How Pep Guardiola has changed defending forever

Pep Guardiola's teams have always been famous for their attacking, possession based football. But what most people don't realise, is that Guardiola might actually be the most defensive-minded coach in the world.

Today I'm looking at the unique intention behind Pep's tactics, and what sets his method apart from almost every other manager.

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Sections:
0:00 The magic of Pep's Barça
00:36 Cryuff's system
1:09 The original rest defence
2:09 Squarespace
3:07 'Extra passes'
5:10 Order over chaos
8:04 Perfect balance?

[thandowriting]

Pep and klopp matches are so even; one is control personified, the other is chaos and high pressure personified

[wizardeejay]

Pep is to humble for what he's achieved at a fairly young age for a manager still 51. He could do this till 65 let's say. He still has half of his career left

[houdinisplug]

This was on full display vs Newcastle yesterday especially after KDB came on, the amount of times Newcastle turned over possession seconds after winning it was absurd, City didn't even have to do too much to ensure that, it was just the natural positions of their players particularly their CB's and Rodri who btw might be one of the best transition recovery holding mids we've seen for quite some time that enables them to win it back so effectively. They really are starting to look imperial once again and that is bad news for the rest of Europe.

[ludwigkostmann]

I think that peps system of full control makes perfect sense, when u have one of the best if not the best players in each position. I think order creates a game state, where the team with better patterns and especially more talent will most likely win the game. I think chaos can override talent and can therefor help teams with lesser quality.

[FroggyHarley]

I think Liverpool and Klopp are the best example of how you can still be dominant while just creating pure chaos. And he has been a rival to Pep for many years. Props to both of them for keeping this game so entertaining!

[bobbymensah]

Top top analysis. You deserve your flowers.

I believe it would be very interesting to analyze Klopp's embrace of chaos as well. I don't have the idea fully formed but it seem seems like the ideas explained in this video could be juxtaposed to Klopp's chaotic philosophy as well:

1. Klopp embraces players suited to intense energetic transitional football. While Pep believes he would "out-order" you to create an attack vs defence game and continue from there, Klopp seems to believe he would "out-chaos" you to create a game suited for his energetic players and continue the game from there.

2. Pep continues the game by hoarding onto the ball with short passes and using his players who are especially excellent in tight spaces. With the laws and dynamics of football slightly favouring attack over defence (offside law leniency, high xG penalties), his strategy makes a whole lot of sense. Keep the ball as close to the opponents goal (and penalty box) and take the game from there. The opponent would be as far away from goal as possible. If they're not exceptional in transitions, they're essentially waiting to die. Guardiola also tries to prevent transitions with a good rest defence with his inverted fullbacks and whatnot.

3. Now Klopp on the other hand... Hmm... He's embracing totally opposite ideas and he's currently top of the PL. Klopp's players are exceptional over big spaces and long balls. And he sure uses that strength. His Liverpool sides are barely outrun or outpressed. I believe while Pep coaches his players' decision-making in tight spaces, Klopp coaches right decision making and sharp quick thinking to his players over large spaces- direct accurate long balls to his devastating forwards (who i bet train a lot to finish transitions instead of small space play). Klopp counterpresses to keep the game TRANSITIONAL while Pep just wants to reset attack vs defence in the opponents third away from his goal. While Pep seems to prioritize rest defence, Klopp seems to do the opposite with his "rest attack"- he rarely makes his attackers especially his wingers drop deep except in long periods out of possession. They usually hang. Sometimes all three, subtly. But even then, with the quality of Mo-Salah he knows he can let only Salah 'hang' and Salah alone in large spaces can be exceptionally dangerous over large spaces even against an entire back four. So one long ball to Salah from VVD, Trent, MacA, Szobo and he it's a dangerous almost "one-on-one" attack vs defence scenario. Lot like Guardiola's whole team attack vs defence but qualitative transitional attack vs defence. He loves to create those transitions in the opponents half or final third via high pressing but even on opposition corner kicks, since CBs are usually out of position, even Salah alone up top is devastating when he is found by Alisson or Trent. Then Klopp adds his workman-like calvary to support Salah on these transitions. A goal "finishes" transitions because of a new kickoff lol. Klopp understands this. He also understands that if a chance is missed, the next best chance is via a counterpress(the best playmaker in his own words). Klopp is a genius in his own right.

4. Can't say which style is better but it's obvious Guardiola style is more suited to modern football. Why? Stamina and injuries simply put. Guardiola's style conserves so much stamina that he can manage a relatively small squad depth(see last season) while keeping most of his star players fresh. Oh and he needs highly technical players to pull his philosophy off. On the other hand, with too many games played in the modern game, Klopp's style even though effective is difficult to maintain long-term. Klopp understands this and that is why he was crying for more substitutes in a game to be increased. Now that it's increased, look where he is. He prioritises energy over technicality for most of his team as he knows that high intensity running and counterpressing would compensate for creativity.

5. It's funny how these two football geniuses can make your head spin with their philosophies. Guardiola uses attacking principles to defend (Guardiola may just one day open his mouth to say possession is the best form of defence, if he hasn't already). Klopp uses defensive principles to attack (gegenpressing).

6. Even though I'm a Barca fan and I relate more with Guardiola, i truly respect Jurgen Klopp. He knows what he needs. Energy and heart from players, fans(Anfield) and he sticks to his philosophy even though most other coaches of the modern era are Pep wannabes even when they don't have his profile of players.

I observe Klopp closely.
5 substitutes per game may truly be the best thing to have happened to Klopp ever the past couple of seasons.


Note: I'm not a football expert, just an avid football lover who thinks a lot about the game, lol.

Cheers

[HT]

Im a real Madrid fan but Pep guardiola is the Best manager of all time

[jimmywalker]

As a RM/MU fan, I get annoyed when people say he has the best players and anyone could do what he did. Okay, give Steve Bruce, Sam Allardyce, Tony Pulis his Barca, Bayern and City sides and let's see what they would do.
Pep is the GOAT manager.

[kairihd]

This honestly made me look at possesion differently, i am a midielder but when i tell my teamates to have pausa or dont rush a play, they dont truly understand y, now i can fully make them understand, but i do like chaos of a game as captain i want to switch it up when we are ready

[peixe_do_dallas]

Great video. I think what's incredible about is that he is a complete manager. To win a game he can adapt everywhere and his talent id is so good islt's like he was destined to be the best.

[Astronomynatureandmusic]

What to me is the most attractive and lovely about this style of play is: the players are less ego oriented as they are not primarily thinking of their own individual scoring chances, yet more of how to pass and get towards the goal TOGETHER. This means you create many more chances than just have one good attacking player who must have his day. The team spirit is more important than the big scoring individual.

[choosetolivefree]

These kinds of videos are useful for me, as an American. Football is my favorite sport by far, I hate the popular sports in the US, and it's annoying that most of my fellow Americans regard football as a joke. But, as a result of growing up in the US, the strategies and tactics of this game are not something I'm super familiar with. At this point, I've been watching strictly European football since I discovered Messi in 2012. So my understanding has grown a lot. But videos like this are still very helpful to me. So thanks.

I'm just waiting for the AC Milan vs Roma game to start in about an hour, I try to watch every ACM game since Christian Pulisic moved there from Chelsea. So glad he did, he's been doing great and staying in a match ready state for a long time, something which he has struggled to do for a lot of his career so far. AND. My pops and I have tickets to see Inter Miami (not a big fan of MLS, but, I mean, Messi, Busquets, Jordi Alba, and now even Suarez are here in the States) play next month in Miami. We already traveled over 2, 000 miles to Miami back in September to try and watch Messi. But he was injured and not even a sub, so I was sorely disappointed. He'll be playing this time! I'm so excited. I'm a ridiculously massive Messi fan, I've religiously watched his every game w/ Barca and Argentina since I found him in 2012. It will be a bucket list item crossed off when I get to see him play in person. Plus, we're going to snag some tickets to see him with Argentina in the Copa America this year, which will be hosted in the States. One of the games will be played in Las Vegas, which is only about a 5 hour drive from home. Super excited for all of this, I sure hope Messi picks up a second Copa win!

[denizozanemre]

Great explanation of Pep's principles of positional play. His teams might not be as devoid of chaos as they seem at first glance though. The element of chaos might be the player's (final) decisions in Pep's teams.

The more creative they are, the more chaos becomes observable in their decisions. Foden's recent goal against Everton is a great example. Because fully ordered teams would keep passing patiently to progress up the field in that position, while Foden sees the angle and executes the shot in a split second. Pep just sets the conditions in a way for the players to always be in an advantageous position, what they do in that position is up to them. He has massive respect for his players and knows when they need order, and when they need freedom from his personal experience as a player. He is often as surprised by the ways his players utilize this freedom as the spectators are. And he often expresses a sense of wonder towards his players decisions in his press conferences.

[jacoblenton]

I think that while this is true for most games, pep has shown he can adapt and embrace chaos when needed, for example the arsenal game last season where he allowed arsenal to dominate the ball and hit them on the counter

[md]

Another thing is that most City players weren't world beaters before joining City.
Only Haaland, Grealish and Gvardiol (at least in the world cup) arrived at City with a superstar image.
Guardiola completely transformed players such as Ake, Akanji, Cancelo, Stones, Rodri, Sterling (before leaving) and Bernardo Silva.
It shows the calibre of Pep as a coach.

[totalfootball]

Best football analysis channel on youtube by far💯

[shreyam]

Dude this is good level of footage collection, editing, narrative writing..
This seems some work has gone into it.
Hope for the best int he future bro. keep it up.

[RAYANAHMAIDCHAIRI]

THE BEST and SMARTEST way anyone has ever explained pep's city💯
thank youso much for this mind blowing videos💙

[noblesleem]

"It was Pep Guardiola's Barcelona that made me fall in love with football". Legendary introduction

[jamesbaxter]

A Guardiola team attacks like a spider constructing a web, with the same hypnotic beauty.

A Klopp team comes in toting dynamite. Of course if you get the fuse length wrong, it can blow up in your face, or it can get thrown back with interest, but its never dull.

Which is best? What's your favourite flavour and who prospers on the day.

Great content - hope the comment helps the you tube algorithm