Pep Guardiola Smashes Mitre For 'Unacceptable' Ball
Oct 25, 2017, by Chris
Manchester City coach Pep Guardiola said the match ball was "unacceptable" after yesterday's League Cup against Wolverhampton Wanderers. City were held to a 0-0 draw by the Championship leaders and only made it through to the fifth round 4-1 on penalties after Claudio Bravo saved two spot kicks.
Read also: EFL Defends Ball After Heavy Guardiola Criticism
The tie was played with the Mitre Delta EFL, which is used in the Championship, League One and League Two, while the Premier League uses the Nike Ordem IV football. Guardiola refused to blame the ball for the performance but he was still very unhappy with it.
Guardiola Calls Mitre Delta League Cup Ball 'Unacceptable'
"It is not acceptable, the ball was unacceptable for a high-level competition," he told a news conference.
"It is too light, it moves all over the place, it is not a good ball. It is impossible to score with a ball like that and I can say that because we won, I'm not making excuses. All of my players said 'what is that?' I'm sorry Carabao Cup is is not a serious ball for a serious competition. It's marketing, money, ok but it's not acceptable, no weight, nothing."
"One day or two days, but the ball is bad for one year or two years, it's not acceptable. all the players complain."
Yaya Touré, who took one of City’s penalties, was also scathing about the ball. “I don’t like it to be honest,” he said. “They can do better than that. It’s too light. Even in my country they can’t use those kind of balls. I think they have to be better than that because the ball was too soft. It’s rubbish but that’s fine.
“A lot of players were complaining. The FA can try to do something because we just want to enjoy it. It’s difficult to play with these kind of balls but we try to find a way. It’s everything. Shooting – the ball is very light, when you touch it, it’s floating, it’s rubbish. And in this [rainy] weather it’s difficult.”
Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Blaublitz Akita 26-27 Kits Released
Japanese J2 League club Blaublitz Akita have unveiled their new 2026-27 kits. Made by Athleta, the new kits feature a distinct design inspired by the concept of weaving.
The Athleta Blaublitz Akita 2026-27 kits are designed around the theme of weaving, reflected in a woven pattern on the shirts, symbolizing the unity of the stakeholders spinning their efforts onto the pitch.
The new Athleta Blaublitz Akita 2026-27 kits will be available to pre-order starting July 6, 2026, with deliveries planned ahead of the start of the new league season.
Peterborough United 26-27 Away Kit Released
League One side Peterborough United have officially launched their new Puma away kit for the 2026-27 season. The strip was unveiled during the club's Fan Zone Fun Day event on July 4, following the release of their home kit earlier in the summer.
The Peterborough United 2026-27 away shirt showcases a contemporary design that aligns with the club's new direction. It features a black base with rose gold accents. It also prominently features the club's newly introduced crest, marking a fresh chapter for the team.
Kashiwa Reysol 26-27 Kits Released
Japanese J1 League club Kashiwa Reysol has officially unveiled its new 2026-27 kits, which are once again designed and manufactured by Yonex. The official launch on July 4 follows a short teaser video released earlier in the week and coincided with the announcement of the club's squad and player numbers for the upcoming season.
The Kashiwa Reysol 2026-27 kits feature a striking design centered around the concept of "Break the Light." The home shirt incorporates the club's traditional yellow and black colors, separated by dynamic geometric patterns that symbolize moving through the light. The away and keeper kits mirror the design in different colors.
Robey KVC Westerlo 26-27 Home Kit Released - No More Nike
Belgian club KVC Westerlo has unveiled their new 2026-27 home kit, marking the beginning of a new partnership with Robey Sportswear. The Dutch brand takes over from Nike, which had supplied the club's kits since 2022.
The Robey KVC Westerlo 2026-27 home shirt features the club's traditional yellow and blue colors. Launched with the slogan 'Designed for you. Worn by you. Because you are Westel,' the design aims to celebrate the strong bond between the team, its supporters, and the local Kempen region.