Pep & The Evolution of the ‘P’ Principles

Pep Guardiola has been the Manchester City manager since the 2016-17 season, making his current tenure the longest he’s been at any club in his managerial career. Since then, we’ve been blessed to watch some of the most beautiful, clinical, devastating, intricate football to grace the sport in its entire history. His philosophies and tactics have enchanted the City fanbase, teaching, guiding, and educating aspiring ‘tacticos’ to better understand the Catalan genius and his outlook on the game. And in a sense, we as a fanbase have never been more educated about how the game should be played in its purest, simplest form. However, because of the years of watching and learning from Pep and his methodologies, sometimes it feels that certain fans have convinced themselves that they know better than the man himself. Criticism of a man who can arguably and rightfully be considered the ‘GOAT’ manager seems all too common, especially on social media, where some seem intent on having something to say, as opposed to being willing to learn.

If it’s not abundantly clear, we do not know better than Pep Guardiola. The fact of the matter is, it’s impossible for any of us to assume we fully understand how his brain works because he’s always ahead of the curve. The insight that took you years to understand came after Pep studied, tested, implemented, and achieved success already. What you think you know is yesterday’s news and in other words, “he has more info than the twitter guys.”

For me, understanding Pep boils down to his ‘p’ principles and how his tactics and formations have evolved within the confines of those principles: possession, passing, press, pace, power and personnel. Every season of Pep’s illustrious time at City has seen him implement some form of tactical wrinkle that has enabled his active personnel to reach its highest potential. However, the principles have remained relatively intact: retain possession, pass the ball, and press as a team. Let’s dive into how the other principles have been affected as the seasons went by. 

• 2016-2017: The arrival of a mixture of youth, experience, and potential in Claudio Bravo, John Stones, Gabriel Jesus, Oleksander Zinchenko, Nolito, Leroy Sané, and Ilkay Gündogan. In Bravo, Pep brought in a ball-playing GK that he trusted. Gundo, though injured, was a press-resistant, midfield general who could control the pace of the game. John Stones was considered a premier ball-playing CB talent. Jesus and Sané brought pace and power, with the former proving to be a formidable force in the press. In Zinchenko, Pep saw a prospect that he could mold from a midfielder into a leftback, famously stating that if he could, he’d play midfielders in every position. With players already in the squad like Aguero, David Silva, Kompany and more, Pep had the personnel to build off of and his signings reflected his desire to play more bravely in possession while also implementing pace and energy on the wings. 

• 2017-2018: The year of the fullbacks, with Benjamin Mendy, Danilo, Kyle Walker coming in to replace the aging Kolarov and Zabaleta, providing additional pace and power to get up and down the pitch as attacking and defending options. Nolito was offloaded and Bernardo Silva signed to further enhance our press-resistance in the midfield, with his never-say-die attitude and third lungs a massive asset to our team pressing capabilities as well. Given Bravo’s tumultuous first season in City blue, the signing of Ederson gave Pep the GK he needed, cool and calm under pressure with the ability to pick out any pass. The tactical shift and intentions were clear. 

• 2018-2019: Brought us Mahrez and Laporte. Mahrez, one of the best players in the league and a rare winger who could be relied upon in possession, score clinical goals, and pick out a pass was a shrewd and necessary signing as a different type of wing option to the blazing fast Sterling and Sané, who sometimes worked as a detriment to our overall solidity on defense due to their willingness to take their man on (and lose the ball). With Vinny and Stones struggling with injuries, Otamendi not quite the right fit, and Fernandinho more crucial in midfield, Laporte was the rare midseason signing, quickly showing how/why his passing from the LCB position was a game-changer. While Delph was a fine and willing servant, the LB position was once again a weakness. Laporte quickly showed the importance of having a premium player in that position. Once again, Pep was one step ahead, addressing weaknesses and evolving his personnel to match his view on how the team needed to change. 

• 2019-2020: This season ushered in the era of Rodri and Cancelo. Cancelo, traditionally a right back, was deployed on the left to mitigate the lack of dynamism from the position. While he struggled at times in defense, his offensive output was dazzling, unlocking a new dimension to our team with his playmaking and pace. Rodri had a few rough spots in his debut season but the quality was clear - this was a man that could and would develop into the perfect holding midfielder under Guardiola’s tutelage. Range of passing, tenacity in the press, calmness in possession.. He had it all. With Kompany’s departure, a replacement was needed and it would be addressed in the next window.

• 2020-2021: It was around this time that I believe Pep’s tactics began to noticeably change and it could be seen in the personnel. Leroy Sané was shipped off to Bayern, offloading our paciest attacking player. Otamendi also departed, replaced by Dias, a no-nonsense defender with leadership and solid passing capabilities, as well as Aké, a versatile defender who offered less dynamism from the fullback spot but was dependable in possession and committed to the press. A completely different player to Cancelo. Pace seemed less of a priority, with a commitment towards possession and defense. With Aguero’s injury woes, Pep started to experiment with the False 9, utilizing new signing Ferran Torres to great effect. 

• 2021-2022: 100m later, Grealish arrived and it was a statement made by Pep. A possession winger and playmaker, far from the pacey wingers we had seen streaking down the wings at the Etihad in recent years. Aguero’s departure saw more experimentation with our personnel, utilizing KDB’s playmaking, Gundogan’s ability in possession and more to fill the void in our striker position. The principles remained: retain possession, pass the ball, but pace clearly less of a priority than it ever had been to date. 

• 2022-2023: Erling Haaland was the signing that changed it all. The proof that Pep finds a way to best accentuate his personnel’s best attributes. Grealish and Bernardo the preferred wing pairing, providing security in possession and energy in the press on the wings. Gundo and Rodri security in midfield and KDB playmaking for fun. A backline of 4 powerful centerbacks who can pass the ball, forgoing the pace of Walker and playmaking of Cancelo for solidity. Nobody saw this coming. Many were against it in the beginning, but Pep knew something had to change for us to achieve our goals in Europe. Alvarez and Akanji as utility/bargain arrivals that possess the qualities to contribute in multiple aspects of the ‘p’ principles. No longer a 4-3-3, but a hybrid, fluid formation that changed throughout the game. Pep ball was in full effect, blowing teams away and leaving opposing managers stumped with their efforts to counter. 

Which brings us to today and the arrivals of Kovacic, Gvardiol, and Doku. Personnel ELECTRIC in transition, oozing with pace and power while still retaining the key principles of possession and passing. Gvardiol, one of the very few defenders in world football that has the combined physicality, passing ability to initiate the attack, and pace and athleticism to get up/down the pitch to defend the counter. Kovacic, with his press-resistance and rare ability to drop his shoulder and breeze past his man. Doku, with his freakish explosiveness and deceptive technicality. A manager who prefers control.. targeting transition players. A new tactical wrinkle unfolding right before our very eyes - has pace returned back to the Etihad? Perhaps looking to get the best out of Haaland and the runs he can make? Fascinating. 

While other clubs attempt to emulate our formation and style from the past seasons.. Pep looks forward and is always one step ahead. It’s his desire to improve and evolve that sets him apart. Yesterday’s tactics are not todays. Instead of attempting to criticize or find reasons why it won’t work, enjoy the show and appreciate the opportunity to learn about what he’s trying to accomplish while we can. The principles of ‘p’ may evolve but Pep’s brilliance has us in good hands. 

Written by: SHEIKH