WHEN Pep Guardiola came to our shores, a sizable portion of the media predicted the frenetic and uniquely taxing Premier League was going to teach the Catalan a thing or two.
Here was this erudite professor about to be thrown into a boot camp from hell and frankly – given his somewhat haughty demeanour and leather elbow patches, along with a belief that tackling should be struck from the curriculum – the big nerd deserved everything coming his way. That seemed to be the consensus, with a tone that was almost gleeful.
In the event of course it was the Grandmaster who educated us. He sat us down in front of a chalkboard that made little sense with all the zigs and the zags and instructed us that such a convoluted formula can produce spellbinding and extremely successful football. Those elbow patches meanwhile got barely a speck of boot camp mud on them.
Yet four years on, and in the early stages of Guardiola’s fifth season in Manchester it could be said that those sceptical journalists are finally starting to see examples of English football reclaiming the rostrum and dishing out the tutorials. It could also be said that to what extent Manchester City succeed or fail this term largely depends on whether Guardiola has yielded to his new role of student and how comprehensive are his revisions in the margins.
The early signs are encouraging but let’s first return to last summer and a fundamental lesson that cost the Blues so very dear. The decision not to replace Vincent Kompany essentially ceded the title to Liverpool before a ball was kicked because in the Premier League it is perfectly possible to convert a midfielder to a left-back and then invert him back into his original midfield berth but you positively and definitively have to possess two elite and reliable centre-backs in order to realistically compete at the top. That’s just a given.
The English top flight is simply too clinical right across the board to mess around back there, reimagining Fernandinho and elsewhere taking chances on the form and fitness of Otamendi and Stones. It was a mistake compounded in the transfer market where all of City’s eggs were initially placed in a Harry Maguire shaped basket.
Early in the negotiations it became very apparent to the champions that Leicester were not going to budge on their high valuation so they walked away, leaving Manchester United as the only concerned party. Yet if that appears logical City’s refusal to consider alternative options was as baffling then as it remains now.
Compare and contrast to their transfer dealings during this window. An early securement of Nathan Ake is wholly welcomed while their prolonged chase for Kalidou Koulibaly very much echoes their interest in Maguire in terms of the fee involved and having to haggle with a club unwilling to move an inch.
Only this time the saga has brought a twist with the unexpected emergence of a second name firmly in the frame, that of 21-year-old Jules Kounde from Sevilla who in profile and stature differs substantially from Koulibaly but we can debate that in greater detail should a deal be confirmed. For now, what stands out is that City and Guardiola are dead-set, no matter what, on strengthening an area where the Premier League repeatedly demanded they strengthen last season.
Man City > Koulibaly deal is not collapsed yet. Talks still on with Napoli but no agreement. Koundé is the ‘backup option’ but Sevilla have turned down the opening bid [around €55/60m].
Barcelona are convinced they’re going to sign Eric Garcia after #MCFC will buy a new CB.— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 20, 2020
In short, a lesson has been learned and this is evidenced also on the pitch with a double pivot in midfield being employed more and more, almost to the point of regularity as 2019/20 drew to a close. Against Wolves on Monday evening it worked like a charm – notably with Fernandinho stationed in his best position – and the surety it offers limited Wolves to only a short spell of trouble-making, a side that let’s not forget caused City all manner of problems last term, gaining maximum points home and away.
This brings us to the visit of Leicester this weekend and a striker who, more than any other player, has delighted in taking advantage of City’s defensive issues down the years, or to put another way, exposing the flaws in Guardiola’s masterplan.
Since the esteemed coach has been at the Etihad, Jamie Vardy has been a thorn in his side, scoring a goal every 170 minutes, five all told. He has ruthlessly sought out the gaps that appear in City’s high back line. He has tormented the last man, awaiting the inevitable moment he is stranded without support. He has bullied at the first sign of unease. For these reasons the 43/20 available on Vardy to score anytime is a great shout.
And yet. And yet this is the new modified City, learning their lessons in the transfer market and showing some overdue penitence on the pitch in the form of caution. Should they keep their chief fault-finder quiet for ninety minutes on Sunday would it be too early to suggest that it might soon be the Premier League’s turn again to be schooled? Without hyperbole it could certainly be said that a revised City are a better and much stronger proposition.
For all of Vardy’s prolificacy Manchester City have lost just three times in their last 20 encounters with the Foxes. They are 3/10 to win out once more.
