Pep Guardiola – Manchester City – Tactical Analysis (2023-24)

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This might finally be the year. It might finally be the year that Pep Guardiola and Manchester City don’t win the Premier League. Despite that, they’ve still been the most tactically complex team in the league, carrying on from much of the tactics that brought them a treble-winning triumph last season. Here is what Pep Guardiola has imposed in 2023-24, continuing to make City one of the most dominant forces in the world.

ATTACKING STYLE OF PLAY

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Manchester City typically play a “4-3-3”, which is lazy terminology for what is actually more of a 4-1-4-1, which is only partially true since they spend most of their time attacking in a 3-2-4-1 shape. Like I said, it’s complex.

The Citizens spend about 66% of their time in possession of the ball, almost 4% higher than Brighton, and 6% more than their title contenders Liverpool and Arsenal. This means that we rarely see the 4-3-3 (their defensive shape), come to life.

Instead, what we normally see is a beautiful construction of the 3-2-4-1, perfectly balanced to handle both defensive transitions and attacking triangulations.

Last season, John Stones became the surprise man to step into that midfield slot, acting as the emblem for what the 3-2-4-1 became. This season, that role alongside Rodri has been less consistent. John Stones has played only a partial role, Manuel Akanji’s often taken his place, and even Rico Lewis can play the part when acting as an ‘Inverted Fullback’. Regardless of who joins Rodri in midfield areas, that is often the build-up shape that we see take form.

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But as opposition sides compact and narrow the pitch, the men ahead will drop toward the ball too, allowing for variations in movement toward and away. It’s the most masterful City art that’s always been in place. And it’s so simple. As players come toward the ball, they take defenders with them. That can then open spaces in gaps for other players to burst into, if not the original player himself.

As the midfielders come together to allow for smooth build-up play through the thirds, they draw the opposition toward the centre. In doing so, they simultaneously open up more space for their wingers to hug the touchline, stretch the width, and attack 1v1.

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All of City’s attackers are magnificent dribblers, and that’s where they can often go toe-toe-toe in working their magic, and play passes back toward the midfielders to finish. Jeremy Doku‘s been a bright addition, even knocking Jack Grealish off a regular starting spot. As the likes of Grealish, Bernardo Silva and Doku work their stardom, all of the attention still goes to Erling Haaland. The midfield men can then often arrive late into the box unmarked to finish off chances.

Going to the back-end of the pitch, all City players are exceptional at carrying the ball forward. This has been a noticeable approach within their recruitment strategy, plucking the likes of Manuel Akanji, Mateo Kovacic and Matheus Nunes from the flower fields of other teams to slot them into the City rotation. This is likely why Manuel Akanji’s been the man to step into midfield in that John Stones role, as he carries the ball with a certain level of composure and physicality that is hard to stop.

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When it’s the centre-backs carrying forward, City still have to be careful not to throw too many numbers forward to an extent that they cannot recover in transition. They’re typically brilliant in recovering and boast a ‘Sweeper Keeper’ in goal to help, but a good number of their goals conceded still come on counter attacks.

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Finally, it’s worth noting that in Kevin de Bruyne‘s absence for parts of the season, the star of the show has actually been Phil Foden – who we’ve all been waiting to really, truly make his mark in Manchester.

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Foden’s already put 14 goals and 7 assists to his name, already besting his previous PR of 11 goals and 5 assists in 2022-23. His spatial awareness has skyrocketed to a KDB level, and his output in front of goal has now started to match that exceptional ball control and drive he’s always had in place. It’s his shooting & finishing that have been most remarkable, putting his ball striking on that sweet left foot to new heights.

He’s become the go-to man for City this season in producing magic, and one of the players on this Premier League season.

DEFENSIVE STYLE OF PLAY

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While they don’t defend for terribly long, City’s defensive style is distinct. It’s defined by a persistent hunger to win the ball back whenever they lose it, ensuring they can remain the team in control.

This is aided by the way they always remain close together in attack, ensuring that they can triangulate through short passes even within the bounds of tight defenses. So when they lose the ball, they already have five men ready to surround the ball carrier at any moment. This is even how Phil Foden scored that sweet left-footed goal against Villa recently, striking from distance within seconds of losing the ball himself.

In moments where they can’t stop the initial counter attack, City remain quick to leap into action and reformulate their back-four shape.

They can however be hit by a quick ball over the top, especially noticeable recently in Kyle Walker‘s absence.

Manuel Akanji and Ruben Dias are both commandingly quick and comfortable handling transitions, but it’s Walker who has that unbeatable pace to recover. He’s been a big miss in recent weeks, and City will be hoping he recovers soon for the closing stages of this title race.

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At the front end of the pitch, City remain difficult to break down. They set up in a 4-1-4-1 that can always be adapted based on the opposition’s shapes and structures, comfortable with any distance of separation to match the opposition’s ideals. Against a team like Arsenal or Liverpool, those distances between the lines can often be more compact as opposition sides look to play through them.

Against a team like Villa or Brentford, City’s defensive line can be seen in their own half even when the ball is with the opposition keeper. It’s all about adapting to the opposition, which is why their man-to-man approach often works in easily adjusting.

Truthfully, if City had it their way, they would simply never defend. They would attack all the time, score a million goals, and win all the trophies. They basically do already. But maybe. Just maybe. Not this season. We shall see as the season unfolds.

Regardless, Manchester City remain one of the most intriguing tactical units in the world and could steal the show as the season comes to a close. Thanks for reading and see you soon!

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