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Teams Must Adapt to Set Pieces, Guardiola Says
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Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola stated the necessity for teams to adapt in dealing with set pieces following Liverpool manager Arne Slot's comments about their impact on the Premier League.

Arsenal has earned the nickname "Set Piece FC" due to their proficiency in dead ball situations, inspiring other teams to learn from their strategy.

Speaking on Tuesday ahead of City's crucial match against Nottingham Forest, Guardiola emphasized the need for clubs to address the increasing threat posed by set pieces.

"It's part of the dynamics, and while you can complain, you must adapt as it's an integral part of the game," he remarked.

Known for his possession-based football, Guardiola acknowledged Slot's perspective to some extent, highlighting the beauty of the sport's diverse styles.

"Football hasn't been played in a single manner since its inception," he explained. "The style in England differs from that in Spain and Italy, and this diversity is what makes the sport appealing."

"Imagine how dull it would be if all managers and leagues played the same way? It's diversity that makes football attractive," Guardiola added.

City, currently on a winning streak, are closely trailing Arsenal in the Premier League standings and Guardiola stressed the importance of not dropping points in the upcoming crucial fixtures.

"The next 10 games will be decisive," Guardiola declared. "With two Premier League games before the international break, we can't afford to lose ground on Arsenal."

Regarding player fitness, Guardiola mentioned that a decision on Erling Haaland and Nico O'Reilly would be made after Tuesday's training session.

Haaland missed the last game due to an injury sustained in training, while O'Reilly had to be substituted off with an ankle issue.

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