Manchester City – Chelsea: Behind the immense tactician, a great manager: the theory of cycles, Pep Guardiola style

He is more easily attributed the cap of theoretician than of practitioner, as his tactical imprint is strong, but the Spanish coach also shines with his management of men. You need it to last in Manchester City – since 2016 -, with such an overstaffed workforce, especially in the attacking sector. Guardiola assumes his bias not to set a hierarchy in stone and it pays off overall.

Sterling’s hit of the blues

Illustrated with Raheem Sterling. After eleven days of the Premier League, the English international has only three starts, for one goal. He hints that he could leave, his case has the British press talking and City are “only” in the race for the title. Two months later, the Skyblues prance in the lead and Sterling can boast of seven achievements.

A cyclical success characteristic of many Manchester City midfielders and attackers in recent years. Riyad Mahrez and Bernardo Silva have alternately been very discreet and irresistible in recent months. Ilkay Gündogan was touched by grace, close to the opposing goal, last winter. The hatching of Phil Foden is not as spectacular as the hype it arouses, but it is by sequences determining.

This does not constitute an absolute strength for Pep Guardiola, as having key players whose contribution is regular can be precious. But this ability to keep his players concerned according to these fluctuations is to his credit, in addition to offering him an advantage: the Mancunian threat is plural and unpredictable, on the scale of a season.

Requirement and compliments

Everyone is housed in the same boat. Jack Grealish, recruited for 117.5 million euros this summer, thus started “only” thirteen matches out of twenty-one in the league. A disadvantage ? The emulation that arises from competition can quickly turn into frustration. For the situation to be tenable, the former Barça coach needs the support of the stars for its operation.

This requires a certain closeness with his group. A link that is not as ostentatious as that which unites the paternalistic Jürgen Klopp and his players, for example, on the Liverpool side. But Guardiola must establish a relationship with the plethora of talents at his disposal, so that the rigor he demands is heard. If necessary, he can distill compliments.

There is the communication side but there are the facts, too. Guardiola knows how to get tough. On December 19, Grealish and Foden did not play a minute during the success at Newcastle (0-4). A penalty due to a night out, according to The Daily Telegraph. “If players think I ‘rotated’ they’re wrong, had mischievously confirmed the 50-year-old coach. I pay close attention to behaviour, on and off the pitch, and if it’s not appropriate, the player doesn’t play.”

The limits of the absence of continuity

However, the picture is not idyllic. The recent departure of Ferran Torres from FC Barcelona attests to this: the Guardiola method does not convince 100% of his attackers. As for the gamble, managerial and tactical, of not having an “eleven type”, it has proven itself but has also shown its limits. The daring composition concocted for the final of the last Champions League, and the outcome of this match, were a scathing reminder.

The coherent Chelsea of ​​Thomas Tuchel had taken over the unstructured City of Pep Guardiola, where the creators abounded and whose balance seemed precarious. Saturday in the Premier League, Tuchel and Guardiola will face each other again on the 22nd day (1:30 p.m.), at the head of their respective armadas. With ten points ahead of his runner-up, Manchester can fly away. On the way out, it was Gabriel Jesus who upset Stamford Bridge. Who knows where the danger will come from this time?