Changing the entire dynamic for Manchester City against Real Madrid failed spectacularly | OneFootball

Manchester City entered last night’s match against Real Madrid unbeaten in their last eleven matches in all competitions. Across that run, Pep Guardiola had discovered a system that worked for his team. Nico O’Reilly, Bernardo Silva, and Rodri formed City’s midfield unit across the majority of that run. O’Reilly’s legs and athleticism covered Bernardo Silva’s aging body, and Rodri isn’t fully back to his athletic best, although his performances have resembled him at his best of late. Matheus Nunes and Rayan Ait-Nouri had provided width from the full-back positions, which suited this City team.

Last night, Pep Guardiola strayed from what has worked so well for his team. The result was that Manchester City put in a disjointed display as Real Madrid swept City aside with a 3-nil win to take firm control of their Champions League Round of 16 tie.

After a bright beginning Manchester City and their frailties were swept aside and exposed by Real Madrid.

Pep Guardiola named an attacking starting eleven for last night’s clash with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu. Erling Haaland, Antoine Semenyo, Jeremy Doku, and Savinho were all named in the City starting eleven. Nico O’Reilly moved to left-back, a position he played so well earlier this season. Throughout Manchester City’s eleven-game unbeaten run, O’Reilly had played a key role in City’s midfield with Bernardo Silva and Rodri. Abdukodir Khusanov started at right-back in place of Matheus Nunes. The thought was that Khusanov could contain the threat of Vinicius Junior with his pace and trickery.

Manchester City did begin last night’s match brightly. Jeremy Doku played in several low crosses across the Madrid area that none of his teammates anticipated. Having said that, Real Madrid’s threat in possession and on the break was ever-present well before Federico Valverde scored the first of his three goals of the evening in the 20th minute. With Bernardo Silva and Rodri in midfield, without Nico O’Reilly, the pair were up against it. The younger and more energetic Madrid midfield were up for the occasion last night. When Nico O’Reilly stepped up from left-back to help, it left a void in City’s defense. The entire fabric of City’s play felt off last night. Defensively, Manchester City were at sixes and sevens. Their midfield was routinely bypassed as Fede Valverde scored a hat trick. Up front, Haaland, Semenyo, Doku, and Savinho looked like a quartet that hadn’t played together before. By the time Pep Guardiola made changes at halftime and later in the second half, the damage was done.

Changing the entire dynamic of the City lineup backfired, and that decision contributed to Real Madrid taking a 3-nil lead, and may have ended Manchester City’s chances in this season’s Champions League.

Pep Guardiola explained his team selection after his team’s defeat at the Bernabeu.

Speaking after his team’s heavy defeat to Real Madrid, Pep Guardiola explained his selection for last night’s match. The Manchester City explained that the changes he made were subtle. He told the media: “Listen, how many times did Nico O’Reilly play left-back this season? How many? The only adjustment was [Abdukodir] Khusanov because Vinicius moves in that area, and we wanted a guy who doesn’t think much to attack. The rest? (Wingers?) Yeah, injured two months, yeah. And they played incredible; Savinho in Newcastle, Jeremy [Doku] always is an incredible threat. And people with experience, Bernardo [Silva] and Rodri, runners with Nico [O’Reilly] and Antoine [Semenyo], the sense of goal that all of them , set-pieces – that was the idea.”

“Rotation? I’ve done it in Newcastle, nine players different. I understand what I’m saying; the target is wingers to try to drop them, people in the middle in pockets to arrive close to the box, control second structures with experienced players, fast players behind – that was the idea.”

Final thoughts.

Pep Guardiola’s explanation clarifies what he was trying to achieve with his starting lineup against Real Madrid last night. With Real Madrid missing seven key players, the opportunity was there for City to challenge the La Liga giants. Unfortunately, Pep Guardiola’s selection changed the dynamic of his team. Real Madrid had a game plan and executed it superbly. Federico Valverde was superb, scoring a hat trick. Having said that, perhaps if the changes weren’t so drastic, City might not have fallen into the hole they did in the first half of last night’s match. It also felt like City’s starting lineup and play fell right into Real Madrid’s hands.

Hindsight is a marvelous thing, but Manchester City’s performance at the Bernabeu does open itself up to criticism. It also felt like it was no coincidence that City’s final 20 minutes of last night’s match were their best spell of the game, and it came with a familiar shape and dynamic having returned to their lineup.