Guardiola’s Inside Men: A New Twist Against Juventus
Manchester City’s 5-2 win over Juventus in the Club World Cup wasn’t just about score lines, it was a glimpse into a subtle tactical shift. Pep Guardiola, known for innovation, made a calculated adjustment: his wide players played narrower, almost like attacking midfielders.
Rather than hugging the sidelines, players like Savinho and Jeremy Doku stepped into central areas—crowding the midfield and creating overloads between Juventus’ lines. This gave City control in the most dangerous spaces, forcing Juventus’ defense into constant, uncomfortable decisions.
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Juventus Undone
Juventus, structured but static, couldn’t adapt. Their midfield was overrun, and their back line stretched by City’s positional rotation—not just on the wings, but through the middle.
Guardiola’s use of space, narrow wide men, disciplined full-backs, and a midfield stacked with creative players showed that control doesn’t always come from width. Sometimes, it’s about pulling the opponent in so tight, they suffocate themselves.
This wasn’t a revolution, but a tactical wrinkle. And if the early signs are anything to go by, we’ll be seeing a lot more of Guardiola’s “inside men” this season.