Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola is employing a narrow attacking system this season to control central areas. This tactical shift draws on principles Guardiola first wrote about in the Spanish newspaper El Pais during the 2006 World Cup, according to BBC Sport. He argued that width should be provided by specific players rather than the entire team.
City now use narrow positions for their attacking midfielders and wingers to create numerical advantages. Guardiola previously noted that crowding the centre makes it harder for opponents to counter-attack once they regain possession. Per BBC Sport, the current setup often sees full-backs or specific wingers stay wide while others move inside to support Erling Haaland.
Data from the Premier League shows City have recorded more central entries into the final third compared to last season. Guardiola wrote in 2006 that maintaining a compact shape in possession allows for quicker recovery of the ball. This philosophy remains central to City's attempt to defend their league title.
