Manchester City is used to facing low-ball lineups, so it will be intriguing to see how they do against Tottenham Hotspur.
Few Premier League clubs are gutsy enough to put pressure on Man City by playing strong pressing and giving their defenders no time to develop the ball. Tottenham Hotspur, on the other hand, is likely to play in this manner against the defending champions.
Ange Postecoglou has declared that he will not adjust his tactical approach even if his chosen center-backs Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero are unavailable.
The trio of Erling Haaland, Phi Foden, and Julian Alvarez is crucial
The most obvious strategy to cope with teams that are ready to take risks with their high defense is to play passes in behind their defensive line for the quick strikers to exploit.
Haaland, one of the world’s fastest and strongest strikers, would undoubtedly enjoy this style of play. The Norwegian has made 363 runs without the ball this season, the fifth most of any Premier League player, and he receives the ball from a teammate in 32.5% of those moves.
Foden also made many fantastic runs without the ball, so the Spurs’ defense will undoubtedly face a significant task in this game. When Alvarez and Foden go into the midfield, they will have to pay close attention to them.
If space is disclosed, both players with good technique will find a way to place Haaland in a position where he has to face the goalkeeper. The 23-year-old striker’s goal against Fulham is typical of how this trio breaks down the opposition’s defense.
Increase the amount of available playing space
Tottenham is an excellent high-pressing club under Postecoglou. They’ve scored five goals in those scenarios, and no club has took more shots or scored more goals. However, Spurs will need to execute that play flawlessly in this encounter.
Arsenal played this approach in all three games with Manchester City last season, and they all lost for a variety of reasons, the most basic of which is that Pep is more competent at devising counter-attack tactics.
Guardiola’s wingers will stay close to the touchline, making the pitch appear larger. If Tottenham does not apply enough pressure to seal all the openings, they will be left behind by Manchester City’s defenders or midfielders, forcing them to unleash short passes to Haaland’s position, as was the case against Arsenal last season.
With Jeremy Doku, Foden, and Jack Grealish, Pep clearly has the appropriate individuals for this type of play, and he will almost probably ask his students to employ it against Spurs.