"We really are now through the looking glass with Pep Guardiola. Eyebrows had been raised by the way Manchester City approached the second half of their commanding derby win last week, sitting off, allowing United the ball and picking them off on the break. But their performance in drawing at Arsenal on Sunday was on a different level entirely: just 34% possession, the lowest any Guardiola side has ever registered in a game."
"By the end they had four central defenders, two holding midfielders and a full-back on the pitch. But even that doesn't get to the heart of how strange this was. In the previous five seasons there have only been 10 occasions when City did not have more possession than their opponents in a Premier League game. Only once before in the Premier League has City's possession under Guardiola dipped below 40% when they registered 37% in beating Arsenal 3-1 in February 2023,"
Manchester City used an extreme defensive setup in a recent match, recording only 34% possession—the lowest any Guardiola side has registered. The lineup finished with four central defenders, two holding midfielders and a full-back on the pitch, highlighting a deliberate protective formation. In the previous five seasons City had only ten Premier League games with less possession than opponents. Only once before under Guardiola had possession dipped below 40%, when City registered 37% in a February 2023 win at Arsenal. Earlier examples involved sitting deep and striking on the break, but the Arsenal draw represented a more pronounced defensive stance.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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