The change of Pep Guardiola and Man City at the most important moment has finally produced a sweet result in the Champions League.
After five years since arriving at Etihad with a mission to elevate the team, Pep Guardiola finally succeeded in bringing Man City into the semi-finals of the Champions League.
In the most important moments, Pep chose to think less, trust more and finally reap sweet results.
Pep’s change
Pep Guardiola is too famous for his different changes in the decisive battles in the Champions League and that brought Man City into the picture.
Last season, he put two creative midfielders Bernardo Silva, David Sila on the bench and used three players to recover the ball Fernandinho – Rodri – Ilkay Guendogan in the match against Lyon, causing Man City to suddenly play a lack of creativity. , from there it failed.
Last season, he believed to use Guendogan instead of Kevin De Bruyne in the first leg against Tottenham, making Man City unable to pressure enough to score, and lost 0-1.
This has been repeated in previous seasons as well as leading Bayern Munich, leading many to believe that Pep did not have enough stability and iron at the crucial moment to win the Champions League. The journalists who closely followed Pep believed he “thought too much” and always put himself in a difficult position.
Phil Foden (right) shines through to get Man City through Dortmund. Photo: Reuters.
This season, the story is no longer like that. Before Dortmund in the second leg, Pep’s Man City replaced only one person for 90 minutes, although there was no shortage of famous stars on the bench. “The Citizens” is loyal to the 4-3-3 diagram with the formula Kevin De Bruyne kicks a virtual number 9 for 90 minutes.
The only change came in the 88th minute when Raheem Sterling replaced Riyad Mahrez. Man City does not change the game at all. Pep pulled out only one link and replaced the same one.
Joao Cancelo, Gabriel Jesus, Ferran Torres or Fernandinho, the elements Pep uses frequently this season, have been on the bench for the full 90 minutes. The Spaniard didn’t want to take the risk.
The results were so sweet for Man City. They prevailed on the scoreboard, completely won the game position and opportunities. Pep’s army controlled the ball more (61%), shot 17 times, 2 of which hit the wooden frame, 5 went on target. Dortmund only hit the target 3 times. 9 out of 11 main Manchester City players have made at least 1 finish.
Man City players double their opponents (14 vs. 7), win the dispute too (13 vs. 6), in short play on the feet of representatives from Germany, despite being ahead.
In the most important moment of the season, Pep chose to think less. He trusted his choices more. Phil Foden, in the biggest game of his Champions League career, has scored. Riyad Mahrez also repaid his teacher with a precise penalty kick.
The factors that are rich in potential but also rich in consequences like Sterling and Cancelo are given few opportunities to show by Pep. For the first time in 5 years leading Man City, Pep has been so perfectionist in the selection of personnel.
“It is not Pep’s team anymore. It is all thanks to the players. Their abilities are too good. It is they that make a difference,” Pep stressed with Sky Italy after the match.
Before Dortmund, Pep chose to believe in his students’ abilities, instead of arranging soulless characters on the tactical table. That big change has paid off.
Man City now has a collective meaning. Photo: Reuters.
Number one candidate Man City
Oddschecker Considering Man City the number one candidate for the Champions League championship among the four semi-final teams. Common odds assigned to Pep Guardiola’s team are 5/4 (place 4 to 5). PSG was awarded to 10/3, with Real Madrid 4/1. Chelsea is rated the lowest with 9/2.
Pep’s change in the steering chair, uniform quality of personnel and consensus are the reasons why Manchester’s green half is expected to lift the Champions League silver cup for the first time.
Guardian revealed in the dressing room of the Etihad Stadium, Pep posted two large slogans that read “Together” (“We fight til the end”) and pictures of Man City. reap past glory.
When Foden hit Dortmund, increasing the score to 2-1 for Man City, Man City’s 2000-born star ran straight to his teacher.
Guardian describes the situation as follows: “Foden’s flying run to embrace Pep quickly became the most emotional act of the Man City team. The meaning of the ‘Together’ or ‘Fight’ banners to the last minute ‘becomes much clearer than its cliché slogan’.
Many people who pay little attention may not believe this: This is the first time, the Man City scorer has come to celebrate with Pep for 4 years. League.
48 goals were shot by the Man City players against the opponent’s net, but no time did the founder come and share the joy with the teacher. Most celebrate alone, or celebrate in front of the reporter camera.
Even in the victory that is considered to be surpassing Real Madrid in the 2019/20 season, this seemingly normal thing does not happen. Phil Foden, the 49th scorer for City in the Champions League knockout round under Pep, made that simple. And Man City in the semi-finals.
When the whistle ended the match, for the first time in a half-decade relationship with Man City, the cameras caught Pep smiling contentedly as a Champions League quarter-final match ended. There are no disappointing hugs like before Tottenham, helpless hips against Lyon, or head bowed to Liverpool, Pep’s Man City overcame those failed ghosts to enter the top four most powerful teams Europe.
Pep once admitted his way to lead Man City will be considered “failure” (failure) if he does not win the Champions League. Now Pep has the perfect opportunity to change his own destiny and Man City.
Dortmund’s starting line-up (left) and Man City in the quarter-finals of the Champions League 2020/21 second leg.
‘Man City is a bit afraid of losing’ Gundogan admits Guardiola’s team had a psychological problem in the 2-1 win over Dortmund in the second leg of the Champions League quarter-finals 2020/21.
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