With critics to be proven wrong, and a return to the top four at stake, the expectation was high for the latest edition of the Manchester derby. However, both teams produced a limited, lethargic and lackluster affair, with bad buildup structures being cancelled out by tangible defensive organizations. Tactical analysis and match report by Joel Parker. […]
José Mourinho’s vintage defensive block nullified his greatest opponent and created the counterattacks that recorded his first consecutive wins over Pep Guardiola, in his career. With heavy occupation against their opponent’s eights, Tottenham Hotspur denied Manchester City from getting their creators on the ball, as glaring tactical issues were aggravated further. Tactical analysis and match […]
A Liverpool side focused on pressing and transitions ensured that the game had a fast-paced start, which resulted in an early lead for the visitors through a Mohamed Salah penalty. City tweaked their shape slightly and eventually hit back through Gabriel Jesus. As the game progressed, the chances dried up as both sides looked to […]
Manchester City were able to return to winning ways in the Premier League against Arsenal with a new system which featured an unorthodox distribution of roles for the players on the pitch. City’s new arrangement saw them have good control of the match, helped by their solid pressing and counterpressing. In the end Raheem Sterling’s […]
Pep Guardiola showcased how to deploy an effective high block in the first half, but a countermove from Marcelo Bielsa put Leeds United right back into the game. Once circulation of the ball was improved, the game between two of modern football’s great philosophers evolved into vintage and chaotic end-to-end action. Tactical analysis and match […]
The start of the game was promising for Manchester City, as they went ahead early through a spectacular Riyad Mahrez strike and continued to dominate possession and territory for much of the first half. However, some undisciplined defending allowed Leicester to equalize before half-time. This theme would continue in the second half, as City conceded […]
An over-conservative approach by Pep Guardiola prevented City from having the necessary impact his strategy required, eventually crumbling to a mix of individual mistakes, structural dilemmas, and Lyon’s clinical finishing. Tactical analysis and match report by Kareem Bianchi. After convincingly knocking out Real Madrid in the Round of Sixteen, Manchester City were given the luxury […]
The scoreline was ultimately decided by two mistakes from Raphaël Varane, which allowed Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus to get on the scoresheet either side of Karim Benzema’s equalizer for Real Madrid. Despite Madrid’s goal, City were always the better team in the match, able to press effectively against Madrid’s buildup, and in the second […]
A wonderful sequence of buildup play put Arsenal 1-0 up in the first half. Manchester City dominated the ball, but were unable to break down Arsenal’s deep defense, despite Pep Guardiola’s tactical adjustments. Mikel Arteta’s side added a second goal with twenty minutes left, making City’s task almost insurmountable, and Arsenal eventually closed the game […]
Manchester City performed a guard of honour for Liverpool before the game, but there was no title procession for Liverpool once the game began. City had an attacking scheme designed to find weaknesses in Liverpool’s compact 4-3-3 system and overwhelmed Liverpool to take a 3-0 lead in the first half, with Kevin De Bruyne being […]