Manchester City Could Benefit from Small Adjustments

Manchester City‘s recent performance is concerning. They have earned only three points in their last four matches, leaving them seven points behind Arsenal. This gap could be significant, especially with 16 games left to play.

For Pep Guardiola to secure his seventh Premier League title in nine seasons, he needs to quickly enhance the team’s performance and apply pressure on Arsenal, who have recently lost four points in two matches.

Potential Changes to Improve Manchester City’s Performance

The current form of Manchester City indicates that a change in strategy might be necessary. Their 0-2 loss to Manchester United last weekend highlighted their struggle to penetrate a strong defense and their tendency to concede goals on counter-attacks.

Guardiola has faced similar challenges in the past, notably during his time at Barcelona when his teams were thwarted by ultra-defensive strategies, notably from Jose Mourinho’s Inter Milan. Many teams only adopt an attacking approach against Manchester City when they are behind.

A key difference now is that Manchester City has a traditional striker in Erling Haaland. Guardiola’s Barcelona played a possession-focused style and pressed aggressively to regain the ball. Their strikers were typically more mobile, creating space and opportunities near the box. For instance, the 3-1 victory over Manchester United in the UEFA Champions League final showcased this approach with nimble players like Lionel Messi, Pedro, and David Villa challenging larger defenders.

Haaland has improved his link-up play, but he does not press aggressively, nor does Jeremy Doku, despite his speed. Consequently, defending teams can regroup after containing Haaland, as the City forwards don’t press as aggressively.

Intense pressing in the final third would increase the chances of regaining possession while also tiring out opposing defenders. When teams play defensively, they conserve energy, making it easier to challenge City’s forwards.

Therefore, a more aggressive press from the center-forward, wingers, and central midfielders could disrupt the opposition’s defensive structure. This is a strategy Guardiola might consider to enhance City’s performance.

Players like Phil Foden, Bernardo Silva, and Rayan Cherki need to contribute more to the pressing game, especially in the final third. Despite Foden’s talent, he does not press much, a trend that applies to Cherki as well.

Furthermore, passing needs to be quicker in the final third to limit defenders’ time to react. While City can build up play slowly in the midfield, rapid passing near the penalty box is crucial for breaking down a strong defense.

Challenges in Scoring Goals Through Direct Play

Like many teams under Guardiola, Manchester City struggles to score frequently through direct play, relying on crosses from full-backs. They also do not capitalize much on set-pieces, such as free-kicks or corners.

Thus, their most viable scoring method remains through passing and pressing. They need to push opponents out of their comfort zones, a challenging task if they hope to contend with Arsenal.