Why I Changed Man City’s Style Of Play Against Arsenal

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has explained why he adopted an unusual defensive style of play against Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

He insisted that his team has not altered its playing style, but the circumstances on Sunday necessitated a more defensive approach as Arsenal were the superior side in their 1-1 draw. Following the draw at the Emirates Stadium, Manchester City faced accusations of ‘parking the bus’, something Guardiola claimed he has never resorted to in his career. The team recorded just 32.8 per cent possession, the lowest ever managed by the former Barcelona and Bayern Munich boss.

Guardiola stated that Arsenal deserve more credit for putting his side under pressure. “Perhaps the players are the best judges of whether I truly changed our approach, as they are present at every meeting and game. You can ask them,” Guardiola told reporters on Wednesday.

“I believe it was fundamentally the same; what changed was the way the opponents played, and we were unable to adapt. After the game, I said Arsenal were the better side.

I don’t enjoy playing the way we did against Arsenal, but I appreciate many aspects I previously lacked. However, I maintain our desired style of play.

Sometimes, the opposition excels and creates challenges that are difficult to manage. But as long as I am with this club, I wish to play in the manner I prefer.

Sometimes we are unable to, sometimes we are not at our best, and sometimes the opponent is simply better. It is unfair to label a single game as poor.”