Five Things Pep Guardiola Must Do In The Days Ahead

The Premier
League is arguably one of the most watched league in Europe
if not the whole world at large due to the massive TV right (coverage) and the
level of organization as pitches are ever green in wait for kick-off of matches
at every match venue.

The Premier League this season will be more interesting
following the arrival of Pep Guardiola at the Etihad Stadium who
replaced Chilean Manager Manuel Pellegrini who managed to finish in the top four
(in the Champions leagues spot) with the help of Nigeria prodigy Kelechi
Iheanacho who equalized to make it 1-1 against Swansea City ensuring that
Guardiola work at city is not compounded.

With the arrival of the high profile
Coach (Guardiola) there is certainly some weight of expectations at the club as
the man have masterminded one of the best playing style in European football
with FC Barcelona. Now at the Etihad the new adventure begins for the Guardiola
and City fateful and certain things are to be done to ensure the manager lives
up to the expectation following a slender 2-1 win over bottom half side
Sunderland at the weekend.

On this we evaluate the five things the City coach
must tackle in his reign at the Etihad.

One of the
most pertinent issue at the club the young manager Pep Guardiola needs to
tackle as soon as possible is the position of Yaya Toure at the club. The
player (Yaya) and the Coach (Pep) are familiar quantity after previously
working alongside each other at former Spanish giants Barcelona.

Reports
indicates that the experienced midfield (Yaya Toure) did not enjoy a cordial
relationship with Guardiola which led to the player exit from Catalan giant to
the Etihad Stadium where he became a household name for the club and in African
(world) football. There is an immediate need for Guardiola to make a quick
assessment and decision about the central midfielder who have been a pioneer of
the club since his move from Catalan side Barcelona.

It may be gathered that
Guardiola segregated against Yaya Toure preferring Spanish ball reader and
midfield dynamite Sergio Busquets in a very partial circumstances when Yaya was
at the Catalan side. Guardiola must embrace a new beginning and integrate Yaya
into the Squad or let the player have a clue as regards to his position and
stand at the club as any form of uncertainty and misunderstanding may hamper
Guardiola and City challenge for the title this season.

The
Nigerian prodigy is causing a lots of tactical problems for his manager
starting from Manuel Pellegrini to the new manager at the helm in Pep
Guardiola. This is as a result of a players who have a special ability to
perform in different positions. It is arguably difficult to make an accurate
judgment in a haste as regards to Iheanacho’s position in a starting formation.

His ability to finish is beyond doubt as his composure in front of goal in the
midst of pressure is very commendable prompting his coaches (from Siasia
against Egypt to Guardiola at the moment) to think otherwise.

Last season
against AS Roma in Pre-Season in the 2-2 draw he delivered a well-tailored pass
characterized by vision and quality on the ball to set up Raheem Sterling to
make his scoring bow following a big move from Liverpool and the young lad scored
the second with precision and composure attached to it giving his new manager some
mind decision ahead of the new season following a goal poaching header against
the Gunners last week and Guardiola have all to do to find an answer to that as
season progresses.

The
talismanic manager who came following a two year productive campaign at German
Bundesliga Champions Bayern Munich have his work cut out to raise the level of
team ethics and understanding of his strategy and approach to a game.

The
former Barcelona Coach may have redefined football with an awesome playing
pattern in FC Barcelona that saw the Catalan side dominate top side like
Chelsea and arch-rival Real Madrid in big game in Europe.

With City not lacking
in talent Guardiola must develop a playing style and a suitable rhythms that
will suit his tactical ambitions going ahead in the new season. With or without
Yaya Toure City have enough talent in central area in the presence of David
Silva, Samir Nasri and Brazilian duo of Fernadinho and Fernando at his
disposal.

All the manager need is to make them blend and Man-City will become a
difficult side to come up against, though City fans must be patience as things
may be easier said than done in reality.

Guardiola’s
City have shown defensive vulnerability just as was evidence in the 3-2 defeat
to Arsene Wenger’s men recently in Pre-Season allowing the Walcott and Nigerian
duo of Alex Iwobi and impressive Chuba Akpom to find the back of the City’s net
after talismanic forward Sergio Aguero have given the Etihad side the lead
following an inviting cross into the box from the right.

The Manchester City
side are known to falter defensively and have been winning games based on
outscoring their opponent as City possess a strong fire power up rout in
Aguero, Kelechi and Kevin De Bruyne.

The time is now for Guardiola to find a
balance from his tactical book and avert further danger in the days ahead as
Jermaine Defoe capitalized from a poor marking in the box to equalizer for the
black cats (Sunderland). City must find a way to form a defensive unit from
their latest signing John Stones especially in the absence of Captain Vincent
Kompany if they are to remain in the hunt for the Premier League and other
titles this season.