Manchester City: What to expect from Pep this year tactically

He is heralded is as one of the best coaches in the world. However, everyone must adapt. How will Guardiola change his team up in his second year?

Pep Guardiola has been a revolutionary for the modern game starting from his Barcelona days, going into his Bayern career. Now at Manchester City, we are waiting for his next idea to change soccer forever. People have accused Pep of being a fraud because he works with elite players. However, there are two points to refute this ridiculous claim. First is at Barca B he was working wonders with youth players and was good enough to become Barcelona’s first team manager. Second, Pep needs really good players to execute his demanding game plan and really good players aren’t cheap. Any idea of Pep being a fraud is just nonsense.

Peps has been a revolutionary at his previous stops and opened the eyes to different ways of playing soccer. At Barca, he introduced the idea of playing out the back with goalkeepers who are good with their feet. Pep also revolutionized the idea of attacking fullbacks and a rotating back line. His system would have Alves attack and Abidal drop back and create a back three and vice-versa.

He then placed an emphasis on the midfield by utilizing technically gifted players like Busquets, Xavi, and Iniesta. He wanted triangles throughout the pitch so there are constant ball movement and options for players. By emphasizing possession, he naturally gave his team more chance to win. Guardiola then implemented Messi as a false 9, bringing the idea of having your best player get on the ball as often as possible. He also had his attackers come back to place more numbers and dominance in the midfield.

At Bayern Pep introduced inverted fullbacks and playing with 2 center-backs as the back line. The idea of the inverted full-backs was to emphasize midfield dominance while being in a position to stop opponent counter attacks. It also freed up the attackers to be higher up the pitch so when opponents park the bus *cough* United *cough* he would have more weapons.

He introduced a system where the team builds on one side of the pitch while a winger on the opposite side hugs the touchline. Then the team switches play to the isolated winger on the other side. The winger would beat the fullback on a one v one, creating a scoring chance. He also able to adapt his tactics for certain players and maximize the output. Pep wanted to build through the middle to move the ball outside. The ball would move through the middle then when the team gets into the final third they would move the ball to the wingers. The other attackers would crash the box, and the quality of wingers he had at Bayern would beat the fullback and create chances.

In his first year at City Pep didn’t try many new things because he was very limited with the players he had. The fullbacks are very important to him but they weren’t gifted enough for Pep’s high demands. Going into his second year I expect a few shifts of ideas from Pep. First Pep will play two different formations with 4-3-3 and the formation he used in pre season 3-5-2. I can also see him attempt a 3-4-3 but the other two will be the main two formations. The 4-3-3 is a basic formation and one that needs the striker dropping back to provide true midfield domination. The wingers will be inverted and the fullbacks will charge forward.

The fluidity of this formation can also help dominate the ball. When the right back goes forward the left back will stay back and create a 3 man back line and vice-versa. There will still be an emphasis on midfield dominance and triangles throughout the pitch. The idea of building up play on one side of the pitch just to switch it to the isolated winger will remain in tact. This time I can see both wingers and fullbacks being on the receiving end of the switch. Because Walker and Mendy are talented enough to beat opposing fullbacks I can see Pep allowing them to move up, receive the switch, and create chances…

The 3-5-2 formation will be the fun one to watch and analyse throughout the season. I think there are multiple reasons for using this formation. Starting from the back, it makes sense with the fullbacks we have. The fullbacks will start in a more advanced position but will be covered by three center-backs when they attack. They can also rotate into a four man back line when one full-back attacks the other will drop back and provide cover. The midfielders will be shaped with one defensive midfielder and 2 attacking midfielders. The defensive midfielder will be given more freedom to move forward because the three center-backs and two fullbacks will provide enough cover. The two strikers will be providing movement and trying to slip into gaps in the defensive line.

The build up and attacking play will come through the middle. Then in the final third, the ball will be moved out wide with the strikers slipping through seams and attacking the opposition box. One of the strikers will also drop back and create a diamond in the midfield to provide superiority in the midfield.

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I expect a big year out of Pep and many new ideas to be introduced. He is a revolutionary and someone who changed the game forever. He shifted his ideas depending on the different leagues he has played in and how the opposition adjusted to him. In the Premier League he has seen more long balls than he’s used to and now he is adjusting to it. He is going to shore up the back line so they are less exposed on the counter. City created loads of chances last year but had trouble finishing them. I expect fluid formations, different lineups, and tactical breakthroughs throughout the season and it will be fun to examine.