{"id":8352,"date":"2025-09-22T14:03:29","date_gmt":"2025-09-22T14:03:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/22\/is-manchester-city-really-a-transition-team-statistics-dont-lie-after-arsenal-drawing\/"},"modified":"2025-09-22T14:03:29","modified_gmt":"2025-09-22T14:03:29","slug":"is-manchester-city-really-a-transition-team-statistics-dont-lie-after-arsenal-drawing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/eplvip.com\/index.php\/2025\/09\/22\/is-manchester-city-really-a-transition-team-statistics-dont-lie-after-arsenal-drawing\/","title":{"rendered":"Is Manchester City really a “transition team”? Statistics don’t lie after Arsenal drawing"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n<\/p>\n

\n
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“Well, once in ten years it’s not bad, right? I had to prove myself again for another strategy. Now, I’m a transition team. Do you know that?”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Pep Guardiola’s response may have been a tiny tongue on his cheek when asked about his distinctive defensive display in his Manchester City team’s draw with Arsenal, but is there some truth behind his words?<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Not only was 32.8% on Sunday afternoon the lowest under Guardiola, but according to Opta, it was the lowest from the Guardiola team in top flight league matches.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

And there’s more. After five games in this Premier League season, City is a team that is almost unrecognizable by what they are.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Returning Opta’s stats to Guardiola’s first season in City in 2016\/17, the average ownership rate so far is the lowest at 52.34%, with consistently more than five passes per sequence since 2017\/18 below four so far.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Premier League Season Potsession % Pass Per Pass Sequence2016\/1764.934.272017\/1871.945.482018\/1968.135.222019\/2066.635.422020\/2163.73 5.392021\/2268.215.292022\/2365.185.352023\/2465.455.582024\/2561.575.122025\/2652.343.97<\/div>\n
\n

If these numbers give you an overall view, what about diving deeper into the pitch?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Since arriving in the UK, Guardiola has been almost alone responsible for changing how the team builds it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

However, this season, City and their Catalan chiefs have gone in different ways, with a longer pass percentage and a longer goal kick percentage per game, even the best seen in the Guardiola-City era.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Premier League Season % Passes a long percentage goal kick GAME2016\/178.8%3.552017\/186.3%2.502018\/196.8%2.342019\/207.5%1.532020\/216.6%2.082021\/227.1%0.872022\/237.0%1.582023\/246.1%1.392024\/236.0%1.2425<\/div>\n
\n

So, what will all this come back to? It appears there are many factors during play. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

One is the unforgiving change in how the Premier League plays.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
“The reality is that the Premier League middle class is on an incredible rise. In all departments, physicality, tempo, rhythm, quality, ball,” Guardiola told TNT Sports last season.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

“I was really impressed with what they could do.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Similarly, he revealed that the targets of the club’s summer rebuilding clubs are to focus on “good, physical, mentally strong.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The gradual switch to a more physical “transition” team came in the form of Tijani Reijnah, Rayan Ait Nouri, Abdukhozir Kusanov and others.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
And Edason’s departure is a big change in terms of each distribution skill level, but it also brings back a “strong person” who is there, seeing it, and doing it at the greatest stage.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Certainly, Guardiola said that on the above tactics this season, what he most wants to see is that “spirit” comes back to his team.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Guardiola also brought in former Jurgen Klopp assistant Pep Lisinder over the summer. It brought unexpectedly different lenses to his backroom team, and it was a positive move to develop a new identity for his team.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Finally, City’s difficulties in the Premier League last season – Rodri’s near-season absence won’t help, but it was probably a sign that Guardiola’s more flexible approach was needed.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

How far will Guardiola go through this new model as the campaign progresses? And, importantly, does it bring about success?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
Check out TNT Sports and Discovery+, including the Premier League, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, UEFA Conference League, Serie A, Men’s and Women’s FA Cup and more.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n


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