MX23RW : Wednesday, March 19 12:14:01| >> :120:52283:52283:
[monks data]
Cardiff City logo
Premier League
Aug 25, 2013 at 4pm UK
 
Manchester City logo

3-2

Gunnarsson (60'), Campbell (79', 87')
FT(HT: 0-0)
Dzeko (52'), Negredo (90')

Pablo Zabaleta: 'Man-marking at fault for Cardiff City defeat'

Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta blames conceding from set pieces at Cardiff City last weekend on a switch from zonal to man-to-man marking.

Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta has placed the blame for Sunday's 3-2 defeat at Cardiff City on a change in defensive system for set pieces under Manuel Pellegrini.

City used zonal marking during Roberto Mancini's time in charge of the Etihad, but Pellegrini prefers his players to each pick up a player when defending free kicks and corners.

Zabaleta believes that adapting to new ideas contributed to their downfall last weekend, while admitting personal responsibility for failing to stop Frazier Campbell finding space to score on two separate occasions in the second half.

He told The Guardian: "Two goals from set pieces for us is hard. Obviously we've changed compared to last season because we were doing zonal, now it's individual marking in the box. Sometimes it's hard. Campbell was very strong in the air and that's it.

"It was a typical game away. Defensively they did well, they closed the space and they didn't give us the chance to create many chances. It was a difficult game for us. We didn't defend well on set pieces and it cost us the game.

"We are disappointed because we lost the game. But I think we created enough chances maybe to get some points. We need to give credit to them because I think they did well."

City now turn their attention to another clash against a newly-promoted side this weekend, as Hull City visit the Etihad on Saturday evening.

ID:101036: cacheID:101036:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2597:
Written by
Liam Power
No Data Analysis info
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Hart of Manchester City looks on during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester City and Norwich City at Etihad Stadium on May 19, 2013
Read Next:
Platt denies Hart comments
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool29217169274270
2Arsenal291610353242958
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest29166749351454
4Chelsea29147853371649
5Manchester CityMan City29146955401548
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2814594738947
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton29121164842647
8Fulham2912984338545
9Aston Villa2912984145-445
10Bournemouth29128948361244
11Brentford29125125045541
12Crystal Palace2810993633339
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd29107123740-337
14Tottenham HotspurSpurs291041555431234
15Everton2971393236-434
16West Ham UnitedWest Ham2997133349-1634
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2975174058-1826
18Ipswich TownIpswich2938182862-3417
19Leicester CityLeicester2945202565-4017
20Southampton2923242170-499


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!