Erik Ten Hag set out with an adjustment to United’s pressing shape to try and neutralize City’s 3-2-4-1 system. This was moderately successful, however two quality strikes from İlkay Gündoğan gave City the goals they needed to overcome United and take home the FA Cup. Tactical analysis and match report by Josh Manley. We decided to […]
Use the arrows to scroll through all available match plots. Click to enlarge.Check the match plots page for plots of other matches. The weekend was full of joy for these two clubs, but both were back to business at the Amex Stadium. Bravery and buildup schemes are two common themes in the work of the managers in […]
Other results took the edge away from this game, but Manchester City were in no mood to ease off the gas. Pep’s new-look eleven were on a more even keel with their unfancied guests but still secured three points to keep up their winning streak in preparation for future forays at glory. Tactical analysis and […]
Only the final whistle can assure success against Real Madrid, for whom the fight is never over as early as it seems. Last night was an exception to the rule. The Mancunian machine battered and bruised the reigning champions, taking apart their flaws to assert plans of total dominance. Tactical analysis and match report by […]
Control. It’s something that Pep Guardiola craves most, so this performance should go high in his books. Manchester City pierced through a compact low block down the left side and magical touches from İlkay Gündoğan stole the story: even if expected goals tried to tell something different. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker. […]
The two contestants in this duel are masters of very different crafts. They produced a tight clash in which the goals did not align with phases of supremacy, and efficiency might be the decider. Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere. Manchester City continue to add to their continental clout. It is the third […]
Passing midfield trios and possession dominance is not the only method of Pep Guardiola’s madness. To achieve success, Manchester City have built the most physical team under his reign, so can we look to a physically-dominating sport – with predetermined cues and moves in between – to take this a step further? Written by Joel Parker. […]
Pep Guardiola is the grandmaster. He has been so bored of mere domination that he trusted his apprentice to reveal the true depths of his genius. The pretenders are honing the art of checkers, but the reigning champions are kings of chess— and set to chart a historic step in their project. We decided to […]
This season’s UEFA Champions League’s biggest quarterfinal in terms of team quality and tactical intrigue also happened to be the one with the biggest first leg lead. Manchester City were quite comfortable as they touched down in Munich with a three-goal advantage after a convincing victory at the Etihad Stadium. Naturally, their gameplan at the […]
Manchester City’s latest attempt to add a missing honor to their cabinet brought their manager head to head with two sources of regret. The first hour of the clash threatened to produce more pain, but this iteration of his project wields new tools that might finally end the barren run. We decided to make this […]