Manchester City, reigning Premier League champions, find themselves on the brink of crisis this season. The strange thing is that it’s not just because the players aren’t performing well, but because two of them that of Pep Guardiola his greatest strengths became his greatest weaknesses.
The first problem lies in the situation of Manchester City. team depthor its absence, in a defensive midfielder position. Guardiola had the luxury of Yaya Toure And Fernandinho at its disposal, which evolved towards Rodri And Fernandinho.
However, since Fernandinho’s departure, the only midfielder hired has been Kalvin Phillipswho was never given a real opportunity. This has resulted in an over-reliance on Rodri, leading to his current ACL injury which will sideline him for the season.
The second problem, perhaps the most crucial, is that of Guardiola. tactical DIY over the past two seasons. In an attempt to counter teams defending narrowly and deep, Guardiola introduced a diamond system in midfield which proved very effective.
This system allowed City to outnumber the opposition in creative areas, making it almost impossible for opponents to pressure effectively.
However, the success of this system depended heavily on Rodri’s unique skills. at Rodri’s physics, positioning, And ability to quickly turn possession into attack were essential to the effectiveness of the system.
With Rodri absent, the cracks in the system have become gaping holes, as shown Kovačićthe replacement, does not have the same level of defensive awareness and passing range.
Without Rodri’s presence, City’s transition defense became vulnerable, with opponents now able to counter-attack in midfield and expose the back line.
Guardiola’s attempt to resolve this problem by push the backs higher up the pitch only exacerbated the problem, leaving the pivot position even more isolated.
Additionally, the team wider attack options have also been a concern. The signature of Alvarez aimed to provide City with two genuine dribblers capable of bringing the ball to Haaland consistently.
However, the team’s new shape has made them more susceptible to turnovers, and the absence of those dribbling threats has been felt.
Individually, the team top scorers And assistants from last season have also seen a dip in form, with only Haaland maintaining his high standards.
This perfect storm of tactical, team and individual issues has left Manchester City in a precarious position. Guardiola, known for his ability to adapt and evolve, now faces his biggest challenge yet. The question remains: can the master tactician find a way to turn things around and regain City’s dominance?
