Manchester City: Pep Guardiola's style not to blame for defensive frailties

Manchester City have had troublesome defensive issues all season. But who is to blame for the team’s defensive fragility? Not Pep Guardiola or his philosophy.

Manchester City have underperfomed this season. The team earmarked to be Premier League champions are now just trying to finish in the top four. One of the largest areas of concern for City has been the team’s defense.

City have conceded the second-most amount of goals of the top five Premier League teams – only Liverpool have conceded more. Not just as a unit, but also individuals have been at fault with bad displays and one-off errors. And who can forget the issues at the goalkeeper position?

Willy Caballero and Claudio Bravo have both had their issues. Bravo mainly, and the Chilean, alongside some individuals in the back line, have made costly errors for what feels like the entire season. Pep Guardiola, or his style of play, cannot possibly account for those individual errors.

Heading into the summer, the team’s back line will be a prime focus for Guardiola in the summer transfer window. Defensive improvement for next season is a must if the club are to achieve their goals both at home and in Europe.

But given City’s poor showing in this campaign, should Guardiola be taking more of the blame for the team’s defense? Has the Spaniard over exposed his defensive players? Is the City boss guilty of not hiding his biggest weakness for a season?

The statistics suggest not. But also the style Guardiola utilizes suggests not, too. This season, Manchester City are just not functioning as a Guardiola team is supposed to. Whilst Guardiola also just doesn’t have the players required in many positions.

Both full backs are areas where City are often exposed. Meanwhile, John Stones needs a stable, experienced, steady head alongside him. Not a risk-taking, aggressive Nicolas Otamendi. However, it is further up the team where issues also trickle back to then haunt the defense further.

The best City have looked defensively all season was when Guardiola was able to field the front three of Leroy Sane, Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus. Strange that three attackers help the defense so much. But their work rate and aggressive pressing offers a shield for everybody else.

That is part of Guardiola’s style. That annoying press. Without that, teams have the time on the ball to expose a slower midfield and a high defensive line. As good as Sergio Aguero is, those things are widely exposed whenever he plays. The pressing and link-up play is simply not the same level.

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City have less of the ball without the link-up. They take longer to retrieve possession without the same high-intensity press. So then the opposition get out and are able to probe a leaky defense more and more.

Guardiola’s style is risky. When everything works together as one, it’s a thing of beauty. When a link or two is faulty, though, then things can get ugly real quick. This season, that has happened on a number of occasions.

The philosophy and style of play is not to blame for City’s poor defense. Poor execution of said philosophy is to blame for the the defensive woes. The cogs in the machine. A fully fit Jesus and a more balanced midfield with Fernandinho and Ilkay Gundogan both healthy would help.

Add to that a full back or two and a confident goalkeeper and City’s defense would be a completely different proposition. For this season, Guardiola is just getting by with what he has. Making the most of a flawed setup.

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It’s no good playing a different way because you really want to see players succeed or fail playing this way for next season. Guardiola has now seen many fail. Those individuals will be under pressure with the summer approaching.

Then once Guardiola does get the players he needs to build his Manchester City, then the team’s poor defense of this season will be long forgotten.

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Manchester City: Pep Guardiola’s style not to blame for defensive frailties

By Craig Pearson | Mar 1, 2017

Manchester City have had troublesome defensive issues all season. But who is to blame for the team’s defensive fragility? Not Pep Guardiola or his philosophy.

More from The Top Flight