FCBARCELONA.CAT

15.01.2009 19:17

Guardiola goes for zone defence

Jordi Clos

With Guardiola on the bench, the side has been employing a zone defence in dead ball situations. “I think that’s the best system and I’m pleased with the way things have gone until now”, he said after the Game with Atlético.

In the cup, the side let in a goal from a set piece for the third game in a row. Says Pep Guardiola, “we are doing well, but we are still giving too much away at the back. We have to review our mistakes, speak and try to make sure it doesn’t happen again”. Barça have conceded 7 goals from set pieces in 30 official games.

Set piece goals conceded

The sides that have scored against Barça in such a fashion are Wisla Krakow, in the second leg of the Champions League qualifier (1-0); Racing, in the first league game at the Camp Nou (1-1); Sporting Lisbon, in the first game in the groups stages of the Champions League (3-1); Shakhtar at the Camp Nou (2-3); Osasuna in the last league game (2-3) and Atlético in both the first (1-3) and second (2-1) legs of the last round of the Copa del Rey.

Same in Barça B

When managing the reserves last term, Guardiola also used a zone defence against set pieces, having previously experimented with man to man marking. The tactic produced good results and he has decided to carry his ideas over to the first team. “I think that’s the best system and I’m pleased with the way things have gone until now. It’s what the players feel most comfortable with” he said.