Arsenal’s bleak start to the season gave them little hope of taking anything from their trip to the Etihad Stadium. But in the end, a limp display made this contest even easier for Manchester City than they could have hoped. As ill discipline and tactical flaws cost the side once again, the process may finally […]
Uncharacteristically, Pep Guardiola’s team began the game with little of the ball. Once Manchester City got the ball back, Leicester City quickly adapted to plug the holes. Although randomness broke the deadlock, Leicester were worth their win against an underwhelming City team missing several household names. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker. Community Shields […]
Despite rolling out a ballsy 3-4-3 diamond formation without an actual defensive midfielder, Guardiola’s Manchester City creating next to nothing in the Champions League final. Chelsea defended like they always do under Tuchel: well-organized and disciplined, as direct balls into Werner were a good way to create chances on the counterattack. By virtue of a […]
Teams of Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel have met seven times before, split into three episodes of club football. In this mini-series, building up to the Champions League final, we dial back the tape and go over the main tactical themes of those seven meetings, divided into three acts. In the third and last part: […]
Teams of Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel have met seven times before, split into three episodes of club football. In this mini-series, building up to the Champions League final, we play back the tape and go over the main tactical themes of those seven meetings, divided into three acts. In the second part: Bayern Munich […]
Teams of Pep Guardiola and Thomas Tuchel have met seven times before, split into three episodes of club football. In this mini-series, building up to the Champions League final, we play back the tape and go over the main tactical themes of those seven meetings, divided into three acts. In the first part: Bayern Munich […]
Pep Guardiola loves an experiment, but even this was more audacious than normal. Manchester City traded total control to find ideas past Europe’s most challenging defensive block. Chelsea had also rotated but found routes through thanks to effective right-side interchange. A 90th minute winner draws the battle lines. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker. […]
Ninety minutes stood between Manchester City and a historic step to the Champions League final. The heat was on, but the hosts rose to the occasion. Barring out Paris Saint-Germain in their resolute 4-4-2 block, they could turn to a proven face once more to be the decisive figure. Tactical analysis and match report by […]
Manchester City’s tie with Paris Saint-Germain renewed a duel between two of the game’s great minds, offering an absorbing spectacle. The Parisians stifled City’s 4-2-2-2 offensive shape while posing threats from all sides, but a familiar narrative reared its head to turn the contest around. Tactical analysis and match report by Emmanuel Adeyemi-Abere. Falling short […]
For eighty minutes, Manchester City had brutalized and controlled Tottenham Hotspur, both on and off the ball. The winning goal may not have been as pretty as some of their earlier attacks, but a return to flexibility and fluency comes at a great time for Pep Guardiola’s men, who can add more than the EFL […]