WHAT I LEARNED FROM GUARDIOLA’S STRUGGLES
The Problem of Depth and Density
Manchester City’s defensive struggles have taught me something about football that could be applied to all teams. It goes deep into the first principles of football and when you see it, you won’t be able to unsee it. Let’s dive in.
The theme that I want you to keep in mind throughout this entire thread is DEPTH. Depth: The distance from the top to the bottom of something. We are talking about the depth of a defensive block - from the highest player to the lowest player.
Within the DEPTH, we are specifically going to be talking about the DENSITY. Density: The amount of something per area, volume, or length. In football it’s the number of players in a given area.
Ultimately, City’s defensive problem right now can be illustrated with these two images. These are screenshots from Manchester City’s most recent loss versus Brighton. What is the difference between the two defensive structures?
Guardiola's Defensive PhilosophY
Over the years, Pep Guardiola has become increasingly focused on defensive strategies. This can be seen with the player selection and team intentions we see week in and week out. The problem he has been trying to solve for years is preventing counterattacks.
Side note: City have given up too many goals in counterattacks in the last four games. Rodri is massively missed. No one can really replace him.
Guardiola’s solution has been DENSITY. In attack they progress the ball together, moving the block as a whole. Eventually they arrive in the final third as a group and attempt to pin the opposition back and counterpress upon losing the ball.
This has worked well for many years to the annoyance of many fans who claim that this style is ‘boring’. It’s a method to control the game by controlling the ball position and density of players.
The problem we are seeing now is due to Rodri’s absence, they are no longer counterpressing as effectively allowing opposing teams to get and have more moments in organized attack where City have to defend in a mid block. This is where City is struggling.
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The Defensive Dilemma
When defending in their mid block they are very ‘short’ - meaning there is minimal space between the highest player (eg. Haaland) and the lowest player (eg. Gvardiol). To me this shows a high priority to defend the space between lines.
The problem with this - as we saw versus Brighton - is it allows the opposition’s back line to have tons of space and time on the ball. When top level players are given space and time, they are better able to play incredibly accurate passes.
As we saw with both goals versus Brighton, City’s opposition have been able to play in behind because they simply do not put the necessary pressure on the back line.
DIFFERENT APPROACHES
We don’t have to look very far at different approaches about how to defend the space behind the back line. For example, in this match Brighton were consistently able to pressure City’s back line, preventing City from consistently playing in behind.
Brighton defended using a ‘long’ but not so dense block while City defended with a short but very dense block. In order to still be able to defend spaces between lines, Brighton would often push one of their center backs into the midfield to defend, something City do not do.
When teams have to defend the space in front of the back line - a space I have named The Pivotal Space - they do so by either using back line players moving forward or midfield line players holding their space. City opt for the latter.
Hansi Flick’s Barcelona also defend with a very short block using two pivot players to defend The Pivotal Space (space in front of the backline), however, Barça use a very good offside trap to essentially make the space behind the back line unplayable.
TACTICAL TUG-OF-WAR
What this philosophical defending dilemma comes down to is having to choose how you will defend the space behind the back line and in front of the back line.
Hürzeler’s Brighton in the 24-25 season push center backs in the midfield to defend those spaces, like many teams in today’s modern game. Flick’s Barcelona uses two pivot players who brilliantly deny entry passes into The Pivotal Space.
City also choose to defend The Pivotal Space with pivot players preventing the entry passes in front of the back line but in the process allow the opposing back line players with lots space and time, facilitating longer passes behind their back line.
When you defend with ‘short and dense’ block you are giving up being able to pressure the ball carrier effectively. When you defend with a ‘long and sparse’ block you are giving up spaces between lines facilitating being able to be played through.
PLAYERS DICTATE THE STRATEGY
This is a decision that teams have to make when approaching their game model and game plans. This is all dependent on the personnel that they have at their disposal. Some players, like Rodri, can cover more space allowing the team to be more ‘sparse’ and still effectively defend.
In the moments when City have pressed high and become a ‘longer’ defensive block, they have given up a handful of goals due to a lack of experienced center backs in the absence of Ruben Diaz.
THE TAKEAWAY
I hate to oversimplify a complex game situation like this one, but ultimately, this defensive dilemma can be broken down into a quick checklist about which spaces must be defended. How they are defended is up to the team / coach.
Defensive Checklist:
✅ Pressure on ball carrier in back line
✅ Space Behind the back line
✅ Space in front of the back line.
By effectively defending one of these areas, teams can often limit the threat in the other spaces..
Writing this in November of 2024, I am curious how Guardiola will approach this defensive dilemma. If you are reading this at a later date then you already know how this all played out, and you most likely have insight gained from it.
