Pep Guardiola does not believe time wasting will be solved by adding more minutes to matches. AFP
Pep Guardiola does not believe time wasting will be solved by adding more minutes to matches. AFP
Pep Guardiola does not believe time wasting will be solved by adding more minutes to matches. AFP
Pep Guardiola does not believe time wasting will be solved by adding more minutes to matches. AFP

Guardiola unsure of new added time rule after Man City's loss to Arsenal: 'It's too much'


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Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola appeared to question the decision by football lawmakers to increase the amount of injury time after his side conceded a 101st-minute equaliser in their Community Shield defeat to Arsenal on Sunday.

City led through Cole Palmer's fine finish in the 77th minute and looked on course for victory at Wembley, only for Leandro Trossard to level for Arsenal in the 11th minute of stoppage time. The Gunners then sealed the victory on penalties.

The increased injury time will be common in English football this season after the International Football Association Board (Ifab) announced plans earlier this year to "create fairer conditions for both teams in terms of the amount of time available in a match".

It was tested at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar and was generally a success, but Guardiola admitted he has his doubts, particularly when it comes to the wellbeing of players.

"It's a lot of games and every time you add eight or 10 minutes it's a … but listen, they never consult our opinions, the people in world football, managers or players," the City manager said.

"Now, every game we're going to play for 100 minutes. Wasting time, from my point of view, it is not going to be solved by extending 10 more minutes. It's more tiring for the players. It's too much."

Perhaps unsurprisingly, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta took a different stance after his side benefitted from the additional minutes.

"At the end, it's about effective time. I think it's really good to do that, because it was going too far I think and now teams are going to have to think twice," he said. "Now we have to be prepared to play 100 minutes because it's going to happen every single week."

Another major rule change – in which players will receive yellow cards for delaying the restart of play or not retreating the necessary distance at a free-kick – also played a significant role in Sunday's Community Shield.

Arsenal v Man City - Community Shield player ratings

  • ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 8. Made a couple of great saves from John Stones and Phil Foden to keep his side in the contest. Saved Rodri's penalty in the shoot-out. AFP
    ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale - 8. Made a couple of great saves from John Stones and Phil Foden to keep his side in the contest. Saved Rodri's penalty in the shoot-out. AFP
  • Ben White - 7. Edged his contest with England teammate Jack Grealish. Creative going forward. Getty
    Ben White - 7. Edged his contest with England teammate Jack Grealish. Creative going forward. Getty
  • William Saliba - 7. Managed to keep Haaland under wraps before the Norwegian was subbed. Will play a key role this season. Getty
    William Saliba - 7. Managed to keep Haaland under wraps before the Norwegian was subbed. Will play a key role this season. Getty
  • Gabriel - 7. Linked up well with Saliba to help keep both Haaland and Alvarez fairly quiet. Reuters
    Gabriel - 7. Linked up well with Saliba to help keep both Haaland and Alvarez fairly quiet. Reuters
  • Jurrien Timber - 7. Good block to deny Cole Palmer. A solid debut for his new club. Reuters
    Jurrien Timber - 7. Good block to deny Cole Palmer. A solid debut for his new club. Reuters
  • Martin Odegaard -7. Some assured touches but was unable to really hurt City with his creative play. Good penalty to get the shoot-out rolling. AP
    Martin Odegaard -7. Some assured touches but was unable to really hurt City with his creative play. Good penalty to get the shoot-out rolling. AP
  • Thomas Partey - 6. Put in a decent shift. Ended up with his head bandaged after a clash with Walker. AFP
    Thomas Partey - 6. Put in a decent shift. Ended up with his head bandaged after a clash with Walker. AFP
  • Declan Rice - 7. Grew into things as the game went on. His stamina will be a big asset for his new club. AFP
    Declan Rice - 7. Grew into things as the game went on. His stamina will be a big asset for his new club. AFP
  • Bukayo Saka - 7. Shot just wide in the first half. A lively display. Buried his penalty. EPA
    Bukayo Saka - 7. Shot just wide in the first half. A lively display. Buried his penalty. EPA
  • Kai Havertz - 6. Missed a couple of good chances. AP
    Kai Havertz - 6. Missed a couple of good chances. AP
  • Gabriel Martinelli - 6. Held the ball up well at times. Grew into the match before he was subbed. AP
    Gabriel Martinelli - 6. Held the ball up well at times. Grew into the match before he was subbed. AP
  • SUBSTITUTES: Leandro Trossard (Martinelli, 75') - 6. His twice-deflected shot kept his side in the contest. Lucky, but it did the trick. Getty
    SUBSTITUTES: Leandro Trossard (Martinelli, 75') - 6. His twice-deflected shot kept his side in the contest. Lucky, but it did the trick. Getty
  • Kieran Tierney (Timber 76') - 5. Let Cole Palmer in for City's goal. AFP
    Kieran Tierney (Timber 76') - 5. Let Cole Palmer in for City's goal. AFP
  • Eddie Nketiah (Rice, 80') - N/A. Emile Smith-Rowe (Gabriel, 87') - N/A. AFP
    Eddie Nketiah (Rice, 80') - N/A. Emile Smith-Rowe (Gabriel, 87') - N/A. AFP
  • Fabio Vieira (Havertz, 87') - N/A. Getty
    Fabio Vieira (Havertz, 87') - N/A. Getty
  • MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Stefan Ortega - 7. Made a couple of good first-half saves to deny Havertz. His distribution was a bit dodgy. AP
    MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Stefan Ortega - 7. Made a couple of good first-half saves to deny Havertz. His distribution was a bit dodgy. AP
  • Kyle Walker - 6. Skippered the team and turned in a committed performance. Getty
    Kyle Walker - 6. Skippered the team and turned in a committed performance. Getty
  • John Stones - 7. Great block to deny Martinelli. Positive on the ball. PA
    John Stones - 7. Great block to deny Martinelli. Positive on the ball. PA
  • Ruben Dias - 6. Defended solidly with his trademark composure. AP
    Ruben Dias - 6. Defended solidly with his trademark composure. AP
  • Manuel Akanji - 6. Linked up well with Jack Grealish on the left-hand side. Found Saka a handful at times. PA
    Manuel Akanji - 6. Linked up well with Jack Grealish on the left-hand side. Found Saka a handful at times. PA
  • Rodri - 6. Couple of decent chances but a little sloppy at times. PA
    Rodri - 6. Couple of decent chances but a little sloppy at times. PA
  • Mateo Kovacic - 8. An impressive performance in protecting the back four and spraying some nice passes. Getty
    Mateo Kovacic - 8. An impressive performance in protecting the back four and spraying some nice passes. Getty
  • Bernardo Silva - 6. Put in some mileage but a bit unambitious. PA
    Bernardo Silva - 6. Put in some mileage but a bit unambitious. PA
  • Julian Alvarez - 6. A few nice touches but maybe not enough to cement a starting place. AP
    Julian Alvarez - 6. A few nice touches but maybe not enough to cement a starting place. AP
  • Jack Grealish - 5. A quiet game. Off after 57 minutes. AFP
    Jack Grealish - 5. A quiet game. Off after 57 minutes. AFP
  • Erling Haaland - 5. Understandably, not back up to full speed. Hauled off in the 64th minute. EPA
    Erling Haaland - 5. Understandably, not back up to full speed. Hauled off in the 64th minute. EPA
  • SUBSTITUTES: Phil Foden (Grealish, 57') - 7. Played a part in City's goal and almost grabbed one himself. EPA
    SUBSTITUTES: Phil Foden (Grealish, 57') - 7. Played a part in City's goal and almost grabbed one himself. EPA
  • Kevin De Bruyne (Kovacic, 64') - 7. Had a real impact when he entered the fray. Hit the bar with his penalty, though. Reuters
    Kevin De Bruyne (Kovacic, 64') - 7. Had a real impact when he entered the fray. Hit the bar with his penalty, though. Reuters
  • Cole Palmer (Haaland, 64') - 7. Superbly taken goal after he came on. PA
    Cole Palmer (Haaland, 64') - 7. Superbly taken goal after he came on. PA

Both Arsenal's Thomas Partey and City's Julian Alvarez were booked for kicking the ball away after the referee blew for free kicks.

Meanwhile, managers and coaches will need to tread more carefully this season in their interactions with referees and assistant referees, with a new rule stating they "must not confront, invade the personal space of, or make physical contact with the match officials".

"We are going to get used to it," Arteta said. "It's very difficult to change habits straight away but that's the demands they are putting on us.

"We are going to have to train for it and be ready for it because, if not, we will be playing without 11 players and a manager on the touchline very often."

City begin their Premier League title defence away to promoted Burnley on Friday, while Arsenal host Nottingham Forest on Saturday.

Updated: September 25, 2023, 8:47 AM