Featured Image Credit: Image: Premier League
Topics: Manchester City, Premier League, Pep Guardiola, Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Erling Haaland
Josh Lawless
Topics: Manchester City, Premier League, Pep Guardiola, Kevin De Bruyne, Kyle Walker, Erling Haaland
Pep Guardiola has got Manchester City so well-drilled to the point where they adapted seamlessly to playing with ten men for a brief period.
City destroyed rivals Manchester United 6-3 at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, with Erling Haaland and Phil Foden both bagging hat-tricks.
The Premier League champions ran riot in the first half and were 4-0 up by half-time. Guardiola wasn't all that happy with the level dropping in the second half but he will have loved how they coped temporarily playing with ten men.
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With City 2-0 up, right-back Kyle Walker was off the pitch with and injury and the hosts were at a man disadvantage.
It was a potentially dangerous position to be in and yet fascinating analysis has explained just how City managed the situation - and went on to bag a third.
City reverted to a 4-4-1 formation and Foden, versatile as ever, slotted in at right-back. The other midfielders dropped deeper in their shape and doubled up on United's wingers, Jadon Sancho and Antony.
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United had the ball but City's compactness meant Erik ten Hag's men were not threatening whatsoever.
Walker returned to the pitch after treatment and then City had the ball after a Christian Eriksen pass was gathered by the proactive Ederson.
We then see captain Ilkay Gundogan, with his hands outstretched, encourage the team to remain calm while also re-organising things.
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With just a few short passes, Jack Grealish is gifted with loads of space in transition and carries the ball forward - attracting Eriksen.
He sprays the ball out to De Bruyne, who is in acres. The Belgian maestro does what he does best and fires in an outrageous ball for Haaland to stab home and put City 3-0 up.
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City are praised for their glorious football but the above clip shows just how complete a team they are. They all work for each other to find a solution.
The sky blues are the only undefeated side in the Premier League, with 20 points from eight games seeing them occupy second place behind Arsenal.
City return to action on Wednesday in the Champions League against FC Copenhagen.