Password is dead? Premier League opponents find a cracking secret, why does Guardiola refuse to adapt

In the third round of the Premier League, Manchester City was reversed by Brighton 1-2 away and won two consecutive league losses. After only 3 points after the three rounds, the ranking fell to 13th place in the league - this is the first time since the 2004/05 season, Manchester City has lost two of the first three games in the first three games, and it is also the bleakest start since Guardiola coached the team.

From a 4-0 victory over Wolves in the first round to a successive loss to Tottenham and Brighton, Manchester City seems to be in a vicious circle of "getting the upper hand but not scoring". Although the ball control rate remains high, the ball control rate in this game is as high as 63%, and the number of shots is equal to that of the opponent or even the advantage, the number of times that really threaten the goal has shrunk significantly. Against Brighton, Manchester City only had three shots on the court, and in addition to Haaland's record goal, the offensive end was almost collectively silent. Although there are many passes, most of them are cross-border passes. "Holding the ball without shooting directly" has become the new label of this Manchester City team.

Guardiola's philosophy of transmission and control was once a weapon for him to conquer the football world. From Barcelona's "Dream 3" to Manchester City's dynasty, he has established a tactical system with pass control as the core and high-level pressing as the auxiliary with him. However, now, this set seems to be gradually being cracked by Premier League opponents. More teams choose to take the initiative to give up the ball, shrink the defense line, and use a quick counterattack to hit Manchester City behind. Passing and controlling is no longer a weapon to restrain opponents, but rather a burden to consume oneself.

More importantly, Manchester City's midfield core is missing. De Bruyne's departure not only took away assists and goals, but also took away the team's creativity and spiritual pillar. He is the initiator of the pass route, the key to breaking the deadlock, and the team's reassurance to maintain the rhythm in adversity. Although Rodri returned from injury, his responsibilities are more focused on defense, and it is difficult to fill the organizational vacancy left by De Bruyne. New players such as Serki, Marmush, etc. have not yet been integrated into the system and lack the same level of tactical control capabilities. Guardiola has always been known for his "tactical concept first" - he first built an ideal tactical framework, and then used it to select and execute personnel configuration. This persistence certainly helps the system continue, but it also reveals the lack of flexibility. Unlike coaches such as Ancelotti who are good at "just-to-eat food", Guardiola still finds it difficult to break out of the original thinking style when his staff is not in order and his core leaves the team, and his tactical changes are limited. After two consecutive losses, Guardiola publicly expressed his recognition of the players' attitude and execution, and did not seem to be fully aware of the crisis at the tactical level. But the reality is that Manchester City’s current problems are far from being solved by the “spirit of struggle”. What the team needs is system reconstruction, midfield restructuring, and diversification of offensive methods. After the international match day, Manchester City will usher in a series of tough battles, with opponents including Manchester United, Arsenal and Naples in the Champions League - at that time De Bruyne will return to Etihad as an opponent, which will undoubtedly be a symbolic showdown. The season has just begun and Manchester City still has time to adjust. But whether Guardiola is willing to temporarily put aside his obsession and actively seek changes will directly determine whether Manchester City can return to the championship track, and it also affects whether he can continue his legend in Etihad. There is never a shortage of genius on the altar, but what is lacking is the courage to reshape yourself in the wind and rain.