Bernardo Silva has seemingly taken aim at Arsenal over the growing trend of physicality and set-pieces in the modern game.
The Manchester City captain is set to leave the Etihad this summer after a trophy-laden spell at the club.
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Silva had a lot to say on the ‘state of the game’.
“I’m not sure when set-pieces changed. Maybe two years ago,” he said. “And I really don’t like it because the amount of time wasted in throw-ins, in corners.
“For a long time they have rewarded bad defending. And what I mean by bad defending is you grab someone… you grab someone with two arms, and you tackle him on the ground like rugby, and that’s now OK.”
🤔 Do you agree that attackers should be banned from entering the six-yard box at corners?
Cann tells BBC Sport: "I feel that the time has come now for a law change whereby no attackers are allowed in the six-yard box before the corner is taken."
Silva did concede that City eventually followed suit. “We had a conversation with the referees. We said, ‘Look, if you’re going to start allowing this, we’re going to do the same.’ Because it’s ridiculous.
“City were probably one of the last ones doing it because we saw everyone doing it. It’s a shame because it’s not the game. The fans are not here to watch this.”
Arsenal are not named directly but it’s obvious who he is referring to.
Mikel Arteta’s side have become the standard-bearers for organised set-piece chaos — something their Champions League final opponents PSG are fully aware of.
Bernardo Silva’s dig won’t concern Arsenal one bit
City are frustrated. That much is clear.
Two points behind Arsenal with the title slipping away, watching the Gunners hoover up goals from corners and free-kicks all season will have stung.
And plenty of “neutral” football fans will nod along with Bernardo Silva’s assessment.
But as a criticism, it’s a hollow one. Set-pieces have always been a big part of the game and every team in the league has been at it, as Silva himself admits.
Arsenal have simply been better at it than everyone else.
It will be somewhat fitting, then, for Bernardo to bow out of English football watching a team who have mastered the very thing he despises lift the Premier League title.
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