Since Pep Guardiola’s arrival at Manchester City the club have produced spellbinding football to light up the Premier League. Their exploits in the final third have been truly mesmeric and it has resulted in the Spaniard winning the top-flight title in two of his first four seasons at the Etihad Stadium.
City’s prowess in front of goal has been the key factor in their success, scoring 100 goals in two of Guardiola’s four seasons and 95 in another. The brilliance of Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling, David Silva, Riyad Mahrez, and Kevin De Bruyne allowed the club to dominate in front of the goal. However, their free-scoring run in the final third has not been evident in the current campaign. After 16 games City scored the fewest goals in the top six. Aguero’s absence due to injury has played a major role, although the form of Gabriel Jesus and Sterling has been an issue for Guardiola.
Fortunately for City, their defensive resilience has come to the fore. In the 2019/20 season, Guardiola’s men conceded 35 goals – the most since his first term in the Premier League. City missed the presence of Vincent Kompany, while an injury to Aymeric Laporte left them short of options. Fernandinho was often pressed into starting duties alongside a combination of John Stones and Nicolas Otamendi. Their defensive vulnerabilities cost them an opportunity to compete for the Premier League crown, although Liverpool would have probably triumphed even with an improved City defence.
Guardiola was obviously frustrated by his side’s struggles at the back. He addressed it with a major move to sign Ruben Dias for £62m from Benfica, along with a £41m deal for Bournemouth’s Nathan Ake. Dias has been sensational in his first season in the Premier League and is arguably the signing of the season to date. The Portuguese defender has brought a sense of calm to City’s backline, while allowing the Citizens to retain their identity of knocking the ball seamlessly around the pitch. He has the perfect temperament for the Premier League and has not been daunted by the physical aspect of the game.
? Rúben Dias & John Stones ?
? List the best defensive partnerships right now…#UCL pic.twitter.com/95JvANqRHX
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 7, 2021
The 23-year-old has brought out the best in John Stones alongside him at the back. This has resulted in City becoming the most stringent defence in the league after 16 matches, shipping only 13 goals and keeping eight clean sheets. Their defensive record has allowed Guardiola’s men to keep pace with Manchester United and Liverpool, with the Citizens being backed in the Premier League betting odds at 8/11 to win the crown.
City will not be held down for long in the final third, there’s too much talent for them to continue to struggle. Phil Foden is beginning to come into his own, while Jesus and Sterling have undeniable quality, and Aguero should also return to fitness in the near future with a point to prove.
Even without the Argentine, Guardiola and City have displayed the ability to win consistently in a different manner from their preferred style. They’ve put forward resilient outings to battle their way back into the Premier League title race. The other contenders for the crown should be extremely concerned that City are breathing down their necks without approaching their best in the first half of the season. Unusual for a Guardiola-coached team, his defensive approach could well win the club their third title under the tenure of the Spaniard.
