“It remains to me…” – Pep Guardiola remains tight-lipped on increased pushing and shoving in corner situations | OneFootball

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has remained coy on an increase in pushing and shoving in the box in corner situations in the Premier League this season.

City and Guardiola will be searching for a sixth consecutive win in all competitions when Nottingham Forest visit the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night as they look to keep up the pressure on Premier League leaders Arsenal.

Antoine Semenyo’s sole strike on the cusp of half-time helped the Blues secure a vital 1-0 win over Leeds United at Elland Road last week, with Erling Haaland missing out due to injury and Nico O’Reilly being substituted with an ankle knock.

Guardiola has confirmed that whether Haaland and O’Reilly – who are both feeling better since the weekend – will be risked against Forest will be decided after Manchester City’s training session on Tuesday afternoon.

The Blues are in the running for an unprecedented quadruple of trophies in their first full season under director of football Hugo Viana, who has made sweeping changes to the City first-team squad since replacing long-serving executive Txiki Begiristain.

Arsenal have allowed Manchester City a route back into the title race and after a poor January to start 2026, Guardiola’s side have turned a corner as they once again look to hijack the Gunners’ title charge in search of a fifth league title in six seasons.

Speaking in a press conference ahead of Wednesday’s meeting with Nottingham Forest, Guardiola was asked for his two cents on a seeming increase in pushing and shoving in the box during corner situations.

“I have a specific opinion about that and it remains to me,” Guardiola said and reiterated a few times over the course of an interesting press conference by all accounts, one that revolved heavily around comments from Liverpool manager Arne Slot on a supposed decline in the quality and the increased physical nature of the Premier League.

On the increased importance of set-pieces in the Premier League, Guardiola added: “You can complain or you adapt – and it’s part of the game,” in pragmatic fashion, with the Catalan’s take likely validated by the incredible use of set-pieces Arsenal has consistently found over the course of the season.

“I understand completely the reason why Arne (Slot) said that (about set-pieces) and in some aspects, I agree (with him),” the 55-year-old said.

Manchester City have witnessed first-hand the consequences of marking in greater numbers during corners and a growing trend of opposition sides crowding the penalty box to unsettle the goalkeeper and find a route to goal.

As the Blues embark upon the business stages of the season, it is more crucial than ever that Guardiola rallies his troops to keep defending with their lives on the line – as they have been doing since February – to enjoy a trophy-laden finish to the campaign.