WJosep Guardiola has struggled more than expected in the Champions League, winning only three games but winning domestic championships with an iron fist, managing Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Manchester City.
He has never failed to win a league title in two consecutive seasons. Therefore, after a very delicate last season, he was forced to implement new adjustments in order to avoid a situation he had never experienced before in his career.League titles won by Josep Guardiola:
Phil Foden kisses Erling Haaland in a gesture of love during Manchester City match
08-09: Barcelona > Winner 09-10: Barcelona > Winner 10-11: Barcelona > Winner 11-12: Barcelona > Runner-up 12-13-14: Bayern Munich > Winner 14-15: Bayern Munich > Winner 15-16: Bayern Munich > Winner 16-17: Manchester City > 3rd place 17-18: Manchester City > Winners 18-19: Manchester City > Winners 19-20: Manchester City > Runners-up 20-21: Manchester City > Winners 21-22: Manchester City > Winners 2022-23: Manchester City > Winners 23-24: Manchester City > Winners 24-25: Manchester City > 3rd place
There is no need for Pep Guardiola to retire to ensure that he remains one of the great tactical geniuses this sport has produced. It is clear that every time he patented an invention, others tried to imitate it. He has always set trends. Messi was the false ‘9’ at Barcelona, ’full-back’ at Bayern, and Herbert Champman’s famous ‘WM’, who led Manchester City to the treble with John Stones in 2023, was revived.
Guardiola warned a few months ago: “You get tired of doing the same thing for eight years. When something works, your rivals see it and develop an antidote. We have to react again.” “The team has changed tactics and is no longer afraid of us. We have to adapt,” he added.
The team has changed tactics and is no longer afraid of us. have to adapt
Guardiola has been immersed in a thorough rebuilding process that began last season, and after suffering a worse-than-usual January slump, he took his ideas a step further. After three consecutive draws in the Premier League, they lost to United in the Manchester derby and suffered a humiliating loss to Bodø/Glimt in the Champions League.
The signing of Antoine Semenyo meant that even though Manchester City started with a 1-4-3-3 formation, they eventually used long full-backs (Nunez and At-Nouri), a very mobile midfield dyad This is the basis for understanding the fit of morphing into a 1-4-4-2 with Amondo (Rodri, Bernardo, O’Reilly/Reijnders, Cherki/Foden) and a double front (Haaland and Semenho). This is unprecedented for Guardiola’s team. Some may say, “Never say never.”
“You can see that when you have Doku, Semenho, Haaland and Marmouche, you can be more direct and play in transitions. If you have Cherki, Foden, Lijnders, O’Reilly and Rodri, you will be able to have more possession,” explained manager Josep Guardiola, who over the years has learned to adapt not only to his opponents but also to his own team. It’s been a long time since I started to fear him becoming more reactive.
He started using it against Wolves and since then Manchester City have continued to develop in terms of balance, order and punch. They have less possession (56.5%), are less present in the opposition area (22), take fewer shots (12.8), concede more shots (10.2) and set their defensive line several meters back (62). However, they increased their scoring percentage (2.0) and lowered their opponents’ scoring average (0.6).
“During the rebuild, sometimes you need to refresh your mind, but unfortunately we don’t have time. We have to intervene immediately,” manager Josep Guardiola said a few weeks ago. As a result, the results are going as expected. Since then, the Cityzens have won six and drawn one of their last seven games.
In rebuilding, sometimes you need to refresh your mind. But unfortunately I don’t have time. we must intervene immediately
They have qualified directly for the Champions League last 16, the Carabao Cup final five years later, and the FA Cup last 16… and are five points behind Arsenal in the Premier League title race with a game in hand. “The skies will be much bluer in March. It’s important to be there then…and the team will be ready. I’m confident we’ll do well.”
“Update or die.” This is a maxim that Josep Guardiola has once again applied to avoid something he has never seen before in his career, patenting this new “invention” under the leadership of the Manchester City team, which is still alive in all competitions.
