Blues can keep things clean to give Guardiola another record
MEN on Sunday|August 27, 2023
PEP Guardiola never ceases to amaze us. Every single season the City boss concocts another tactical plan that we all think sounds utterly ridiculous, yet somehow he manages to make it work.
ROSS JACKSON
Blues can keep things clean to give Guardiola another record

Playing without a striker, John Stones in midfield, full-backs not playing at full-back - you name it, he's tried it.

Trying to guess what's coming next has become almost as enjoyable as the football he serves up, and yet, nobody envisaged him going all Tony Pulis on us and playing with four centre-backs.

The City boss trialled the tactic last season and clearly liked what he saw as the Blues powered past Arsenal to claim their third consecutive Premier League crown.

The ploy has yet to be seen this term, with Kyle Walker starting all three of City's games so far. Guardiola even had the audacity to play two full-backs and two centrebacks in the opening day win over Burnley.

Pep has occasionally been accused of tinkering for the sake of tinkering, though the results speak for themselves; 11 league titles in 14 seasons in management is a truly phenomenal achievement.

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