Manchester City’s coach Pep Guardiola believes that teams have adapted their strategies when playing against his side.
Known as one of the toughest opponents for any club, Manchester City is currently struggling with inconsistency. Guardiola feels this has led to teams no longer fearing City as they once did. According to him, opponents have adjusted their approach, particularly with tactical changes.
Guardiola has observed that opponents now frequently employ man-marking tactics against City, making the UEFA Champions League especially challenging for his team.
Having been eliminated early in this season’s Champions League group stage, the 2023 champions are in a precarious position. Out of 36 teams in the new format, City is ranked 25th, trailing by two points from securing a playoff spot. The top eight teams from the group stage progress directly to the Round of 16, while teams ranked 9th to 24th will battle it out in two-legged playoffs.
City faces Chelsea in the Premier League on Saturday. Speaking at a press conference, Guardiola commented on the evolving tactics of opponents:
“Every team that comes to the Etihad Stadium defends deep. I first saw Neil Warnock’s Cardiff team play with man-marking, and now everyone does it. Opponents just press on Ederson or Stefan (Ortega). We have to adapt to these changes, improve with the ball, or we won’t qualify for the Champions League.”
He also emphasized the importance of possession: “Speed is important, but against PSG, we ran more than them. Our problem lies with the ball. This season, we’ve struggled in that area. When we have possession but fail to pass accurately to teammates, everything becomes more difficult.”
Despite winning the Premier League title four times in a row, City is struggling in the current season. They sit fifth in the table with 38 points from 22 matches.
