Pep Guardiola reacted with surprise that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer might suggest that Manchester City will stop United’s counter attacks by foul means in the derby on Wednesday night.

“I never prepare a game in 10 seasons as a manager thinking about these kind of things, never… When a player wants to attack, we have to be honest. “Of course there is contact, there are fouls, but when it happens (it is because) you arrive late and that is why there are referees, to make yellow cards or red cards or whatever they decide. “I prepare to do our own game, that is what I want, knowing of course the opponent, but I never said I’m going to do that to punish them or cancel them by making fouls. Never.”

To defend Guardiola, some have pointed to the fact that City have conceded fewer fouls than any other side in the Premier League. But when you add the context of how long opponents have spent in possession (for City, only 973 minutes of the 3060 minutes played this season according to Opta), Guardiola’s men concede more fouls per minute without the ball than any other team.

Must just be a coincidence then, Pep. And last season too…

Whilst he denies it, here is Mikel Arteta instructing David Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Ilkay Gündogan to make [tactical] fouls if there is a transition [for the opposition]. He repeats his command. Guardiola may feign ignorance but he is very controlling of his tactics and… pic.twitter.com/P71z2EOoSR — UtdArena. (@utdarena) November 14, 2018



PL table ranked by fouls per minute spent out of possession

All stats courtesy of Opta

1) Manchester City – 0.299 fouls per minute out of possession

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 291 (20th)

Possession conceded (%): 31.79

Possession conceded (mins): 973

2) Arsenal – 0.296

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 378 (9th)

Possession conceded (%): 41.74

Possession conceded (mins): 1277

3) Manchester United – 0.283

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 395 (=5th)

Possession conceded (%): 45.61

Possession conceded (mins): 1396

4). Tottenham – 0.277

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 351 (12th)

Possession conceded (%): 40.2

Possession conceded (mins): 1266

5) Chelsea – 0.275

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 311 (=18th)

Possession conceded (%): 35.83

Possession conceded (mins): 1129

6) Everton – 0.255

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 396 (3rd)

Possession conceded (%): 49.29

Possession conceded (mins): 1553

7) Liverpool – 0.252

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 303 (19th)

Possession conceded (%): 38.17

Possession conceded (mins): 1202

=8) Huddersfield – 0.236

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 390 (8th)

Possession conceded (%): 52.53

Possession conceded (mins): 1655

=8) Watford – 0.236

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 401 (2nd)

Possession conceded (%): 53.91

Possession conceded (mins): 1698

10) Brighton – 0.235

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 430 (1st)

Possession conceded (%): 57.97

Possession conceded (mins): 1826

11) Fulham – 0.234

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 392 (7th)

Possession conceded (%): 53.09

Possession conceded (mins): 1672

12) Wolves – 0.226

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 365 (10th)

Possession conceded (%): 52.79

Possession conceded (mins): 1615

13) Southampton – 0.218

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 393 (6th)

Possession conceded (%): 57.32

Possession conceded (mins): 1806

14) Leicester – 0.209

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 324 (15th)

Possession conceded (%): 49.23

Possession conceded (mins): 1551

15) Newcastle – 0.207

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 395 (=5th)

Possession conceded (%): 60.43

Possession conceded (mins): 1904

16) Crystal Palace – 0.202

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 355 (11th)

Possession conceded (%): 55.91

Possession conceded (mins): 1761

17) West Ham – 0.190

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 311 (=18th)

Possession conceded (%): 52.08

Possession conceded (mins): 1641

18) Bournemouth – 0.182

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 312 (16th)

Possession conceded (%): 54.53

Possession conceded (mins): 1718

19) Burnley – 0.178

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 335 (14th)

Possession conceded (%): 59.63

Possession conceded (mins): 1878

20) Cardiff – 0.167

Fouls conceded (rank in PL): 346 (13th)

Possession conceded (%): 65.8

Possession conceded (mins): 2073