Following a four-goal thrashing of Stoke at the weekend, City seem to have silenced the critics in regards to their poor league form. The boys in blue are undefeated in league play since mid-March, and despite an uninspired performance at relegation battlers Newcastle, the sky blues seem to have turned a corner in terms of form. Some would blame the lackadaisical performance at Tyneside on the fact that City have had one eye on the Champions League semi-final game against Real Madrid. Pellegrini hasn’t fielded what is known to be his best eleven in a few games as an obvious gesture that demonstrates the importance of the fixture against his former employers. Many would say that City have had about as favourable a draw as one could get in both drawing with Real Madrid as well as the games leading up to it, but what is the key to beating ‘Los Blancos’ and advancing through to the final?
The key tactic lies within a strategy that City already play. Although often times Pellegrini lines up in a 4-2-3-1 formation featuring Fernandinho and Fernando as holding midfielders and Kevin De Bruyne in the hole, the actual shape often pans out to represent a 4-4-2, with De Bruyne pushing as far as Aguero does further up the pitch. Since City are expected to be the underdog coming into the tie, Real Madrid will likely play to their own arrogance and assume the lion share of possession; this is key. Madrid are like City in the sense that they’re more successful when playing on the break or in open and expansive situations, hence why Zidane had the pitch extended in the home leg of the Wolfsburg tie. Reál like these situations because it brings out the best qualities of Bale, Benzema, and Ronaldo by stretching the pitch and isolating opposition players. Allowing for Real Madrid to hold meaningless possession against a compact system, which in turn will stagnate their creativity, is not only the key keeping ‘Los Blancos’ from scoring but also essential in City’s attack.
It is no secret that Manchester City have been at its very best when playing on the counter. The quick and deadly execution of Aguero and De Bruyne are the essential cogs in the lightning fast counter attack that has seen City find a resurgence in form at this late stage in the season. The best way to emphasise this apparent City strength is to play the 4-4-2, a formation that allows for a solid defensive shape and support for the two lead attackers. The two blocks of four cater towards defensive organisation whilst the two up top give each other support when they need to break quickly. The pace of the counter attack is essential and since the front two have each other as support, they don’t need to hold up play and wait for other to get involved. Frustrating Reál going forward will also pull their already more than eager full-backs further up the pitch, exposing their extremely high line. Pace is something that Roma showed everyone Real Madrid struggle with, something City have in spades.
What City cannot afford to do is get into a foot race with Reál. If the game is allowed to go back and forth at a high pace, one would question the ability of Mangala and Otamendi to keep out the likes of ‘BBC’. Staying compact and springing on that high line is what will be their undoing, it’s simply a matter of execution.
In terms of the lineup, it should be as follows. Sterling and Navas can provide width and pace on the counter, but will need to be defensively alert to help out the full-backs with Bale and Ronaldo. Fernandinho and Fernando offer even more defensive nous and have shown to be a formidable partnership in these latter stages of the season. David Silva has been dropped because of his lack of defensive contribution, and if he were to be played it should be in De Bruyne’s role. City cannot afford to have multiple players on the field that are inclined to stay higher up the field. The back line is the blues’ best by a country mile.
This draw is Manchester City’s best opportunity to go where few English teams seem to be able to get to, and anything can happen in the final. Chelsea won the most coveted prize in club football under similar circumstances, it is simply a matter of putting ourselves in the position to do the same.
