Pep Guardiola Tactics At Manchester City 2025/2026: Mastering Progression With Pepijn Lijnders – Tactical Analysis

In our previous Pep Guardiola and Pepijn Lijnders analysis, we began exploring Manchester City’s in-possession tactics by focusing on their build-up.

The phase in which Pep Guardiola’s side demonstrated tactical flexibility and diversity in their game plan, adapting based on the starting personnel and showing resilience against the opposition’s high-pressing schemes.

With the addition of assistant coach Pepijn Lijnders and several new signings, Man City’s tactical evolution has taken a fresh turn, especially in how they approach the next phase of play: progression.

In this tactical analysis, we move beyond the defensive third and into the middle third, analysing how Man City advance the ball with their updated positional dynamics, how they manipulate man-oriented systems like Juventus’, and how specific roles enable them to gain territory.

Progression, the phase between build-up and final third penetration, requires cohesion, timing, and flexibility.

It is the phase where Pep Guardiola’s tactical ideas meet the opposition’s pressure in the middle third.

Here, Man City operate with a clear objective, a point worth keeping in mind when analysing their approach.

While creating a goalscoring chance from this phase is certainly a positive outcome, Manchester Citys primary aim is to progress with control into the final third.

The focus is not on forcing opportunities but dictating the game’s rhythm through measured possession.

Manchester City Progression Tactics Vs Wydad

In this match against Wydad AC, Manchester City lined up with Ederson in goal.

Vitor Reis and Nathan Aké operated as the centre-backs, flanked by Rico Lewis on the right and Nico OReilly on the left as full-backs.