Pep Guardiola: How the Man City boss changed the Premier League with tactics

Guardiola has always been a fan of possession. At the beginning of his coaching career in charge of Barcelona, ​​he said that he betrayed himself in a game against Inter Milan.

He chose Zlatan Ibrahimovic up front and played with less possession than usual. Soon, he promised himself that even if he failed, he wanted to do it, guided by his own principles.

With Guardiola using midfielders in reverse defense and developing technical players in midfield, City always controlled possession.

They averaged 71.9% possession per game in the 2017-18 season. They haven’t dropped below 60% in any season since.

Using that approach, winning six Premier League titles in seven seasons meant that controlled, poised, high-possession football became the norm.

Liverpool Boss Arne Sloe played close to those principles and won the Premier League in his first season. Jurgen Klopp’s more aggressive style of play.

While Arteta Arsenal They have had impressive defensive records this season, and look to keep the ball in games.

And BrightonA model of sustained success has come from employing coaches who strive to impose themselves on possession play, with Roberto De Zerbi and Fabian Hürzeler proving to be excellent.

Scott Parker, Vincent Kompany and Russell Martin persevered with this philosophy in the Premier League – ultimately failing due to the quality of players and lack of change in approach. Guardiola underlines the influence he has had on coaches across the league.

Before the arrival of Guardiola, English football was famous for its intensity, directness and quick attacks, and under Sir Alex Ferguson Manchester United Being dominant.

Michael Carrick’s United leaned back to those traditional counter-attacking roots, but one of Guardiola’s most impressive feats was to enter a league where Ferguson’s tactical imprints were and change the entire course of many of its best sides.