Team Focus: Bolstered Midfield Allows City to Tailor Tactics Going Forward
Given how thrilling Liverpool’s football became towards the end of last season, it’s easy to forget that it was Manchester City who finished as the Premier League’s top-scorers, with 102 goals. That, in part, was down to a bold approach and the use of two central strikers, a policy that allowed them to make the most of possession domestically, but which was at least partly responsible for the way they were picked apart at home by Bayern Munich in the Champions League.
Significantly, when City faced Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League, Manuel Pellegrini opted for a lone striker, with David Silva tucked behind in a 4-2-3-1. There was also a notable and slightly surprising caution about their play in the home leg, as though Pellegrini didn’t quite trust his holding pair – both of whom have the capacity to surge forwards – to actually hold. Away at Chelsea, he’d used Javi Garcia in a midfield three, with Toure given some licence to advance; bringing in Fernando this season from Porto and offloading Javi Garcia should, in theory, allow Pellegrini to do that, but with a player he rates rather more highly than the former Benfica midfielder.
Yet in the Community Shield, against an Arsenal side Pellegrini must have known had the potential to pass their way through his midfield, he opted again for a 4-4-2. It’s true that Fernandinho was considered unfit, restricting Pellegrini’s options, and it’s true that Stevan Jovetic played a little behind Edin Dzeko, but this wasn’t even a true 4-2-3-1. Allied to a lethargic approach – let’s not pretend City were treating the game as anything more than a glorified friendly – Arsenal were dominant.
The 4-4-2 was there again for the opening league game of the season, against Newcastle on Sunday, but it seemed telling that Fernandinho was brought on for Jovetic after 73 minutes; when City felt the need to protect a 1-0 lead, they went to precisely that 4-3-3 shape, with Toure slightly advanced of Fernando and Fernandinho.
Fernando has already shown what he is capable of. There may still be some issues in terms of his positioning and his understanding with Toure – too often against Arsenal they were dragged too far apart – but he has already shown that he will add snap and bite. Against Newcastle, Fernando made 3 tackles, 2 interceptions and 3 clearances; in the Community Shield he had made 1 tackle, 3 interceptions and 3 clearances. By comparison – although their roles at the back of midfield, of course, are a little different – Toure made no challenges or interceptions at Newcastle and just 1 clearance, while the 60 minutes he played in the Community Shield brought 3 tackles, no interceptions and a clearance.
What’s telling is what happened after Fernandinho came on. Although he only played for 17 minutes plus injury time, he managed a tackle and an interception: City, in other words, had two designated ball-winners and while playing both Brazilians in midfield may hamper – slightly - the fluidity of their passing, equally it will be extremely difficult for any opponent ever to build up a real head of steam against them.
In last season’s Champions League for Porto, Fernando averaged 3 tackles per game, 2.5 interceptions and 0.8 clearances, while for City Fernandinho averaged 2.9 tackles, 1.8 interceptions and 1.4 clearances in the Premier League. Toure averaged 1.5 tackles, 0.7 interceptions (the lowest figure he has ever recorded for any league season at any club) and 0.9 clearances. Clearly Toure’s figures are affected by Fernandinho’s - there are only so many tackles to be made – and it would be no surprise if Fernandinho and Fernando both see a drop off in their figures if they are played together.
The wider point, though, is that City now have the potential for greater destructiveness at the back of midfield. They won’t always need it, but in the Champions League especially, it could be extremely useful.
Will City's strength in midfield allow them to compete in the latter stages on all fronts this season? Let us know in the comments below
