Manchester City: Tactical Evolution Under Guardiola
Midway through the season, Manchester City is just two points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, with both teams having secured 12 victories out of 17 league matches thus far.
Following a disappointing previous season, where the club, which has claimed six titles in seven years, finished third on the final day, and a challenging start to the current campaign that included two losses in their first three games, Pep Guardiola's squad has made a remarkable comeback.
There is a common perception of what a Guardiola team embodies, yet each league title he has clinched has been achieved with a distinctive tactical approach. The current iteration of Manchester City, however, is unlike any we have seen before. So, how has Guardiola tactically reinvented his team?
What City’s New XI Looks Like
In recent weeks, Guardiola appears to have settled on a lineup that features key players in specific roles. The primary adjustment occurs when Tijjani Reijnders steps in for Jeremy Doku, allowing the Netherlands midfielder to take on a central position while Phil Foden shifts to the left flank.
Let’s closely examine the responsibilities assigned to these twelve players.
Why Two Attacking Midfielders at Full-Back Work
When Guardiola adapts his system, he does so based on the players available rather than adhering to a predetermined framework. This season, City has a variety of options at full-back. Nathan Ake provides a solid defensive presence, reminiscent of his role during City’s treble-winning campaign, while Rayan Ait-Nouri and Rico Lewis offer positional flexibility and attacking prowess in tight spaces.
However, Guardiola has opted to utilize Nico O'Reilly and Matheus Nunes in these full-back roles, leveraging their ability to cover significant ground rapidly, both in attack and defense. Their physical attributes enable them to excel in defensive duels and effectively counter opposing attacks.
This also allows them to advance high up the pitch, functioning as attackers in two primary ways. Both full-backs can stretch the play wide, granting City’s wingers the opportunity to drift into central positions, a strategy that has proven effective this season. When in possession, they can deliver crosses from these advantageous positions.
Conversely, when wingers position themselves wider, both full-backs are capable of underlapping, penetrating central zones. O'Reilly, in particular, has demonstrated a keen sense for goal through late runs into the box, making it challenging for defenders to track him, as the player responsible for marking him is often the opposing winger.
Their experience as attacking midfielders provides a level of comfort when operating in the opposition’s final third, while the variability they introduce alongside the wingers enhances unpredictability in City’s attacking play, complicating opponents’ preparations.
Packing the Centre of the Pitch with Roaming Wingers
This season, Guardiola’s deployment of wingers has also undergone a transformation, facilitated by the versatile full-backs. In certain matches, Guardiola has encouraged players like Doku, Rayan Cherki, and Foden to occupy central positions in close proximity to one another. This newfound freedom to roam and interact marks a significant departure from City’s previous tactics, driven by the players’ strengths.
After Bournemouth’s 3-1 defeat to City, Cherries manager Andoni Iraola remarked, “Even when you are tight and you don’t allow them a lot of spaces, Cherki and Foden can play one-touch. Their coordination is amazing.” Both Cherki and Foden have also scored impressive long-range goals this season, drawing defenders towards them and subsequently creating space in wide areas for Nunes and O'Reilly to exploit unmarked.
Packing the center of the pitch with multiple players ensures City is well-positioned to press opponents or win second balls. When out of possession, having numerous players in the middle hinders opponents' progress, thus limiting the number of dangerous counter-attacks faced by City’s defenders. In possession, this strategy also facilitates quick passes to Erling Haaland, enabling City to launch their own counter-attacks.
City’s New Counter-Attacking Threat Hard to Stop
Traditionally, Guardiola's teams have prioritized ball possession and controlled play to minimize turnovers and limit chances against. While this remains a focus, this season has seen City embrace a more rapid approach to attacking during transitions.
Guardiola has capitalized on the strengths of players like Haaland, Foden, Reijnders, and O'Reilly by executing swift, long-distance attacks. Consequently, City has netted more goals from fast breaks this season than in the entirety of the 23-24 and 24-25 seasons combined, boasting a league-leading total of 27 fast breaks.
This shift is partly due to the players’ skill sets but also likely a response to the increasing prevalence of intense man-to-man pressing. By playing direct and long, City can bypass opposing pressure and exploit the space that opens up further up the pitch. The addition of Cherki has also introduced a level of passing creativity from deep, aiding City in navigating pressure and allowing attackers to make runs in behind, a dynamic that was missed following Kevin De Bruyne’s departure.
‘It’s Not Enough. We Have to Play Better’ - Guardiola
City has won seven of their last eight Premier League matches, indicating that these tactical changes are yielding results. However, Guardiola maintains high standards and identifies areas for further improvement. Despite a 3-0 victory against West Ham, he expressed dissatisfaction, stating, “If the players were in their positions, we could create more and concede less, but we didn’t do it.” This suggests he desires his players to occupy specific zones on the pitch, reminiscent of City’s previous strategies, especially against teams like West Ham.
Guardiola also hinted at a gradual reintroduction of familiar tactics during the same press conference where he praised City’s intensity. “I love [how much we run]; last season we didn’t have that. But it’s not enough; we have to play better [so] we could run less.” By adopting a more structured attacking approach, City could potentially reduce turnovers, leading to fewer periods requiring intense defending and a decrease in chances conceded.
What’s Next for City This Season?
It appears Guardiola is focused on...