Building connections on the pitch is key for the new-look Manchester City | OneFootball

One standout moment from Manchester City’s win over Manchester United was the City player’s celebrations of Gianluigi Donnarumma’s stunning save to deny Bryan Mbeumo in the 61st minute of Sunday’s Manchester derby. Donnarumma’s save was stunning. His teammates’ reaction to it was also telling. After the match, Pep Guardiola spoke of what the moment shared between Donnarumma and his teammates meant. He said the moment shared between his players after that pivotal moment is a key part of building his new-look Manchester City team.

Pep Guardiola’s quote, which can be seen below, is telling. Building relationships and synergy on the pitch between his players is a key part of what City and Guardiola are trying to develop. In fact, it may be the most crucial component that underpins everything at Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola believes that building trust comes well before tactics.

Speaking after Manchester City’s 3-nil win over Manchester United, Pep Guardiola was asked about Donnarumma’s save. Guardiola gave credit to the Italian goalkeeper for his save. But he also said that the reaction of his teammates was telling. Speaking on that moment, Guardiola said: “I like the save and after the reaction from Josko, from Ruben, from Rodri, going [to him]. Every player wants to be loved. All of us want to be loved. When a team share the good emotions together, there are many good moments and bad moments, they start to be a good team, and that is what they have to create.”

“Create [a situation] that everybody is allowed to do bad actions, his mates will be there supporting, and the good ones be grateful for the good action they have done. And when this happens, it’s the only step I knew. After tactics come, later, later, later.”

The final part of Pep Guardiola’s statement is telling. He and his new team are trying to build strong relationships and culture. That is the foundation on which Manchester City’s success comes. It was prevalent during City’s run of six Premier League titles in seven years. This bond also helped them claim every other trophy in between during that time. It will clearly be a key component of this new-look Manchester City.

On the pitch, connections are developing between players at Manchester City.

It is becoming clear that, slowly but surely, relationships are developing between players at Manchester City. With key pillars such as Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan, Ederson, and others having left the club, it is up to City’s current players to form relationships and connections on the pitch. These are developing. Jeremy Doku, Phil Foden and Erling Haaland are developing synergy on the pitch. The trio combined on multiple occasions to open up Manchester United’s defence on Sunday. The more they play and train together that connection will grow. There will be other relationships on the pitch at City that will follow a similar path. But they take time to blossom.

Tijjani Reijnders spoke in Dutch publication Voetbal Primeur, that he and Erling Haaland are working together at training to establish a connection between during matches. Reijnders explained: “We often talk in training about how we can help each other as much as possible. By constantly watching each other on the pitch, so we know where the spaces are. That went well against Manchester United. A great feeling for both of us.”

Tijjani Reijnders added that it takes time to build the necessary connections with his new teammates. He added:”It takes time to get used to each other. Every match, I have to look for opportunities to make a through ball. I hope to do that more often from now on.”

Summary.

Connections are building on the pitch for Manchester City. They were seen during the City players reaction to Gianluigi Donnarumma’s save against Manchester United. This aspect of City’s play is growing between Doku, Foden and Haaland. Tijjani Reijnders has spoken of working with Erling Haaland to form a better understanding on the pitch. All of these connections and relationships will take time to grow and blossom. But when they do they will form the backbone of Pep Guardiola’s new-look team. The Manchester City manager said as much after Sunday’s Manchester derby.