On Manchester City: "Playing against them I felt like we were playing handball. I don't know if it inspired Pep, but the way the position on your half is as if you played a handball team. They position themselves around in a half-circle around your penalty area, they even players who function as "circle runners" and then they just keep passing the ball until they spot the smallest of openings and abuse it"
Visos serijos kažkada nutrūksta
O dabar kaip tik tinkamas laikas. Taktiškai stiprus treneris, komanda emociniam pakilime, visi žaidėjai psichologiškai tvirti kaip plienas, kovojantys už kiekvieną aikštės centimetrą iki paskutinės sekundės. Tiesiog snarling dogs of war, nesikeikiant.Ne, nu tai jo. Ką tu čia pakovosi su top klubais, turėdamas tokią sudėtį ir finansus. Orientuokimės į Brightoną ir Crystal Palace ir neužkelkim per aukštai lūkesčių.That is the level we face against Liverpool, Manchester United, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus. They are the teams we have to face and the reality is maybe we are not able now to compete with them.
Having conceded two goals on the counter-attack against Wolves, something that had not happened once in the previous 59 Premier League matches, Manchester City surrendered multiple chances on the break against Manchester United too. Again, according to Opta's statistics on fast breaks, this did not happen once last season.
Much of the focus has been on the 34-year-old Fernandinho in defence but it is his absence in midfield rather than his presence in the back line that is undermining Guardiola's game plan. The coach bristles at those accusations of tactical fouling but whether it's a perfectly executed tackle or a subtle shirt pull, the Brazilian simply would not let attacks get this far.
Rodri is an elegant replacement whose awareness improved under Diego Simeone at Atletico Madrid but his defensive instincts are still being honed and, though the younger man, he does not possess the energy of Fernandinho. Against United, he was far too passive in the build-up to Anthony Martial's goal, allowing himself to be dragged out of position.
It is possible the problems lie even further up the pitch too. A lack of urgency without the ball is allowing opponents to play through the press more than before. David Silva's form is becoming a concern, particularly without the ball. The statistics show he is recovering possession far less often than in any of his previous nine seasons at the club.
