Roberto De Zerbi has said that how Pep Guardiola used Ederson Moraes in one of their meetings dismantled his tactical plan.
In an interview with Brescia-based newspaper, Bresciaoggi (13/12/2023, page 35), the Brighton & Hove Albion boss also claimed that Jurgen Klopp similarly utilised Alisson Becker to the Manchester City tactician.
Roberto De Zerbi explains how Pep Guardiola used Ederson to destroy his tactical set-up
As Bolton Wanderers manager Ian Evatt said about the Spaniard, how he evolves tactically every season is worth admiring.
Notably, the £35 million (BBC Sport) man in net for the Sky Blues has certainly been a tactical weapon for Guardiola over the years.
Pep Guardiola deployed Ederson Moraes in such a way that Roberto De Zerbi admits stumped him tactically.
“Taking care of your physical condition is fundamental and essential. As well as the evolution of the role of the goalkeeper. Today, he is becoming an additional player on the pitch at the time of construction”, he told Bresciaoggi.
“I give you the example of two matches played this year by my Brighton, against Liverpool and Manchester City; I had prepared the defensive phase, in both cases, going man for man.”
“However, [Jurgen] Klopp and [Pep] Guardiola raised the goalkeeper a lot in relation to the penalty area, transforming him into an outfield player and definitely putting me in difficulty.”
Pep Guardiola has used Ederson in this way on several occasions
Much like Roberto De Zerbi, when managers employ a man-to-man press against Manchester City, Pep Guardiola tends to push Ederson higher up the pitch.
Once he does, the Brazilian international tends to take his time on the ball, attracting the opposition press, which dismantles them structurally and then goes on to break the lines which allows City to seamlessly attack them.
Last season, in particular, this tactic is one reason why the treble-winners thrived.
Ironically enough, this very ploy that the Catalan tactician has used was popularised in the Premier League by Roberto De Zerbi when he joined Brighton.
It may be best for sides not to press City with such intensity and if they do, they must ensure that their shape does not break down.
But it seems like when teams line up against the Premier League champions, they either have a gung-ho approach or they merely sit in a low block.
A balance between both by being tactically and structurally disciplined is perhaps the best way to set up when facing Manchester City.
