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Five Takeaways as Manchester City lose to Wolves

By J.C. Gonzalez

Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (R) gives instructions to Manchester City's Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on October 6, 2019. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images)
Manchester City's Spanish manager Pep Guardiola (R) gives instructions to Manchester City's Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho during the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on October 6, 2019. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images) /
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3. İlkay Gündoğan should not play in the attacking midfield role

One of the main ways City were able to cope in De Bruyne’s absence a year ago was Bernardo Silva‘s move into the number eight role in midfield. In that position, the Portuguese emerged as one of the league’s best creative talents as he won City’s Player of the Season award.

This season, however, Guardiola has seemingly refuse to field Silva in that role, returning him to his natural right wing position and even occasionally placing him on the left-hand side when Guardiola doesn’t want to set up with inverted wingers. Instead, the Catalan manager has chosen to play İlkay Gündoğan in the role, who lacks the creative spark and dribbling ability in tight spaces that Silva possesses.

Guardiola notably made this tactical change last season in the 1-0 first leg defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Champions League quarterfinals, as Gündoğan’s holding midfielder tendencies would theoretically aid City defensively. It instead left the City attack completely lifeless and without the drive needed to break down the Spurs defense as City limped to a goalless effort in defeat.

Saturday’s match against Wolves was eerily reminiscent of that fateful game in North London as City’s attack looked absolutely devoid of a creative spark and was overrun in midfield. While Gündoğan has played successfully in this role during City’s victories this season, the German’s difficulty to operate in the tight spaces is especially apparent in De Bruyne’s absence.

While the presence of Leroy Sané as wing cover would allow Silva to make the natural progression of his career toward the middle of the park more easily, Guardiola could easily field Raheem Sterling and Riyad Mahrez out wide and utilize Silva at the number eight role.

While Silva is a talented winger, his influence is greatest in the middle, whereas Gündoğan would be best served as cover for Rodri at the number six holding role at the base of midfield, especially with Fernandinho transitioning to play in central defense in the absence of Laporte and John Stones.

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