Is it possible that Pep Guardiola ‘s Man City has no weakness or no chances for opponent to stifle their somehow devastating attack??
Here are some DETAILS that could be useful for teams:
1) Guardiola’s preference to focus down the left flank
Leroy Sane has been devastating for Guardiola as one of primary source of threat . If someone watch Man City’s games regularly , one can notice ONE significant pattern that Man City often use Leroy Sane’s off the ball positioning to speed off the back of unprepared right full back. We can notice that either one of their center backs or central midfielder would play long ball over the top or slick one two passes towards lurking Leroy Sane behind full back.
Sane has always positioned himself as wide as possible and at the edge of offside line set up by opposition . Using his speed and tenacity , he will always succeed to run behind the full back and crossing towards center when either Aguero or Sterling making run into spaces attacking the ball to poach or tap in the ball.
Pedro is likely to play on right wing and MUST provide extra layer of protection for Azpi on right flank once Man City got the ball. Azpi should always be wary of positioning of Leroy Sane in order to avoid him to sprint behind his back.
IN SHORT, STOP LEROY SANE = ONE BIG STEP TO STOP MAN CITY
2) Be wary of Sterling off the ball run
Raheem Sterling somehow has regularly turned as match winner for Guardiola with his match winning goals ( usually from his effective off the ball movement ).
He rarely become the one to send the cross but one to benefit from crosses or scrambling balls inside the box. He rarely stationed himself static at right wing especially when he notes that a lofty pass towards Leroy Sane , he will automatically make a run to move himself inside the box to wait for the cross for him to tap in.
Alonso or Emerson should not miss Sterling especially his off the ball run from right wing inside the box. In order for this to happen, Willian should play at right wing as he can help Alonso down the left side ( we know Hazard is not a great protector for alonso ) especially in big games .
3) Bernardo Silva and Mahrez tendency to cut inside
Another trend is both if start have always tend to cut inside into right foot and send a diagonal cross into the box with their left foot. Which always resulted as a chance for Sane or Aguero to feed of this cross to head in. Since speed is not their greatest aset for both, their cross after cutting inside is one to watch and beware this sunday.
4) Avoid making silly mistakes….
Which is demoralizing one if happened , as we saw when Alonso half-heartedly instructed Hazard to watch for lurking Bernardo Silva from KDB free kick that totally disrupted our defensive shape. Alonso himself should be more responsible as his primary job is to patrol left side from being exposed or from being source of joy for Sterling or Bernardo Silva.
thus, if we can stop Sane from terrorizing right flank, and Alonso or somebody to always watch for Sterling ‘s movement plus someone to help Alonso on left flank defensively ( ideally Willian ) , Plus AVOIDING silly and simple mistakes , then we stand a chance to beat them on the counter , but as what had happened last match, ONE SILLY ERROR would see another demoralizing defeat to happen.