Pep Guardiola Takes Dig at Man Utd Long Ball Tactics After EFL Cup Loss

Pep Guardiola has become the second manager (after Jurgen Klopp) to bemoan Manchester United's long ball tactics, even in a loss to his derby rivals in the EFL Cup.

Manchester City lost the EFL Cup fourth-round meeting 1-0 after Juan Mata's goal. However, Guardiola seemed weary ofopposing manager Jose Mourinho for his aerial strategy on the night.

Pep Guardiola's last 6 games: DLDLDL

(Guess who started the rot...?) 🔴 pic.twitter.com/HVpfcRBcD2

"The goal for United it was long ball, long ball, long ball, long ball, lose the ball in the duels, score the goal," Guardiola sighed toGoal.com.

"So sometimes you concede a goal because you have to build up and after like this. And sometimes you use the long balls you concede a goal as well."

"The strikers that we have when you have to use long balls, with Kelechi, Kun Aguero, it's not a good solution for me, so maybe in the future we're going to buy a striker who is 220 centimetres and after maybe we are going to use long balls." the Catalan manager pondered.

"But the strikers we have you have to use it because when the opponent comes [to press] you have to use that pass, more direct but not long ball because they are not going to win one [duel]."

Guardiola is much more attuned to the tiki-taka passing game, which brought Barcelona so much success. Manchester City have traditionally been a passing team, looking to employ the trickery of the likes of David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne.

He does believe that trying out adirect approach in England might be what keeps him in his post.

"We have to try it. If not, ok. I will not be able to train here in England."