In the central match of the fifth round of the English Premier League, Manchester City faced Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in London and drew 1-1 in a complex and intense match. This match was of great interest not only as the most prominent contest of the tournament, but also tactically.
Following the match, City manager Pep Guardiola responded to criticism of his team's playing style in an interview with journalists. According to the specialist, in some cases, there is a need to adapt to the opponent's strong game and act with greater defensive discipline.
- In football, sometimes the opponent can be stronger than your team. If we played in deep defense, the reason is either the opponent's extreme strength or the poor quality of our game. Never in my career have I remained in passive defense with my team for so long and with the entire squad. But this time, against Arsenal, we acted this way, and frankly, I see this as a very positive experience for the future," said Guardiola.
The Catalan coach believes that in football, one cannot rely solely on attacking skills. Depending on the strength of the opponent, sometimes making changes, changing the scheme, and patiently defending against strong teams are important factors for team development.
City's actions on this trip were assessed by many experts as "unusual for Guardiola's style." However, the coach emphasized that by choosing this direction, he aimed to test his players in different scenarios.
Thus, the match against the Gunners served not only as the fate of the round points but also as a great tactical school for City. Guardiola noted that his team will become even stronger through flexibility and experience.
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