Manchester City FC analysis from season 2015/16 before the game against Watford (Premier League Round 20).
https://josesilvacaparros.wordpress.com/2015/12/31/manchester-city-fc-scouting-report/
2. GENERAL INFORMATION
Index
ATTACK DEFENSE
ATTACKING PHASE
PREVIOUS RESULT
ATTACKING SET PIECES
STRONG AREAS
DEFENSIVE PHASE
TRANSITION ATACK-
DEFEND
WEAK AREAS
DEFENSIVE SET PIECES
PRESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION
PROBABLE LINE UP
LAST LINE UP
TRANSITION ATACK-
DEFEND
Game 14. Manchester United FC. Season 2015/16
TECHNICAL STAFF
PLAYERS
GENERAL ATK/DEF CHARACTERISTICS
DESCRIPTIVE INFORMATION
ESTADISTICSGENERAL DATA
ROSTER
4. General Data
Club Name: Manchester City FC
Web: https://www.mcfc.com
Uniforms:
Stadium: Eithad Stadium
Dimensions: 105 x 68 m
Grass: Grass
Capacity: 55,097 persons
5. Previous Results
GAME HOME TEAM RESULT AWAY TEAM
Manchester City 4-2 Borussia M.Gladbach
16 Manchester City 2-1 Swansea
17 Arsenal 2-1 Manchester City
18 Manchester City 4-1 Sunderland
19 Leicester 0-0 Manchester City
20 Watford Manchester City
21 Everton Manchester City
22 Norwich Manchester City
POS TEAM GP W T L GF GA PTS
3 Manchester City 19 11 3 5 37 20 36
9. Technical Staff
Head Coach: Manuel Pellegrini
Previous Teams:
Ruben Cousillas Fuse
Assistant Coach
Xabier Mancisidor
Goalkeeper Coach
Jose Cabello
Training physiologist
Brian Kidd
Assistant Manager
10. Name: Joe Hart
Height: 1.96 m
Position: Goalkeeper
Name: Gael Clichy
Height: 1.77 m
Position: LB
Name: Nicolas Otamendi
Height: 1.83 m
Position: DC
Name: Willy Caballero
Height: 1.85 m
Position: Goalkeeper
Players
• Right Footed
• Great one on ones, and
handling abilities.
• Weak with the ball in his
feet.
• Right only footed
• Great communication ,
positioning, and reflexes.
• Weak aerial game, and
with the ball in his feet.
• Right only footed
• Great physical condition,
and aerial game.
• Weak technique.
• Left footed
• Great speed conditions,
and stamina.
• Weak aerial game.
11. Name: Vicent Kompany
Height: 1.93 m
Position: DC/DM
Name: Eliaquim Mangala
Height: 1.87m
Position: DC
Name: Bacary Sagna
Height: 1.81 m
Position: RB
Name: A. Kolarov
Height: 1.87 m
Position: LB/ML
Players
• Left Footed
• Great set pieces, and long
shots.
• Weak heading.
• Right footed
• Great aerial game, mental,
and defending abilities.
• Left footed
• Great aerial game, strength
and work rate.
• Weak technical abilities
with the ball.
• Right footed
• Great pace, and stamina.
• Weak crossing.
12. Players
• Right Footed
• Great tackling, and
workrate.
• Weak aerial game.
Name: Fabian Delph
Height: 1.74 m
Position: CM
Name: Fernandinho
Height: 1.76 m
Position: CM
Name: Samir Nasri
Height: 1.77m
Position: AMC/AMR/AML
• Either footed
• Great stamina, balance,
and work rate.
• Weak aerial game.
• Right footed
• Great technique, and work
rate.
• Consistent performer.
• Weak aerial game.
• Either footed
• Great technical abilities,
and passing.
• Selfish player.
• Weak aerial game.
Name: Pablo Zabaleta
Height: 1.77 m
Position: RB/MR
13. Name: Kevin De Bruyne
Height: 1.81 m
Position: AMR/RB
Name: David Silva
Height: 1.70 m
Position: AMC/AMR/AML
Name: Raheem Sterling
Height: 1.94 m
Position: CM/AM
Players
• Right Footed
• Great dribbling,
technique, passing, and
speed abilities.
• Weak physical conditions,
and aerial game.
• Left footed
• Great vision, passing, and
technical abilities.
• Weak aerial game, and
defending abilities.
• Either footed
• Great stamina, passing,
and technique.
• Weak aerial game, and
positioning.
• Right footed
• Great acceleration,work
rate, and dribling.
• Weak aerial game.
Name: Jesus Navas
Height: 1.70 m
Position: AMD
14. Players
• Right Footed
• Great passing,
physical conditons.
• Consistent performer
Name: Sergio Aguero
Height: 1.72 m
Position: STC/AMC
Name: Wilfried Bony
Height: 1.82 m
Position: STC/AMC
• Either footed
• Great acceleration, balance,
finishing, move off ball and
technique.
• Weak positioning, teamwork
and aerial game.
• Right footed
• Great physical conditions,
move off the ball, and
finishing.
• Weak dribbling, and
positioning.
Name: Yaya Toure
Height: 1.88 m
Position: CM/AMC
20. Defensive Phase
1-Start of Pressure:
In defensive phase, MCI transform its formation
1-4-2-3-1 in a 1-4-4-2. MCI uses an intermediate
pressing, leaving at rival team start the
possession with its DC.
When the ball is near to half line, the two STC
press to rival DC. The midfielder line move
forward, covering the pass line in the middle.
Forcing the mistakes, or forcing the long ball to
the rival team. The defensive line keep its
position to avoid ball to their backs (slow DC)
and using offside trap,. Also, MCI trust in the
great aerial game conditions from its defenders
center(Kompany, Mandanda, Otamendi).
Apparition of space between defensive line, and
midfielder line. Fernandinho is in charge to cover
this zone recovering its position after a long ball.
21. Defensive Phase
2-Destruction of creation:
When the rival team gets to overcome the pressure.
MCI keeps its 1-4-4-2 formation delaying their
positions, until to have 8 players behind the ball
(Defensive line, Midfielder line). The two STC keep
in advanced positions waiting for defense-attack
transition.
The midfielder line uses a positioning in half moon.
That means the wing in the opposite flank of the
ball keep his position a little forward looking for
defense-attack transition.
22. Defensive Phase
3-Defense of Goal:
In defense of goal, MCI defends with 8 players
in zone 1. One CM (normally Fernandinho) is
in charge to join with the defensive line in
case of cross (to create superiority in the box),
or to make coverage if one of the DC leaves
his position.
The defensive line defend in zone within
penalty box. The rest of players from the
midfielder line stay in second ball zone
making defensive surveillance.
In the case DC does not leave his position, CM
continue in his position avoiding the
opponent progression.
23. Defensive Transition Phase
Defensive Reorganization:
The MCI defensive reorganization is based on
intense pressure after ball loss if the team
made a long possession in the opponent half,
allowing to have a good amount of players in
the opponent half and making attacking
surveillance.
In the case the opponent team gets to
overcome the pressure, one defender form
the defensive line delays the opponent ball
progression, while the other defenders drop
their positions, and the midfielders try to
drop behind the ball, changing the team
formation in a 1-4-4-2.
If MCI does not have enough player to start a
pressure in opponent field, they drop their
positions making a intermediate pressure (1-
start of pressure).
26. Defensive Frontal Free Kick
2 players in zone
5 players in man marking 1 in second ball zone
27. Attacking Phase
1-Start Game:
The game model is combinative game as
preference, through short passes and long
possession in opponent half. MCI uses a 1-4-
2-3-1 formation in attacking phase. The two
CM have a lot of importance in this phase.
One of them come to receive the ball from
the DC, and to overcome the opponent
forward line.
When the middle pass line is cover for the
opponent. The AML and AMD have freedom
to come to receive the ball, and to support
to the CM. This provoke an automatic
movement form the LB, or RB moving
forward its position. Thus MCI gets
amplitude in its game. In this case David
Silva comes to receive the ball, and Kolarov
move forward his position.
28. Attacking Phase
2-Creation Game :
In creation game phase, The three attacking
midfielders and the striker have freedom
to move, and change their position but
always leaving the flanks for the LB and RB.
Yaya Toure is an important piece in this
phase. He has freedom to move forward his
position, and the another CM will cover the
space that Toure leaves.
MCI try to find its attacking midfielders and
STC. When they get to connect with one of
them, the LB or RB will move forward his
position, making break uncheck to the
opponent backs
29. Attacking Phase
3-Finishing:
In finishing zone, The MCI leave freedom to its
players taking advantage of individual skills, or
long shot opportunities.
Also, a common type of MCI game in finishing
zone is when LB or RB wins deep line to cross the
ball. When this happens, the MCI mechanism is
two players inside the box, the AM opposite to
the ball flank move to his side waiting for a bad
cross, and two player in second game zone (Yaya
Toure one of them).
30. Attacking Transition Phase
Reorganization Offensive:
When MCI recover the ball try to pass the ball to one of the
STC. Who will keep the ball allowing the MCI
reorganization (1-4-4-2 changes in 1-4-2-3-1).
LB and RB go up their position, creating amplitude in MCI
game.
AML and AMD move up their position to create space for
the LB and RB.
One of CM (Toure) make support uncheck to be pass option
for their teammates. The another CM keep his position,
making surveillance in case of loss ball during this phase.
Counterattack:
The counterattack is a option in MCI game after a ball
recuperation, but normally it is not very common,
preferring the ball possession.
Both STC is the initiator for counterattack. When MCI use in
defensive phase 1-4-4-2. Strikes keep forward their position
waiting for DEF-ATK transition.
If the ball arrive to the STC without marking, the
counterattack is an option, taking advantage of the STC
speed. AML or AMR is incorporated to the play.
39. Recommendations
GENERAL CHARACTERISTIC OF ATTACK ORGANIZATION PHASE
Positional Combinative Attack like game model. Through short pass and playing
with width. MCI cares the tempo with ball. Dangerous in set pieces.
In creation zone, fast progression with support uncheck in the middle zone.
Freedom movement for the attacking players. The flanks are for LB and RB.
RB/LB move forward to create amplitude and depth. Freedom of individual
skills or long shot when the ball arrive to zone 4.
CHARACTERISTIC OF ATTACKING TRANSITION
STC are in charger to the offensive transition. Keeping the ball waiting for team
repositioning.
The offensive transition is in block looking for a good balance between line to
keep the possession in the opponent half.
Amplitude from RB/LB. AML/AMR move inside to create spaces in the flanks, and
support in the middle.
GENERAL CHARACTERISTIC OF DEFENSIVE ORGANIZATION PHASE
Team change its formation in 1-4-4-2, with intermediate block and leaving start
the game to the opponent. Good set pieces defend(Great aerial game
conditions).
When ball arrive close to half line, intense pressure from strikes line, and
midfielders line. Defenders line keeps their positions playing offside trap.
In case to ineffective pressure. Team drops in block to its field, positioning 8
players behind the ball, and two strikes waiting for DEF-ATK transition.
CHARACTERISTIC OF DEFENSIVE TRANSITION
High pressure and high intensity when they lose the ball after long possession in
opponent half (Good attacking surveillance).
Pressure from players close to ball active zone with the objective to avoid the
ball progression, forcing the aerial game situation, and allowing the defensive
repositioning.
Drop when the pressure is inefficient, hindering the opponent progression and
allowing the defensive reorganization until an intermediate block.