, saying games will not finish until ‘tomorrow morning at 8am’ at this rate.
The Manchester City manager saw Leandro Trossard cancel out Cole Palmer’s opener in the 11th minute of added time before Arsenal went on to win 4-1 on penalties at Wembley Stadium, with Fabio Vieira scoring the winning spot-kick.
This was our first glimpse of the game’s new approach with referees in the Premier League and EFL set to add on ‘Qatar World Cup-style’ stoppage times. The average time added in the EFL over the weekend was 16 minutes, 34 seconds, Mail Sport can reveal, as officials have been ordered to crack down on time-wasting and dissent.
At Wembley, eight minutes were added at the end of the match, but a clash of heads between Kyle Walker and Thomas Partey saw time extended even further.
Guardiola said: ‘We will have to get used to this. We were winning 1-0. I had a feeling that not much happened to extend eight minutes. But it is a good question for the international board and all the people because they don’t consult with the managers, they don’t consult with the players.
‘We have to accept it. We have to do it. Now the games will be 100 minutes, that’s for sure. They extend for goals. Every time you score a goal. (Imagine) a 4-3 and they put on 45 seconds for seven goals. Tomorrow morning at 8am we will still be here playing. Don’t ask me my opinion, please.’
Referees are also under strict orders to clamp down on misbehaving managers this season and Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta fell foul of that on Sunday. Arteta was booked for waving an imaginary yellow card after reacting angrily to a foul by Rodri on Kai Havertz.
Arteta, who was among those criticised last campaign for his outbursts in the technical area, became the first example of the new season and said: ‘I cannot change my behaviour in three days. I try my best. I understand the rule. I understand where they are coming from. We can get frustrated. It is fine. We will adapt.’
On winning the Community Shield by beating their Premier League title rivals from last season, Arteta added: ‘It feels great, I don’t think it gets much better than winning a trophy at Wembley against the best team in the world.
‘We showed a real determination and fight and deserved to win the game. It is great. The reason we are here is to win trophies for this club and make it successful. I have seen so many happy and proud people.
‘I wanted to grab that trophy as quickly as possible and then think about the next one. We have to prepare for the Nottingham Forest game in the right way and be ready for it.’
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