Manchester Metropolis supervisor Pep Guardiola admitted that his defensive ways in opposition to made him “undergo” as a result of that isn’t the way in which he likes to play – Metropolis had simply 32.8% possession yesterday, the bottom they’ve had below Guardiola, and the bottom he has overseen in his any of his 601 top-flight matches as a supervisor.
The Spaniard put it all the way down to fatigue and Arsenal’s attacking capacity however it is also seen because the early indicators of a steadily growing development in Metropolis’s recreation, approaching the again of a derby win over , by which Metropolis had simply 43.3% of possession.
Commercial
Solely twice of their 5 league video games this season have Metropolis topped 60% possession, a mean they’ve surpassed in each season since Guardiola took cost. In two-thirds of these campaigns, the determine has been over 65%.
Final season’s, Metropolis’s common possession was 61.6%, their lowest determine but below Guardiola. Even so, it was the most effective determine of any Premier League crew, because it has been in yearly of the Spaniard’s reign. In 2017-18, their common of 71.7% was virtually 10% greater than another aspect.
However in 2025-26, Metropolis lie eighth within the possession charts, with a relatively measly 52.4%.
“We do not need it, however generally it occurs. Okay, one time in 10 years just isn’t dangerous, proper?” mentioned Guardiola yesterday, however Metropolis’s grip on dominating video games is exhibiting indicators of loosening.
[BBC]