Pep Guardiola 'learns lesson' from Manchester City's win over West Ham

Last updated on 3 December 2017.From the section Man City146

Today was a big lesson for me - Guardiola

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola says the 2-1 win over West Ham showed him how to unlock packed defences that are "almost impossible" to break down.

For the second time in three matches, City came from behind to extend their winning run to 13 Premier League games.

Guardiola brought on Gabriel Jesus to partner Sergio Aguero in attack for the second half, with Kevin de Bruyne operating deeper in midfield.

"I learned to attack a bit differently," said Guardiola.

"Normally we don't play with two strikers and two wingers. Maybe to attack this kind of defence it is much better.

"They didn't want to play. When they lost the ball, they didn't press. They just went back with 10 players in the box. It has happened the last three games. It is almost impossible."

Last Sunday, City rallied to win 2-1 after conceding the opening goal at Huddersfield before netting a late winner against Southampton at home three days later.

In both those games, Raheem Sterling got the late goal but on Sunday it was David Silva who scored in the 83rd minute after Nicolas Otamendi cancelled out Angelo Ogbonna's goal for West Ham.

Victory meant Guardiola's side re-established their eight-point lead over Manchester United, who they play at Old Trafford on Sunday (16:30 GMT).

City's victory also equalled the longest winning run within a top-flight season, matching Sunderland and Preston (1891-92), Arsenal (2001-02) and Chelsea (2016-17).

'Good news' for City

Man City touches - first half (left) v second half (right) — Manchester City had many more touches in the West Ham box in the second half (right) following Gabriel Jesus' introduction at half-time

Argentina striker Aguero and Brazil forward Jesus have started just two games together since September, having combined more regularly in the season's opening games.

But Jesus' half-time introduction against West Ham in place of defender Danilo paid dividends and Guardiola seems likely to revisit the tactic.

"With two strikers in the box, we can play the same way, with the same patience and the same quality. It is good news for me in the future," he said.

"How we attacked in the second half was much better."

Guardiola is also adamant he is "preparing a team to win" this week's Champions League match against Shakhtar Donetsk, despite City having already qualified for the next stage and the Manchester derby being four days later.

"Hopefully no-one will have injuries. I said to the players the guy who doesn't want to play in Donetsk, let me know please," said the Spaniard.

"It is a big opportunity to win 18 points from 18 points. Kevin [de Bruyne] will have two or three days off, he is suspended. The best way to prepare for the United game is by playing good."

'A real chance' for West Ham

Moyes praises Hammers' effort and attitude

West Ham manager David Moyes was impressed with his side's performance against City and believes they have "a real chance" of avoiding relegation.

The Scot has only picked up one point since succeeding Slaven Bilic, and the Hammers remain second bottom of the table, three points from safety.

Moyes was particularly impressed with the "effort and energy" of his players as they held out for almost 60 minutes against one of the Premier League's most potent attacking sides.

The Hammers were defensively solid and threatened to score before and after the first-half lead given to them by Ogbonna - with Diafra Sakho firing wide in the dying minutes.

"We missed two good chances in the first half and had one right at the end," said Moyes.

"We tried to stay in the game and play on the counter attack. Defensively we did a great job.

"I always think we will get away [from the relegation zone]. I don't think we will be in trouble. I think we have a good team, good players.

"The only [game] that has been a disappointment was the Everton one."

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146 comments

Comment posted by nicolasturgeonshairdo, at 22:49 3 Dec 2017
You can’t expect City to blow every team away by 4 or 5. Winning dirty is part of a winning mentality, particularly against a defensively minded opposition.

And can City fans please stop whinging about other teams ‘parking the bus’ and not getting entertained. WHU don’t have to roll over and have their tummy tickled just because you want entertainment. Just get on with it.
Comment posted by User0457730473, at 02:00 4 Dec 2017
No lumping it up, Guardiola has kept his attacking principles after taking much stick.

I can understand some fans not liking City but surely all football fans prefer the attacking philosophy to bus parking
Comment posted by fonsboy, at 03:13 4 Dec 2017
For Gods sake start a Euro Super League . Let City , Chelsea , Utd join PSG ,Barca & RM let them all outspend each other . Get Sky out of P/L . Go back to the old way football was run . Teams like W.H. have no option but to pack their defenses .
Comment posted by whats gone wrong , at 00:53 4 Dec 2017
If fa decides to really clamp down on diving cant see man utd finishing many games with full team
Comment posted by Ironpot, at 05:42 4 Dec 2017
I know de Gea etc are better shot-stoppers but Ederson is outstanding in the role he’s been asked to play. He’s the embodiment of what Guardiola is looking to produce and, for my money, this is the biggest impact Guardiola has had on English football.
I dunno what he cost but his value to City is inestimable!
Comment posted by User0136233578, at 07:20 4 Dec 2017
32 ajh
Just keep crying kid. City don't even have the most expensive squad, that belongs to someone just outside of Manchester.
Comment posted by Taxi Driver, at 02:24 4 Dec 2017
So Brighton beat West ham 3-0, Everton beat them 4-0, Man City scrape a 2-1 and this means that Pep is some kind of tactical genius to play with two strikers? A well known tactic which has been happening for about 137 years?
Right.
Comment posted by Santiago, at 01:03 4 Dec 2017
Pep discovered throwing on another £35m to help the other £643m helped score a goal - the guys a genius.
Comment posted by nige31, at 00:18 4 Dec 2017
AS for 4. Posted by kennerz - what a bunch of crap. Did you actually watch the games or have your united mates just told you so - do'nt forget you have the real 10 out of 10 diver in Ashley Young.
Comment posted by User0375399909, at 07:00 4 Dec 2017
Not a dig at just City, as Chelski have done it, Man Utd before them and even back to Blackburn, but when you have the most money and you can buy the best players to have that unfair advantage, how do the rest compete? They can’t go toe to toe as the better players will win. They have to defend and try the counter attack. Look at the bench, most £50m players while WHU had 4 Under 21’s..it’s a joke
Comment posted by D1710948867274, at 08:41 4 Dec 2017
You expect teams like West Ham to play like that against City, ! however Utd last 2 games have played similar albeit far better on the counter, however if we listen to Bourinhio and another no mark Shearer, who both said Utd were brilliant defending on Saturday, LOL, 33 shots on goal! a record number of saves by Degea, great defending Juve v Barca CL Buffon made 2/3 saves thats defending
Comment posted by stevie d, at 09:01 4 Dec 2017
Sky should sack Martin Tyler he is so anti City it’s unbelievable..did you hear him you cannot keep winning 2-1 ..why not you moron ..you could hear there disappointment when silva scored...I thought bt was bad a couple of years ago but Sky is following suit
Comment posted by KINKLADZE MCFC, at 12:44 4 Dec 2017
City fan here , for me we are winning games that last season we would have drawn or lost , teams now just barricade themselves up , West Ham had a go and could have sneaked one at the end yesterday, will be a tough match at the weekend no doubt, if we can beat Utd think its game over ill be happy with a draw .
Comment posted by livingmercerway, at 08:45 4 Dec 2017
The Ancient Greeks considered envy to be the most authentic of compliments and a spur to exceed not just realise potential. Ditto City, it seems.
Keep it coming, Reds!
Comment posted by Tasred, at 00:38 4 Dec 2017
@Gilly Agree particularly about the moaning over teams parking the bus. Most teams do not have the resources or quality of City and aim to stay in the Premier League to improve over time. If I was a manager with not even 10% of the quality they have (ie most of the PL) I would not be aiming to get beaten 5-0. Possibly nicking a draw or even a win is the goal. You can't draw or win from 4-0 down.
Comment posted by Mario, at 07:42 4 Dec 2017
So many English fans used to say that the Premier League is the best because teams play open games, do not defend with 10 defenders, always try to win, never do any time wasting etc etc, what do they say now that ALL TEAMS PLAYING AGAINST CITY PLAY VERY CLOSED GAMES, PLAY WITH 10 DEFENDERS, DO A LOT OF TIME WASTING, AND DO NOT PLAY TO WIN?
Comment posted by User0593293414, at 09:02 4 Dec 2017
It is risible that people are still mocking Pep despite what he’s done so far this season. If you can’t see that he’s doing brilliantly then I can’t understand you. Money doesn’t buy this. It helps, of course, but lots of clubs spend big. You still have to make it work.
Comment posted by Broftech, at 09:13 4 Dec 2017
The people attacking Pep are either United fans (which i am) who outnof blind allegiance to boring Mourinho must do so...or are EPL fanatics who claimed Pep and Barca would never hack it in the ' best league' in the world. Face it bravery and passing beat bus parking and long balls.
Comment posted by Ruffshank Dufflebonk, at 09:49 4 Dec 2017
@74. Whats funny is a united fan talking about diving.
@72. So lets push City and Chelsea out, that leaves united , but they had 3 sugar daddies over the years so lets push them out ? Oh, that leaves Arsenal ? No they were saved by a sugar daddy years ago. I know Liverpool, no, the moores family. Everton ? No, same. Spurs ? No, sugar Sugar daddy. Bolsover ? No they had a bigger bucket collection.
Comment posted by PeteD, at 09:14 4 Dec 2017
His best signing has been the keeper.

Gives the back four more confidence and that spreads through the side.