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The Manchester City Players Completely Unsuited to Pep Guardiola’s Playing Style
- Updated: August 23, 2016
Pep Guardiola will adapt his tactics to combat a particular opponent. He is flexible and prepared to move players into unusual roles if it means nullifying a key element of the opposition’s game.
However, there are certain principles he will not alter, and if players don’t show aptitude for what he wants, his ruthless streak allows him to discard them.
When he took over at Barcelona—his first top-flight job in management—he immediately got rid of Ronaldinho, Deco and Gianluca Zambrotta, three established stars, and 12 months later, he did the same with Samuel Eto’o.
In his eyes, those players were either bad for squad harmony, unable to play in the style he wanted or both. It was a brave approach, but one that ultimately paid dividends. He won three La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues in his four-year stint in charge at the Camp Nou and ensured that Barcelona side would go down in the annals of time as one of the best we’ve had the pleasure of seeing.
His core principles are clear. Possession is important. Players must be comfortable with the ball at their feet and able to pass it quickly and effectively. They must also be capable of receiving the ball in tight areas, with the ability to turn into space and find a pass. That allows his side to have the majority of possession and if the opponents do not have the ball, they cannot hurt you.
His Barcelona side were relentless in their desire to keep possession, shifting the ball at speed with one- and two-touch passing, denying the opposition the chance to get hold of it. It was tiring and frustrating for their opponents, and Guardiola’s team became the best club side in the world.
All 11 players must be able to involve themselves in that side of the game, even the goalkeeper. Goalkeepers in Guardiola teams are auxiliary outfield players. Victor Valdes and Manuel Neuer were his not-so-secret weapons at Barcelona and Bayern Munich, acting as sweepers as well as being charged with keeping the ball out of the net.
He also demands intensity from his players. His fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura is known for his tough approach. Pre-season under Guardiola’s watch often sees double sessions, with one focusing on tactics and technique and the other designed to ensure players are ready for the physical demands of the season ahead.
When his team lose the ball, they must press high and hard, hunting in packs, in an attempt to recover possession as quickly as possible. There will be no coasters. Anyone deemed to be shirking their off-the-ball responsibilities is removed from the team.
That’s not to say every player has to be a tough-tackling, Roy Keane-type player. But every player must press and squeeze the …
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