This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
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HIBAPRESS-RABAT-FIFA
While he is going through his most difficult period as coach of Manchester City, and also one of the most delicate moments of his immense career, Pep Guardiola recently extended his contract with the Citizens until in 2027, which means that the Spaniard will have spent more than 10 years at the head of the Mancunian club. “Every decision in my life has been made based on how I felt at the time. We closed the deal in just two hours,” said the Santpedor native after his extension was announced. His message was almost a message of optimism and calm in the midst of a raging storm, marked by six matches without a win in all competitions including an incredible draw against Feyenoord in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday November 26 ( 3-3 after leading 3-0 in the 74th minute). Even though he led City to the roof of Europe by finally winning the UEFA Champions League in the 2022/23 season, Guardiola is never short of ambition. This season once again, despite their huge slack, the Citizens are ready to take on all challenges on all fronts, with particular attention paid to the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup™, which will take place in the States -United in June and July 2025.
When asked why his reign at City lasted longer than his spells at FC Barcelona (5 years) and Bayern Munich (3 years), he simply replied: “Because we keep winning.” In this article, FIFA analyzes how Pep Guardiola managed to make Manchester City a symbol of excellence over time.
Tactical innovations
One of the key tenets of Guardiola’s philosophy is possession of the ball. With this in mind, he asks his men to play grouped by zones to be able to circulate the leather in short passes. When he was on the bench at FC Barcelona, he was the one who implemented the revolutionary idea of starting virtually all actions from the back. It was therefore his then goalkeeper – Victor Valdés – who had the difficult task of launching the Catalan offensives by being the team’s first booster. This tactic is still widely used in the modern game and Guardiola was able to deploy this concept at Manchester City thanks to the exceptional passing quality of his goalkeeper, Ederson. He also developed the inverted full-back tactic in order to offer his teams numerical superiority in the axis in the offensive phase. He experimented with this system at Bayern Munich, where Philipp Lahm was called upon to occupy this position, before introducing it to City, where Fabian Delph then Oleksandr Zinchenko were his trusted men. The concept abandons the idea that full-backs must offer their teammates a passing option only from a position glued to the touchline. Guardiola, however, modified this system in 2023. After securing the services of the Croatian Joško Gvardiol, the Spaniard preferred to deploy four central defenders, John Stones being able to project himself into the middle and thus allow City to be outnumbered in this sector. To explain his tactical changes, Guardiola told FOX Sports: “Doing the same thing over and over for eight years would be very boring. When you do something and it works well, your adversaries observe you and create an antidote. »
Players who are progressing
Perhaps Guardiola’s most famous tactical decision was to use Lionel Messi in a false 9 role at Barcelona, with great success. His eight-year tenure at Manchester City has provided us with a plethora of examples in which he has managed to significantly raise a player’s level of play. Let’s take the case of Kevin De Bruyne, which perfectly illustrates the point. After struggling to adapt to Chelsea, then blossoming in the Bundesliga, the Belgian arrived at the Etihad ready to conquer the Premier League. Although he played in several positions, it was as a playmaker that he distinguished himself the most, and he became a world reference under Guardiola. “Yes, I am a different player thanks to him. More mature and a better footballer, that’s for sure,” Erling Haaland said of his coach. Some aspects of City’s game have changed since the Norwegian striker’s arrival. Short back passes, which are the Iberian tactician’s trademark, now sit alongside long balls, which are only possible thanks to Haaland’s supporting play and his ability to create space. Even though Haaland has piled up goals since the summer of 2022 (75 in 78 Premier League matches), Guardiola wants to develop his skills beyond those of a traditional number 9 and aspires to make him a complete striker, capable of delivering also assists. Last example: Rodri, who joined City in 2019 as a defensive midfielder, renowned for his passing quality and his ease with the ball. Over time, Guardiola transformed his compatriot into a decisive machine. Last season, he scored nine goals and provided 14 assists in all competitions, his record since the start of his career.
Trophies in spades
Pep Guardiola is now one of the most decorated managers in the history of football, and the Spaniard has left an indelible mark on City including six Premier League titles, two FA Cups, four EFL Cups, three FA Community Shields, a UEFA Champions League, a UEFA Super Cup and a FIFA Club World Cup™. In the 2022/23 season, he managed to make City only the second English team, after rivals Manchester United, to win a historic treble. On a personal level, Guardiola has been named Premier League manager of the season five times. In 2023, he was also voted The Best – FIFA Coach for Men’s Football.
“We are only 13 Champions League titles behind Real Madrid,” Guardiola quipped after his men’s 1-0 victory over Inter Milan, which allowed them to win their first continental crown in 2023 Even if he was joking – and the gap has since increased to 14 – his ambition knows no bounds. He thrives on victories and, at present, despite some upheavals, his appetite remains intact.
Heard…
“He’s an incredible coach. He is simply addicted to football. As soon as he walks into the room, it’s all about football, it’s all about the next game. I can’t say enough good things about him. I have said several times this season that he has won matches single-handedly. » Jack Grealish, Manchester City striker
“It’s the ideal to be trained by him every day, he’s the best coach in the world. At the end of the day, I just have to listen to it because it’s the best. He is the smartest leader I have ever met. » Erling Haaland, Manchester City striker
“He is the most influential coach of my career. He raised me to a level I never imagined. I see everything more easily. It gives you a toolbox, and you have more tools than others. » Rodri, Manchester City midfielder
“I thought I knew football well when I arrived (at Manchester City). With Pep, I quickly had the impression of knowing nothing. He opened my eyes to so many things, he kind of reinvented my brain. I love it. I’m learning. Every year there is something new. » John Stones, Manchester City defender
