He’s been a teacher and a preacher of possession-based football for the last 15 years. His team makes endless build-ups and creates at least a dozen goal-scoring opportunities per game. He’s obsessed with keeping the ball for himself/themselves.So what he do in a probably decisive game of the season against the league leaders on their soil, where the win is mandatory if he wants to keep his side’s title hopes alive?He takes the biggest U-turn possible and ends the match with only 36% of ball possession, as his slot baggs three goals from just six shots on target, one less than their rival overall. And they win.Manchester City had just 36% possession in their win at the Emirates 😳🔵The lowest in a league game for a team managed by Pep Guardiola in his managerial career 🤯 pic.twitter.com/YBk1RMIoqY— LiveScore (@livescore) February 15, 2023 You can say he’s a bit crazy – and it probably won’t be a misjudgement – but this guy is as revolutionary as it gets.A genius.Pep Guardiola has done it again, probably reaching the pinnacle of his mind games with that critical 3-1 win at Emirates against Arsenal on Wednesday night.[🎙️] Pep Guardiola: “I tried something new and it was horrible.” #ManCity 😭 pic.twitter.com/3oCX6bJlqY— City Zone (@City_Zone_) February 15, 2023 Albeit the Spaniard has criticized himself publicly after the match, by saying that the first-half experiment with Bernardo Silva on a left-back followed by Arsenal’s dominance in the middle was “horrible”, the truth is a bit different. That self-criticism of his is understandable and praiseworthy, but not even in the second half – which he finds to be much better – City didn’t play as we used to see them. On contrary, the visitors shifted into a simple mode. More aggressive, for sure, but with many more through balls instead of countless passes in the centre-circle area. Sharp and eager to find pockets of space in Arsenal’s defensive wall, they scored both second and third in pretty much the same manner – fewer touches, accurate passes towards the goal and straightforward execution.Now this is a title race! Reigning champions rumble through north LondonMoreover, you must have noticed that charming little trick Guardiola pulled off some half an hour before the final whistle, with sides tied at one. Central defender Manuel Akanji went in for winger Riyad Mahrez. For those of us who find a football game just a sort of amusement and joy, it was a signal City were about to fight for a draw. They already conceded one, the Gunners were flying high, and one more in the back of Ederson’s net would mean both the victory for the hosts and the end of the Premier League title battle. Ok, a bit strange decision, but not totally unreasonable..##NAJAVA_MECA_7023565##Naah, we were so wrong. Because that’s the moment when Pep’s ingeniousness once again shone on the big stage – not only Man City did not give up on all three points, but from that point on, they literally bulldozed Arsenal with a perfect offensive approach.PLAYER RATINGS: Magical Belgian and horrible Japanese stand out as City win at EmiratesOnce again the Spanish tactician proved he is a true master of disguise and tactics, able to surprise the entire world – and the opponents, for sure – with his management. Like in a game of chess, Pep makes various changes before and during the match, purposely breaking the old habits and schemes so the rival would find it harder to accommodate..8/9 – Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has won eight of his nine matches against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal in all competitions (L1), including all four meetings at the Emirates Stadium. Apprenticeship. pic.twitter.com/kbezGVCUBt— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) February 15, 2023 One would say his need to be under the spotlight forces him to make those (un)necessary adjustments to the already perfectly set Manchester City squad. And, yes, sometimes it ends in dismay, like, for example, last season against Real Madrid in the Champions League. But, overall, Guardiola and his methods have already found themselves a deserved place in football history and that last night’s game was proof. It was more than a victory over Arteta and Arsenal. Once more, Pep outplayed his old self.
