A former teammate of Pep Guardiola has explained the tactical tweak that could see Manchester City finally win the Champions League.
City will take on Real Madrid in the semi-finals of the competition, looking to avenge a 6-5 aggregate defeat to the same opponents at the same stage last season.
Guardiola’s side head into the first leg at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on Tuesday having not lost any of their last 20 matches in all competitions.
That said, Los Blancos will present a challenge unlike anything they’ve come up against this season.
Guardiola’s ‘tweak’ explained
Writing in The Independent, Guardiola’s former Barcelona teammate Oscar Garcia identified a tactical tweak made by the City boss this season that could result in the club’s first Champions League title.
“Back in 1992, when Barcelona were still waiting on their own first Champions League, [Johan] Cruyff didn’t just play his formation,” said the former Brighton and Watford coach.
“He came up with a ‘box’ at the back, that had a brilliant technical player in Eusebio Sacristan at full-back. Eusebio was not a defender but his influence there completed the team, allowing such fluidity.
“It is similar with John Stones at City now, although he can defend very well. The system allows Guardiola’s team to play comfortably with so much space behind them, while also releasing Erling Haaland.
“The move has ensured they are now a team that has everything, combining Guardiola’s control with the individual potency of the best goalscorer in the world.
“The attacking midfielders are closer to Haaland. That’s key because he opens the space for them to play between the lines, and suddenly a defence is overloaded.
“It is why this is their great opportunity [to win the Champions League] and the reason I think it is finally the year of City and Guardiola.”
Oscar Garcia identified Brazilian winger Vinicius Junior as Madrid’s prime threat, but said City’s system makes them well-equipped to cope with him.
“I think, along with Kylian Mbappe, he [Vinicius] is the best in the world with space in front of him. He is the great danger of Madrid.
“So, City have to control Vinicius. If they do this, they are 75 per cent of the way to winning the game. I am sure Pep will seek to ensure Vinicius has as few touches as possible, and that his marker has a lot of support.
“The ‘box’ greatly helps with this, as Guardiola now has his full-backs playing more inside.”
