Everyone against Guardiola: "This year will be easier"
Seven seasons later, with the long-awaited Champions League already in Manchester City's trophy room, Pep Guardiola yesterday offered a prediction about the tournament that did not ring hollow. “This year it will be easier. The most difficult thing is to win the first time,” ventured the Spanish coach in advance of today's debut against Red Star.. Unlike other years, when he stubbornly shied away from his favorite role, Guardiola seems satisfied this time: “It is important that the players do not relax. For our club to win this title was incredible, but in perspective, how many have won a Champions League? Many”. Now we have to know how to achieve it.. Or, rather, who can prevent it.
City's challenge, which also aspires to become the first club to win the Premier League four times in a row, fits the size of Guardiola, considered for more than a decade as the reference on the bench. It is up to him to persist in the conservative turn that led him to lift the cup in Istanbul or to develop a new model more in line with his new squad, considered a step below that of last year.
After the usual summer spending, translated into 242 million for Josko Gvardiol, Matheus Nunes, Jérémy Doku and Mateo Kovacic, City has tried to alleviate the departures of Riyad Mahrez, Ilkay Gündogan, Aymeric Laporte and Cole Palmer. The one who raises the most expectations, of course, is Gvardiol, a left-footed center back as expeditious in the cut as he is lucid when it comes to starting the play.. At 21 years old, he seems called to a dominant role in Europe. Especially if Guardiola keeps his Box System on the board, with two centre-backs and two midfielders, closing corridors and incorporating a defender like John Stones into the midfield.
The plans without De Bruyne
Who is not discussed in that area is Rodri, a world figure in the '5' position. Since Kalvin Phillips – whom he accused of being overweight in December – did not seem to convince him, Pep has thought about Nunes to offer minutes of refreshment. In very close matches, Kovacic's leadership and Doku's freshness as a winger should be differential.
Also those less common in the eleven, such as Phil Foden or Julián Álvarez, have to take a step forward. Especially after the injury of Kevin de Bruyne, out until 2024, a player whom Guardiola classified as “irreplaceable”. Pep has come to try the Argentine as a substitute, but there is no one like the Belgian, author of 28 assists last year, to supply Erling Haaland at the far post.. Despite his very high loss ratio, De Bruyne always had carte blanche to take risks on the last pass. Because only Bernardo Silva's left foot, which continues despite his summer ravings, can contribute so much on a creative level.
With these variants, City will aim to impose its infernal competitive rhythm starting in February. The one that last year led them to the treble after letting only five draws and one defeat escape in their last 28 official matches.. If Bayern or Real Madrid aspire to something, they better hurry up.