Pep’s snarl is back after the nice-guy act falls flat
During the summer, Pep guardiola came up with a plan. He decided to rein back on the tough taskmaster act, stop highlighting his players’ microscopic faults and focus on the positives.
The Manchester City manager, whose side are eight points behind Liverpool at the top of the table, predicted problems if he didn’t change. He knew there were potential pitfalls in a fourth season with largely the same set of players listening to largely the same set of methods. How to hold their attention topped his concerns.
But the reboot has faltered. Their two defeats — at norwich and against Wolves — were shocking in isolation. But the performances have not hit the heights of last term. That seems strange to say, given that they bludgeoned eight past Watford, but it is true.
guardiola noticed this early on and almost immediately rowed back on his calmer character act. Zen is not really in his make-up during the heat of battle, which may explain why he has never had the energy to go beyond a fourth year managing at the same club.
He felt there was a slackening tempo in matches and, even after the 5-0 opening- day win at West Ham, chose to criticise City’s sluggish start. Those in the room were aghast at that comment but the Spaniard was on to something. While observers were astonished that Tottenham escaped with a 2-2 draw from the Etihad a week later, guardiola privately told his players they were not sharp enough.
David Silva was introduced with 12 minutes left that day with the scores level. Arguably the club’s greatest-ever player could not turn the game. guardiola said to him in the dressing room: ‘David, you didn’t give us enough running. Where were the legs?’ Analysts identified a drop in Silva’s physical statistics towards the end of the 2017-18 season and they are still searching for an alternative plan.
So, guardiola is back to his bristling best, which the players respond to. But that doesn’t mean there hasn’t been a subconscious drop-off as guardiola feared. As one source told Sportsmail: ‘There is always one player who loses concentration.’
guardiola has also been hit by problems not of his making.
Losing Leroy Sane and Ay m e r i c Laporte through knee injuries were hammer blows. Laporte’s absence is even more painful after City refused to meet Leicester’s asking price for Harry Maguire. nicolas Otamendi’s calamitous display against Wolves on Sunday only highlighted that. in Sane, they have lost the sort of unpredictability that might have opened up the visitors.
Then there is the absence of Vincent Kompany’s leadership. Silva wears the armband but does not have the same qualities.
Kompany is also missed for his playing abilities. He and Laporte sat at the heart of defence, while Fernandinho held the midfield. Fernandinho is now trying to prop up Otamendi at the back, although the Argentine needs a defensive partner with more pace.
rodri is attempting to fill Fernandinho’s boots as the holding midfielder but there is an acceptance that the £63million summer signing needs time to grasp the defensive basics of this system.
rodri was used to playing with someone next to him at Atletico Madrid and has often been caught pressing higher up the field when he ought to sit in front of his defenders. Assistant manager Mikel Arteta is working tirelessly to correct the 23-year-old’s positioning.
What is not working is using ilkay gundogan alongside Silva as attacking midfielders. gundogan appears more suited to operating deeper. guardiola, as ever, has tinkered with formations in a quest to recapture their fluidity.
One option they have been reluctant to use is Phil Foden, who sits unused on the bench. But guardiola has become annoyed at the criticism levelled at him for that. Foden is 19.
As a reference point at Barcelona, Sergio Busquets did not make his debut until he was 20. Andres iniesta didn’t make more than 10 La Liga starts in a season until he was 20. Only at the age of 22 did he start more than 20 league matches. Even so, Foden’s willingness to break the lines could be utilised more often. Off the field, personal issues have plagued the injured John Stones, while Kyle Walker has been so desperate to fend off Joao Cancelo at right back that he battled on with a stomach infection. There is also a sense of injustice at Bernardo Silva being charged by the FA for his tweet aimed at Benjamin Mendy.
guardiola didn’t see the storm coming but he did predict all might not be rosy in the City garden.