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Since Sheik Mansour’s takeover Manchester City have been rewriting their own history. Even more than the titles, the cups and the succession of brilliant players who have made the Etihad their home, Tuesday night’s victory against Barcelona seemed like one of the most significant moments in their recent past.
They outplayed a Barcelona side that hold a legitimate claim to being one of the greatest club sides of all time and possess one of the best players ever – Lionel Messi. It was a staggering performance, but how exactly did Pep Guardiola mastermind it?
Sportsmail has put together a guide to how City’s superb victory against Barcelona happened.
It was obvious that City were not just going to allow Barcelona to play. That is always a risk – sometimes sitting deep and attempting to nullify Barcelona is the best option.
Instead, City’s forward players hassled and harried from the opening minute. Luis Enrique’s side were shaken up by the fact City did not allow them to dwell on the ball.
As much as the first City goal stemmed from a ‘mistake’, that mistake was not unforced. Sergi Roberto played a square ball because of the pressing of David Silva and the notion that he would lose possession anyway. That tactic worked all game long.
So much of the credit for City’s first strike was given to the mistake from Roberto, but even more came from their decision making in a moment of pressure.
Sergio Aguero collected the ball on the edge of the area with options open to him. He picked the right one, sliding it through to Raheem Sterling. Sterling could have shot but picked out a stunning ball to the far post, where Ilkay Gundogan converted. The England international has often been criticised for his final ball but clearly something has changed.
Following his retirement it was revealed that Sir Alex Ferguson often made his players take part in decision-making tests. It made them a more effective counter-attacking side. Something in Guardiola’s coaching has clearly improved City’s speed of thought. It is paying off on the field.
Even if a team stop Barcelona from playing from the back, their trio of talents up front can change a game in an instant. They are just such talented individuals. What City managed to do in the second half was stop the ball getting anywhere near them.
They achieved that courtesy of their incredibly high defensive line. Both Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones ended attacks before they had even begun. Had Stones not made an error with a loose ball to his defence, Barcelona would barely have had a sniff in the second half.
As it was, they went from five shots in the first period to three in the second. That’s some defensive display against Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez.
Barcelona were without one of their most important players, Andres Iniesta, and chose Andre Gomes in his place. Their midfield was weakened and City exploited it. Ilkay Gundogan was the main beneficiary.
Despite difficulties with injuries over the last few years, Gundogan is a constant willing runner, and like a German Frank Lampard, has an unbelievable knack for arriving at the right moment. He was given the freedom to run against Barcelona on Tuesday night and twice used that to score.
The timing of both runs were sublime, given both were on the counter-attack. By the time his foot connected with the ball he was firing into a near-open net. It was a superb display.
From the moment Guardiola walked through the doors of the Etihad Campus it changed City. In that instant they went from nouveau riche to legitimate super club. He is undoubtedly the greatest manager in the world.
That also stretches to his motivational work. Manuel Pellegrini, respectable man and decent manager, would never have been able to bring that performance out of those City players. Guardiola shouts and instructs from the sideline, frustrated with every wrong move, and there is a sense that message is taken on board.
They were, in part, playing for their manager. They trust that his words will take them to another level, and Tuesday night was the proof.
