After being treated to a first-hand look at City’s impressive training facilities, video analysis, and coaching techniques, it’s clear that Guardiola’s approach is paying dividends.
After a brief tour of the changing rooms and pitch at the Etihad Stadium, the real focus was on the training facilities. What’s noticeable at the Etihad Campus is the fact that everything seems open and spacious. On these corridors, it’s not uncommon to see first-team players walking past academy youngsters and as you would expect, everything is state of the art.
Even in the off season, Mikel Arteta and Joleon Lescott were working with some of the players that aren’t on their holidays or the World Cup, but inside the training complex, we were given an insight into the coaching methods and video analysis techniques that the club are using to stay ahead of the curve.
Coaches Andy Smith and Alan Dixon were on hand to walk us through the day-to-day routing of the City players and it’s impressive stuff.
When it comes to video analysis, the traditional angle that fans view football matches from rarely shows the 22 players that are on the pitch.
Like most other clubs, Man City have embraced technology in a bid to give them an extra edge. As we’ve come to expect from Guardiola teams, City press the ball with 11 men and from a panoramic angle, it’s remarkable to see the entire team shift as a block to compress the space that’s higher up the pitch.
From the comfort of our armchairs, this transition appears to be seamless, but it’s the product of intense coaching.
City’s video analysis allows coaches to instantly identify patterns of play that they can incorporate into their in-game tactics. For example, if a manager suspects that an opposition defender is frequently being pulled out of shape, or is losing his positional sense, the video analyst can spool through the footage, compile it into a quick clip, and instantly transfer it down to the bench for the coaches to watch via an iPad.
Yes, there’s still a place for the magnetic white board with pitch markings and checker pieces, but it’s far clearer for players to understand things if they’re actually seeing it in real time.
Even at youth level, City’s coaches wear GoPro cameras so they show players what happened during a particular incident and improve their football education.
In terms of of positional sense and tactical awareness, it’s an invaluable tool. What’s equally impressive is despite this record-breaking season, it’s clear that everyone at the club subscribes to the philosophy that you can learn more from a defeat than a win.
On that note, the Champions League defeat to Liverpool was mentioned and the two coaches inform us that Guardiola and his squad were adamant that they rewatched the footage from both games in an effort to learn from their mistakes.
Aside from this, a short presentation on City’s philosophy with regards to ball retention was a welcome inclusion.
Granted, we all know how the Premier league champions like to play. Ederson’s distribution qualities ensure that they always build from the back, both central defenders are comfortable on the ball, Mendy and Delph play more like wingers than full-backs, Fernandinho’s ability to show and collect the ball from the back-four is pivotal. The Brazilian also provides an extra screen for his defenders when required.
In terms of their attack, City are absolutely devastating, but as knowledgable football fans will know, their intricate passing is based on a simple concept: triangles.
This point is hammered home by the coaches, who reiterate the club’s philosophy that any player in possession of the ball must have two options available to pass the ball to. It might sound simple but seeing this in action illustrates the level of detail and precision that Guardiola demands.
This is even incorporated into the day-to-day coaching because it’s not uncommon to see City players doing “rondos,” or piggy in the middle as it’s more commonly known.
It’s the simplest training drill but the results can be devastating. Essentially, it sees a circle of players with the ball and one or two in the middle trying to win it back, but it’s incorporated on a day basis. Essentially, it’s all building towards the one goal, to create enough triangles and patterns of play to dominate possession and pass through the opponent.
This all might sound very basic but when combined together, the level of movement, pace, vision, communication, tactical awareness, bravery to get on the ball, and, most importantly, technique, are a joy to behold. It’s what makes Manchester City the best team in the Premier League.
Seeing is easy, doing is far more difficult.
For football fans everywhere, you’re about to get an insight into the meticulous detail and planning that defines Pep Guardiola’s champions.