Premier League (EPL) champion Manchester City is facing a crisis this season. What is unusual is that it is not simply that the players’ performance is not good; Pep Guardiola’s His greatest strength became his greatest weakness.
The first problem is Manchester City’s problem. squad depthOr lack thereof, the defensive midfield position. Guardiola had luxury Yaya Toure and Fernandinho It evolved at his disposal. roadie and Fernandinho.
However, the only holding midfielder brought in since Fernandinho left is Calvin PhillipsSomeone who has never been given a real chance. This has led to an over-reliance on Rodri, who is now sidelined for the season with an ACL injury.
The second and perhaps more important problem is that of Guardiola. tactical tinkering Over the past few seasons. To counter teams that defend narrowly and deeply, Guardiola introduced a very effective midfield diamond system.
This system allowed City to outnumber their opponents in the creative zone and made it nearly impossible for them to press effectively.
However, the success of this system depended largely on Rodri’s unique skills. Roadie’s stamina, positioning, and Ability to quickly convert possession into attack It played a critical role in the efficiency of the system.
With Rodri out, the cracks in the system became gaping holes like this: KovacicSubstitutes lack the same level of defensive awareness and passing range.
Rodri’s absence has left City’s transition defense vulnerable, with opponents now able to counterattack through midfield and expose their defence.
What Guardiola tried to do to solve this problem was pushing the fullback higher up the pitch The problem was further exacerbated by pivot locations becoming more isolated.
Besides, the team’s Wider attack options I was worried too. signature Alvarez The idea was to give City two genuine dribblers who could deliver the ball. holland untiringly.
However, the team’s new shape has made them more prone to turnovers and this dribble threat has not been felt.
Personally, the team top scorer and assistant Since last season, only Haaland has maintained his high standards while his form has also declined.
A perfect storm of tactical, squad and personal issues has left Manchester City in a precarious position. Guardiola, renowned for his adaptability and ability to improve, now faces his biggest challenge yet. The problem still remains. Can the brilliant tactician find a way to turn things around and regain City’s dominance?
