Pep Guardiola doesn't always appreciate when comments are made that his tactical changes sometimes don't help his team.
Those doubts are bound to arise after Manchester City failed to win a particularly remarkable game; so it's natural for the Man City boss to be angry, when he probably won half a dozen games or less to get to this position in the first place. Doubts will linger, though, as his fluid and flexible plans fail to yield positive results after more mainstream and consistent lineups seem to point the way to the steady wins.
And so it was a surprise but also no surprise when the queue at the Emirates Stadium was announced:
Finally, Bernardo Silva is the very, very odd man, signing at left-back in a move to emulate the role of Arsenal side Oleksandr Zinchenko - or perhaps Joao Cancelo.
Maybe Guardiola saw something he liked, some performance he had in mind before the game. For most, however, it creates a disjointed and uncertain half of the courtyard for visitors, and the experience lasts only an hour.
In a word, Silva engaged in a number of offensive moves that were noticeable almost immediately; a ball through created a half opening on the left and then he started a sweeping move, right to left giving City the lead and eventually won, 3-1. With this leading Man City and leaving the Gunners 8 points behind in the last 3 games, the question becomes simple again:
Wouldn't Guardiola rely more on the players and the planning of previous games, previous victories, to get the job done on bigger occasions?
Encourage
It can be said that there is nothing new in Silva's role. Defensive and non-possessive, he left a four; when his team has the ball, he moves into the middle, along with Rodri to make a cross from the sides. City have been doing it for years, Pep has done it longer - full-back and playmaker.
What's new here is the player, but the fact is that City reverted to this system after the coach noted that he had found an alternative method of playing in defence.
“After the World Cup, we went into the pre-season and started playing differently following certain patterns. I liked what I watched and decided to spend more time with the players I saw on the pitch like it," he said after the transfer window closed. reversed roles, allowed to leave without a replacement.
Silva has difficulty in defensive situations. Many times he was kicked out or played behind without much cover, helping much or little chance of returning to his old position.
On other occasions, one saw the strange sight of Nathan Ake, pressing high and from the centre, ahead of Silva and left winger Jack Grealish.
Guardiola has repeatedly sent his players to the touchline to repeat instructions, so that they understand what he needs, but the reality is that a player as excellent as Silva has been sidelined in a constructive play. build Man City and they have lost a lot in that. about.
Right on time, the boss came out. Manuel Akanji came on, Silva dropped deeper into the attacking role on the right flank of Riyad Mahrez. Immediately he was involved in more than one smart move; followed by his participation in Grealish's strike.
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