The Manchester derby saw a magnificent performance by the Blues today, with the talking point of the game undoubtedly City’s third goal.
There were 44 accurate passes played by the team before netting the goal at the 86th minute of the game to complete a clinical win over the city rivals. It was the second highest count of passes in English football which had led to a goal, after the 45-pass record of Juan Mata’s goal with Manchester United.
This style of ‘taking the ball, passing the ball’ or better known as Tiki-Taka in Spain has its origin in the Catalan club of Barcelona. Pep Guardiola was one of the primary architects of this style. He was responsible for bringing the glory days to Barcelona football during his managerial era of 2008-2012 with his Tiki-Taka style.
Pep Guardiola was hired the Manchester City manager in the 2016-2017 season at the Etihad Stadium. The critics were highly sceptical of the success Pep would bring to the English club because of the completely different style of football in England.
The Catalan manager did take time to inculcate his style of football in the team, with Manchester City failing to win both Premier League and Champions League during Pep’s first season at Manchester. But once he got started, there was no stopping.
The Guardiola style saw continuous passing in the team, the accuracy of the team improved, the ball moved faster than before, there was more pressing in the forward position, the midfield controlled the entire pace of the game and gradually the former Bayern Munich manager silenced his critics with the success he brought to the club in the following season with this style.
Manchester City won the Premier League trophy last season with a dominating performance of record 100 points in a single league season. This had ended the altogether traditional slow approach to English football.
FC Barcelona has themselves lost its Tiki-Taka approach under the new manager Ernesto Valverde and former manager Luis Enrique. The exit of the club by the legends like Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, and retirement of Carles Puyol from the team further weaken the Tiki-Taka style in Barcelona.
The Catalan club has struggled through the form in the recent matches of La Liga with defenders failing to close the gaps. Manchester City having been led by the Tiki-Taka guru Pep Guardiola is certainly implementing the continuous passing style more often than its origin club this season.
We can hope for further delight from the Manchester club in the future at least till Pep is coaching the team and hence, it won’t be incorrect to call Manchester City the new Barcelona of England.
dav7d
Roar Rookie
this is kinder true though because city have been playing well and are ready to beat everton tonight
At work
Roar Rookie
You make a good point Kangas, until a manager wins trophies with a less wealthy club how much can you really praise them (over others with less money to spend). While Pep is obviously a very talented and smart manager, and is taking a very good squad and making them great, it would be interesting to see what he could do with an average squad.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
It’s got to be the Old Farm derby between Norwich and Ipswich .
Nick Symonds
Guest
So who's the Real Madrid of England? What do you think is the Premier League El Classico?
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Guardiola is obviously a genius at what he does . I would love to see him challenge himself at a club with less wealthy then Barcelona Bayern Munich and Manchester city . The greatest managers in history can point at some wonderful success before going to rich clubs , like Ferguson with Aberdeen and Mourinho winning a ucl at Porto . Those achievements mean more to me as a fan of the game. Winning trophies with the best players, most money is a just a formality really . Although I love how his teams play , I have no doubt that if moyivated guardiola could win Trophies at smaller clubs