With 71% possession and 10 shots on target from 24 feet, this is a typical Manchester City game from the statistics alone. However, in the face of near-perfect offensive data, Guardiola looked a little embarrassed, because almost the whole game was a half-time offensive and defensive drill, and Manchester United failed to score a sports goal, but scored 3 points with a thrilling penalty.
Facing last season's bitter home Wolves, Manchester City's all-3-point result is obviously satisfactory, but the process of the game is undoubtedly more worthy of Pep Guardiola's good summary. In particular, Wolves were sent off by 1 person at half time, and the scene before the final game was almost eliminated by Wolves.
Strictly speaking, the way United won this game is not what Guardiola wants to see. The lack of break-through defense and the low score conversion rate are largely proof that Wolves' tactics have once again been successful. Without Jimenez's hot head at half-time, without the referee's clear-sighted penalty award (which City rarely favored), and without Ederson's pre-final focus, the outcome of the game would probably have gone in the other direction.
In this game, Guardiola made a brand new attempt at the starting lineup. As Walker received a red card in the midweek Champions League group stage, it also made It necessary for Guardiola to make the necessary layouts for the Champions League knockout stages in advance to make up for Walker's suspension. Thus Cancelo appeared at right-back, while Zinchenko, who had a decent performance last season, returned to left-back.
The position of full-back is self-evident in the importance of Guardiola's tactics, and while Walker can ensure the impact of the right side, Sterling can safely cause damage on the left side, which has become the basic framework for Manchester City to fly together in many cases.
So after Cancelo moved to the right, Guardiola then synchronized Sterling to the right winger, and judging from the effect of this game, this arrangement effectively compensated for Walker's absence. But at the same time, it also brought chaos to the city's attacking areas, and Jesus left the feeling right side and returned to the middle with a little difficulty. The left side of Glalish and Zinchenko clearly put City's attack on a side of the road.
To a certain extent, manchester City's attack in this game is too dependent on Sterling's play, coupled with Sterling's single scoring means, so that wolves, who are determined to put up bus tactics, have continuously improved their defensive confidence. Judging from Wolves' previous matches against Manchester City, once the bus works, the trouble is often Manchester City, after all, Traore's impact has made City's backline suffer more than once, not to mention walker's absence.
Therefore, Jimenez received 2 yellow cards in 1 minute, which was undoubtedly a turning point in the game, and Traore, who was fighting alone, was difficult to beat with four hands with both fists, even if he was strong.
Narrowly winning over Wolves, Manchester City with 3 points is really embarrassing. But in order to seek another breakthrough in the Champions League, the importance of Guardiola's early layout is self-evident. However, through this game, the problems exposed by Manchester City are also quite obvious.
1. Scoring efficiency is low. With 24 shots on target and 10 shots on target, it was clear that City didn't have to go through an awkward situation, which is often fatal in the Champions League.
2. Positioning of Glalis. 12 league games, 5 Champions League games, although Guardiola gave Glalish absolute trust, but it is difficult to see Gralis's positioning at Manchester City, is it an attacking finisher or an organizer? This is obviously a hidden danger for the Champions League knockout stages.
3. De Bruyne's state. De Bruyne's form this season can basically be described as bad. How to help De Bruyne get back to his peak ahead of the Champions League knockout rounds that will begin in February is undoubtedly an urgent problem for Guardiola to solve.
The league maintains the top position, the Champions League easily advanced to the round of 16, Manchester City looks unstoppable, in fact, there are many hidden dangers, with the Champions League knockout round approaching, Guardiola still has a lot of work to improve.