Analysing Manchester City’s defensive strategies under Pep Guardiola

Although Manchester City has a reputation for having a strong defence under Pep Guardiola, the 2024/2025 campaign has witnessed a discernible drop.

This season, goals against per 90 minutes (GA90) rank at 1.21 – a considerable increase compared to 0.87 in the 2023/24 season. The squad is giving up more goals and this rise implies that opponents are creating more scoring chances, especially when it comes to fast breaks and crosses.

However, Manchester City’s defence has been severely hampered by injuries. Rodri’s ACL injury has kept him out for the entire season, making things much more difficult to switch from defence to attack due to instability in midfield. The depth of the team has been further decreased by the absence of others, including Oscar Bobb, Manuel Akanji, and Jack Grealish.

This has also allowed bettors to take advantage when wagering against Manchester City, particularly those looking for bonus codes, like the 1xBet promo code for instance. But to help you understand what Pep Guardiola has been going through, it is best to analyse everything as thoroughly as possible.

Tactical Strategies and Challenges

Pep Guardiola’s approach, which aims to control games and induce errors, is based on a high defensive line and heavy press. These strategies haven’t worked as well this season, though.

Due to injuries that have limited the defence’s quickness, opponents have taken advantage of the high line with long balls and swift counter-attacks. It is clear that Manchester City struggle with crosses as opponents complete 33% of such plays – the most in six seasons – resulting in open play and set piece goals.

One of the clearest examples is the 0–4 loss to Tottenham in November. Despite controlling the ball, City crashed and conceded four, as Spurs took advantage of counter-attacks. This game was City’s biggest downfall, demonstrating the team’s incapacity to successfully defend crosses and their susceptibility to quick transitions.

Seasonal Defensive Performance

We use statistical comparisons to estimate Manchester City’s defensive deterioration. City’s goals against per 90 minutes (GA90) during the 2023/24 campaign was 0.87, which made them a strong defence that gave up fewer goals.

On the other hand, as of March 19, 2025, the 2024/25 season has a GA90 of 1.21 – a rise in goals given up. Goalkeeping data supports their defensive struggles as well. Ederson’s save percentage decreased from 70.7% in 2023/2024 to 69.6% in 2024/2025.

This basically means that the Brazilian is facing more or better shots. Additionally, the defence is under strain as shown with less clean sheets, which have dropped from 10 in 33 games last season to just seven in 28 games this season.

Additional measures show more difficulties. In the Premier League, the squad has conceded the third-highest average of 8.7 shots per game this season, up from a low of 6.2 under Pep Guardiola’s tenure. Of these shots, 74% have been in the penalty area. Only two clubs in the league allow more goals from inside their own six-yard box, which exacerbates this weakness.

Impact of Key Injuries

One of the main causes of City’s defensive problems has been injuries. Due to his significance in controlling midfield and starting assaults from deep, Rodri’s ACL problem has kept him out of action for the season – a devastating setback. Due to instability caused by his absence, the squad has found it challenging to make a seamless transition from defence to attack.

Other noteworthy absences include Jack Grealish who has been away due to a groin injury, Oscar Bobb out until late February due to recovery from a leg bone fracture, while the likes of Rúben Dias and Nathan Aké have also missed games.

This injury list, as detailed in recent updates, has forced Pep Guardiola to rely on less experienced players including the likes of Jahmai Simpson-Pusey and Rico Lewis in a multitude of roles, further straining the defensive structure.