Sport
PEP GUARDIOLA REALISING DEFENSIVE ISSUES NEED ADDRESSING
After the most impressive of starts to life in the Premier League, things haven’t exactly gone to plan for Pep Guardiola in recent months.
Aloof, antagonistic and overtly awkward, the Manchester City boss’s demeanour in the aftermath of a run that saw City pick up four wins in 14 in all competitions between the start of October and early December bore all the hallmarks of a man who is cracking under the pressure.
The almost comical defending during that run lead to many questioning whether Guardiola had in fact underestimated the English top flight. The accusations of him being unable to cope with the ferocity of the Premier League have reared their ugly, and somewhat tiresome, heads again. Many simply want him to fail, to preserve that unconquerable grandeur of the ‘best league in the world’.
There has been a recent improvement defensively from City, which in turn has seen them pick up five wins in their last six but, more importantly, the importance of solid foundations seems to have come into Guardiola’s remit once more.
“From my point of view, I think we conceded a lot of goals but we conceded few chances,” Guardiola said this week. “I’m happy for that but we have to work more on our game.” Cue collective sigh of relief around the Etihad.
This is stark contrast to the astonishing proclamation that Guardiola doesn’t “train players to tackle” after City were blown away by champions Leicester in early December.
We get that Guardiola wants to portray this image of being a man who plays football the right way – hence his comments about lack of attention to tackling. But such an attitude is out of character for a man who has been able to lay claim to having one of the best defences in Europe at both Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
We know all about the all-conquering side that Pep brought through Barcelona’s fabled La Masia academy, but one of those graduates’ role often goes understated.
Gerard Pique was during Pep’s tenure, and remains so today, one of the best defenders in world football. Alongside him, inspirational skipper Carlo Puyol was the embodiment of Catalonian commitment that he needed at the back, while Javier Mascherano began his conversion into as natural a centre back as you’ll see.
Then, in Munich, again Guardiola inherited one of the best defences around. Jerome Boateng made a central defensive berth his own, for club and country, veteran skipper Philipp Lahm could comfortably play anywhere across the back four, as could David Alaba, Javi Martinez could step in, as could Medhi Benatia or Dante.
Even when Pep did mix it up and be as innovative as he has ever been, deploying a 2-3-5 formation in Bavaria, he knew that Boateng and Alaba could provide those solid foundations, Rafinha and Lahm could get up and down the flanks, and Xabi Alonso or Arturo Vidal could provide that protection in the midfield anchor role.
The difference now is that Guardiola has inherited a defence which when you take out the ever-injured Vincent Kompany, is very average to say the least.
In good Kompany
John Stones is an astute signing, who has all the attributes to be a big hit at City, but he needs players alongside him who know what they are doing, so he can learn on the job.
Kolarov is a perfectly able full back, but he is not a centre back, in any way shape or form, and neither is Bacary Sagna. Nicolas Otamendi still looks as reckless as ever, while Pablo Zabaleta is getting no younger.
The heart of City’s defence needs work, and the recent quotes from Pep suggests he is realising such.
Adapting was always going to take time, but Guardiola’s Herculean efforts in the coaching world mean he is expected to get it right, straight away. Especially in a country where Schadenfreude is a the preferred way of life.
This may be his ultimate test. Guardiola’s success in the past has been built on impressive backlines, which he inherited. His task now is to build his own and maybe, just maybe, his flag will be raised in England’s green and pleasant land after all.
