Pep Guardiola has suggested he focused on Newcastle United’s pressing game in order to unlock Eddie Howe’s defence at the Etihad Stadium.
Guardiola stated that Eddie Howe’s pressing game is the “best in the world” and he had to come up with a solution to combat it during the 4-0 win over the Magpies at the Etihad Stadium. Howe described the result as “painful” with the fixture essentially written off by half-time.
But it was a simple long pass from goalkeeper Ederson that exposed Newcastle’s centre-backs pushing too far up the field with the pace of Omar Marmoush exposing the space.
Guardiola said: “Men freeze when the keeper has the ball. And Newcastle defend really well and how aggressive they are with high pressing. And afterwards how tight and compact they can be deep. And we’ve saw in the past with the pace of Phil Foden, Omar and Erling maybe you can win the ball in that space and the ball comes into the position.
“Then it’s one against one with 30 or 40 metres. Eddie Howe is the best in the world in these type of situations. Look at Brighton when it was a one against one with Mitoma, and you win that duel, win the ball and you can do it.
“Ederson has done it before so when we defend right we can do it. But we need the pass and the movement, we need many things and today we have it.”
Guardiola was pushed further on his tactical game plan, but did not want to give too much away. He felt the game against Newcastle was also won in midfield with a player branded “mini Rodri” by some observers after the match doing the damage.
In 23-year-old £50million signing Nicolás González, Guardiola feels he has signed another star.
Guardiola said: “I won’t tell you the secret why because after that you will ask me why I didn’t do it before. I don’t know I think the presence of Nico, he won seven duels and the 50-50s, if you win seven you can do it. We bought an incredible player for the club.”
View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/pep-guardiola-brands-eddie-howe-31016166
