Pep Guardiola can solve any problem for Manchester City by mixing it up
SunSport's Analyst says clinching the title against Man Utd at the Etihad would be the cherry on the cake for City as he explains how they can overcome their Champions League woe
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There has been so much to admire about Manchester City’s Premier League season as they romp to the title, smashing records as they go.
They’d love to win it tonight against their rivals.
It would be the cherry on an incredible season.
Here Danny Higginbotham picks the key areas that has set them apart:
THINKING ON THEIR FEET
Manchester City’s opponents have tried a variety of tactics to try to stop Pep Guardiola’s runaway league leaders but they have always – bar the Liverpool game – come up with a solution.
And they have done it in a variety of ways.
Some teams have sat deep with four defenders and five midfielders strung across the edge of the box and asked City to break them down.
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Swansea away stands out. After 15 minutes, full-backs Danilo and Fabian Delph vacated their positions and moved into central midfield to join Fernandinho creating a midfield three who had loads of time on the ball.
Swansea didn’t know what to do.
Eventually their midfield moved up to counter Danilo and Delph. That created a gap between the Swansea defence and midfield for the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva to get on the ball.
Another example was when they played Watford at home.
The Hornets’ defence decided to stay really narrow. Rather than get sucked in, wingers Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sane stayed out wide and had lots of the ball.
Eventually the Watford full-backs got frustrated because Sane and Sterling were having a free run at them.
So they went and engaged the wingers. Again this created gaps between full-backs and centre-halves for De Bruyne and Silva to exploit.
Everton tried the high press on Saturday from a goalkick.
And Ederson kicked long straight to Sane who put De Bruyne away who set up Gabriel Jesus to score.
That’s just three examples of how Guardiola’s players can mix it up, think on their feet and problem solve.
THE PRESS
There has been much said about City’s prowess on the ball and rightly so. But key to their success is how quickly they win the ball back.
When you play against a high press you either go through or you go over.
Going through is difficult against City.
They are so fast, hungry to close down and do it in packs that they give players so little time on the ball.
You have to be a wonderful player to beat that. In fact, you have to be as good as De Bruyne or Silva to beat it.
If City played City, attacking City might win because they could pick a way through! But few players are as good on the ball as De Bruyne or Silva.
Playing over the press is also hard because they pin you so far back the long ball is pointless.
There is no one to go long to. To do that you need electric pace.
The sort that Liverpool have which explains why they are the only team to beat them.
MIND GAMES
City have been SO good that even the top teams have changed their style of play.
Opponents are on damage limitation before a ball has been kicked. That puts City at an immediate advantage. And weakens the opponent.
GREAT COACHING
Yes, City have spent money. But so have other teams. I don’t buy the theory that Guardiola just buys success.
He has improved players he has inherited. Otamendi, Fernandinho, Aguero, Sterling, De Bruyne, Silva - to name but a few - have all got better.
And some of those players are not youngsters. It is hard to improve a player who has been around the block.
He is a great manager because he is a fantastic coach.
IDENTIFYING THE PROBLEM
Guardiola took one season to work out what his problems were. And he solved them. Some teams know where their issues lie for ages but aren’t able to sort them out.
He knew he needed a keeper who could play out (Ederson), rapid and energetic full-backs (Kyle Walker, Bernard Mendy) and he went out and brought them.
DOING THEIR TRANSFER BUSINESS EARLY
Walker, Mendy, Bernardo Silva and Ederson were all brought early in the transfer window.
That gave Guardiola time to work with them on the training ground and time for them to get up to speed with what he was after.
They could then hit the ground running when the new season kicked off.
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FOUR BEHIND THE BALL
Last season City were often caught on the break.
They could be too gung-ho. Think Leicester 4 City 2. Or City 1 Chelsea 3. Guardiola learnt from it and changed.
This season he has always kept four men behind the ball.
Often it has been the back three (two centre-halves and the full-back who isn’t attacking) and Fernandinho.
Or it has been three centre-halves and the Brazilian. But he has cut out the chances of City being countered.
