Pep Guardiola proves that he is still one of the geniuses about the business of preparing the strategy. He proved this when Manchester City defeated city rivals Manchester United 3-1 in the first leg of the English League Cup semi-final on Tuesday (7/1).
Guardiola came to Old Trafford with the best players. Including two strikers who are often the mainstay, Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus.
Many parties then predict Guardiola will play one of the two attackers. Whether it’s Aguero or Jesus as a target on the front lines.
Facts on the field Guardiola even barely played these two players. Jesus even entered the last 10 minutes to replace Kevin De Bruyne.
Instead of appearing in a 4-2-3-1 formation, Guardiola instead used a 4-4-2 tactic. Another surprise from the coach was putting De Bruyne and Bernardo Silva duets for the first time on the front lines.
De Bruyne and Silva did not carry out their duties like targetmen. Both of them actually plotted Guardiola as a false nine alias fake attacker.
“I want to know what people said at the beginning when we played without Sergio and Gabriel,” Guardiola said.
“We won and we are geniuses. But if we don’t win, I know what will happen.”
Guardiola’s decision to play two false nine at the same time proved to be effective. De Bruyne and Silva’s wild movements made the two Red Devils defenders, Phil Jones and Victor Lindelof, distracted to carry out tight guard.
Throughout the first half, Man City appeared so dominant. Opportunities for opportunities made by De Bruyne et al to threaten the goal of David de Gea.
Duet Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood actually appear promising at the beginning of the match for Mancheter United. But these two players suddenly disappeared as the more dominant game of Manchester City.
Manchester City’s first goal scored by Bernardo Silva helped undermine the Manchester United player’s mentality. After that, mistakes for the mistakes that are often done by Manchester United players are utilized perfectly by Man City.
Winger Riyad Mahrez even freely controlled the ball in the penalty box before outwitting De Gea for Man City’s second goal. While the third goal was created by Andreas Pereira’s mistake throwing the ball in the penalty box which led to an own goal.
Outside of three goals from Silva, Mahrez and Pereira’s suicide, Man City created many other opportunities. Luckily for Manchester United, who appeared like a cemented team, not all opportunities obtained by Man City could be goals.
Instead Manchester United like playing without direction after Silva. De Gea et al minimal control of the ball and do not have a clear game plan to be able to push back The Citizens.
In the second half, Manchester United performed better because Man City had relaxed the pressure. That situation can be exploited through the creation of Marcus Rashford’s goals that minimize defeat to 1-3.
It’s just that the reaction shown by Manchester United players is too late. The defending champions of the English League Cup ‘have won this match’ since the creation of the goal in 22 minutes in the first half.
The results in this match also prove the victory of Guardiola’s tactics over Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. The former Barcelona and Bayern Munich coach cleverly anticipated a typical Manchester United counter-attack game by Solskjaer by playing two false nine at once.
With this tactic, the distance between Mahrez and Sterling who was plotted as a winger could be closer to the two wing backs inhabited by Kyle Walker and Benjamin Mendy. While Silva and De Bruyne can go down to midfield to maintain the depth of Man City.
Victory at Old Trafford also be a perfect revenge for Guardiola after fostering humiliated by Manchester United 1-2 in the Premier League. Manchester United opportunities are not yet closed because there is still the second leg of the semifinals, but the collection of 20 English League titles requires a miracle to be able to turn things around and step into the English League Cup final.
