Guardiola’s City most definitely slicker

WHILE the world has continued to be distracted by the never-ending theatrics of Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford, across the city Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City side are getting on with the job at hand.

Although the reigning champions may not have hit the same heights as last season in terms of points won per game – they currently average 2.56 compared to last season’s 2.63 – there are plenty of reasons to suggest Guardiola’s team are, in fact, playing their best football since the Spanish coach arrived in England.

For a start, City look far more composed and resolute in defence. Guardiola’s style of football is often framed as quick, attacking transitions but at the heart of this City team is a defensive line that seems to have finally clicked so opposing teams are struggling to get anywhere near Ederson in goal.

Last season Guardiola’s side conceded 0.71 goals per game on average as they marched to 100 points. However, in this campaign they are averaging less than half that, with just 0.33 goals conceded, which, although only nine games in to the campaign, does suggest things have changed.

Although City didn’t spend their vast riches on buying any defenders or goalkeepers this summer, they did buy a new defensive line the previous year, and it seems as though they have finally settled in to English football.

Yet it isn’t just in defence that City look better than last season; they are also offering far more in attack.

In the previous league campaign Guardiola’s side were averaging 16.92 shots per game. This time around that figure has jumped up to 20. And although that may not tell the full story, it is worth noting that City have increased their average by about three shots by also maintaining an accuracy average of around 40 per cent of those shots hitting the target.

Similarly, City’s counter-attacks per game have risen from 3.71 to 4.2 per game, while the number of passes that directly led to a shot has increased from last season’s average of 3.3 to 4.2 per match. It will then come as little surprise to note that Guardiola’s team are averaging three more passes in to the opposing box and five more touches in the opposi ng box t han l ast season’s title-winning side.

At face value this isn’t all too apparent. City’s expected goals average has only increased slightly from 2.3 to 2.83 and the squad’s actual goals per match has gone up marginally from 2.61 to 2.73. Yet, as we can see, once we peak under the hood of this star-studded side we can clearly note a team that is firing on all cylinders and will surely only get better.

City will undoubtedly face stern competition from the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and perhaps even Arsenal and Tottenham Hotspur this season. But if any of Guardiola’s rivals were hoping his side would experience a drop in form or performances then they will surely be disappointed.

Guardiola’s side are not only on a par with the team t hat walked to last season’s title, but perhaps may be even better.