Bernardo Silva is playing the role of a “virtual number 9” in Man City. Starting as a “virtual number 9”, Bernardo Silva has created many difficulties for the defense system of Aston Villa thanks to the mobility and great creativity. It was he who launched both assists as set, one for Foden to start the upstream and one for Rodri to put Man City a 2-1 lead over Aston Villa. All of this was done when Bernardo Silva stretched, taking advantage of the space between the home team’s midfielders and full-backs. Not surprisingly, Silva was elected as the best player of the match, not the two faces named on the scoreboard on the Man City side. This is the second time in a row, Bernardo Silva was arranged by teacher Pep Guardiola to play “virtual number 9”. Last time it was in the match against Leeds in round 31. That day, Man City lost 1-2, but Bernardo Silva still left a good impression by assisting Ferran Torres to equalize 1-1 in the 76th minute. In the context of Sergio Aguero distracted by finding a new stop and Gabriel Jesus is still erratic as … normally, the fact that Bernardo Silva shines in the “virtual number 9” position is a very timely solution. Man City is in front of two great battles – with Tottenham in the 34th round of the Premier League, meeting PSG in the Champions League semi-finals. And this team really needs the shine of Bernardo Silva.

In the second leg last morning, when Bellingham scored the opener at Signal Iduna Park, Man City fans began to think about bad things. They are used to the image of a foolish Pep Guardiola, whenever they go to Europe, they will be afraid. Man City had never reached the semifinals of the Champions League before this season under Pep and last season was the culmination of disappointment when they lost to Lyon, even though a week ago knocked out Real Madrid. “How to make Pep grow up” – Marca newspaper once headlined the front page to describe a serious illness called Champions League Pep.

But this time is a completely different chapter, the outfit Pep has been researching to put on himself to combat the errors he has encountered over time. Man City calmly implemented the familiar gameplay, had an equalizer at the beginning of the second half and the most sensitive time – when the game entered the last 15 minutes – launched a rebound of the trade code that ended all Dortmund’s last hope .

Man City was close to death because the score 1-0 was just enough with the away goal but in the end, they reversed the game, pushing Dortmund into the position to score 3 more goals in 15 minutes to get a ticket to continue. . In the context of the Champions League quarter-finals at least, in front of an opponent who only needed to hold the ball 38% but still had 10 shots, Man City was really mature. They did not fall into the opponent’s trap, and the trap created by invisible pressure itself.

In a video published online, Pep once told Man City players “Look at PSG and learn. It took them 7 years in a row to fail the quarterfinals, but once they crossed the threshold, they immediately appeared in the final. You need to look into that spirit ”. Pep also shared with beIN Sport that Bellingham’s goal was a reagent for the team’s morale, a test of courage Man City needed to go through if he wanted to grow up. Man City of Pep, perhaps, is no longer naive.

Coach Pep and Man City players celebrate.

The results of endurance

After nearly 5 years, Pep spent exactly 872 million pounds for 36 big and small contracts. That means, on average, every season, Pep spends 174 million pounds. In these 36 recruits, there are 3 defenders with a great value of 60 million pounds or more and, by extension, all 10 faces are bought by Pep with a starting price of 50 million pounds.

The problem lies here: Pep has spent a lot of money, but the boss provides money for Pep that is important. More importantly: What did Pep do to persuade the leaders to pay their bills? That is what is worth mentioning. Pep is not the highest-paid coach, nor does he work for the richest team in the world and Pep’s owner is not the richest man in the world.

That is the difference of Pep, and also the strongest point of his and the team of consultants behind. Remember, Pep’s new 2-year contract was negotiated and signed at a time when Man City was in crisis. Pep lost to Mourinho 0-2 in the match they were completely pocketed by Tottenham and soon after, was the news of the extension.

The Amazon series exclusively filmed the behind-the-scenes stories of Man City with one strong detail: Pep, when signing a contract, is always interested in the element of “choosing the right project”. He needs owners who absolutely believe in him, ready to dive into the game like a bastard. Pep may not be successful in the European playground, but in the Premier League, they are an absolute force. After a season being usurped by Liverpool, Man City immediately returned, recreating inviolable power. At the very least, Pep proves that the clubs he leads tend to persevere and the Champions League, sometimes, is just a matter of the consequences of time.

Champions League 2020/21 may open a new era for Man City and personally Pep Guardiola. A title is enough for Pep to become a true legend of contemporary football, a true all-round legend: Still able to win the Champions League with superman in the squad (Messi), but capable of conquering. Europe as a team was built methodically, class passed through many periods. The result today is a product of a relationship built on the trust foundation of Pep and the Arab owner in Eithad.

13. The final victory of Man City (4-2) was the 13th in the history of the Champions League, the team that won 2-1 at home in the knockout round won the ticket. In contrast, there were 15 homeowners who were disqualified when they won this score in the first leg.

Pep’s Man City in the Champions League

Season 2016/17: Eliminated in the 1/8 round (lost to Monaco because of the away goals law, 6-6 total)

Season 2017/18: Quarterfinals eliminated (lost to Liverpool, total score 1-5)

Season 2018/19: Eliminated in the quarterfinals (lost to Tottenham because of away goals, total score of 4-4)

Season 2019/20: Quarterfinals eliminated (lost to Lyon, total score 1-3)

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.