PEP THE PIPER

Total domination is the mantra as Guardiola’s all-conquering Manchester City start a new season

- KARTHIK RAVINDRANATH

The clock showed 6:27 when Real Madrid’s Toni Kroos lost the ball in midfield in the second leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinal against Manchester City in May. Just over 10 seconds later, Real, having survived the City attack following Kroos’s mistake, tried to play out from the back with the poise and calm befitting the reigning European and world club champions. It took City just three seconds to win the ball back.

This time it was Luka Modrić who gave the ball away. During the resulting attack, City’s defensive midfielder Rodri picked up the ball and slalomed past both Kroos and Modrić—regarded by many as two of the greatest midfielders of all time—to fire a low shot just wide. Though City did not score from that move, it was a sign of things to come. For most of the first half, this pattern—intense pressure from City forcing mistakes from Real’s galaxy of stars—was repeated. The match, billed as the team of the year vs the team of the century, ended 4-0 in favour of City, who had utterly disregarded the pedigree and aura of the 14-time European champions. There was no longer room for doubt—City were now the best in world football.

The man responsible, manager Pep Guardiola, has a rather straightforward football philosophy. In his own words: “What we want is simple. When the opponent has the ball, take it back as quickly as possible. When we have the ball, try to move as quickly as possible, to create as many chances as possible. That’s all. And good team spirit.” Translation: Dominate. That’s all. And good team spirit.