Soccer: I have the attributes of Messi in his Prime

Chapter 502: Visiting the Calderón Stadium, Guardiola's Gamble

It wasn't just Real Madrid's youth players and women's team who came to watch Manchester City train; even some of the club's staff were curious and came to watch as well.

After all, Manchester City was dazzling in European football at this time.

With a lineup boasting stars like Lin Quan, De Bruyne, Agüero, and Kroos, and having won back-to-back Champions League titles—becoming the first team to do so since the competition's format changed—they had just completed a Premier League three-peat, establishing a City dynasty.

Such a top-tier team was naturally bound to attract attention.

Real Madrid, of course, was no exception. Plus, there was a chance they might face Barcelona in the final, so watching City's training allowed them to admire the talent while also gathering some intel—two birds with one stone.

Guardiola was a bit exasperated by the whole situation. If he had known, he might have rented Getafe's training ground instead.

But compared to Real Madrid, teams like Getafe and Rayo Vallecano were much more modest clubs. Their training facilities couldn't compare, which might affect the quality of City's preparation.

As a former Barcelona player, Guardiola had no affection for Real Madrid. He was certain that Madrid felt the same about him.

Oh well, let them watch. Guardiola wasn't planning on revealing anything new for the match against Atlético. They'd just stick to their usual tactics from the Premier League and Champions League.

The three-defensive-midfielder formation they had used last time wasn't in the cards this time, as City planned to play counter-attacking football.

Contrary to what Guardiola expected, Real Madrid's attitude towards him was surprisingly friendly.

Florentino Pérez, Real Madrid's president, had even considered bringing both Guardiola and Lin Quan to Madrid at one point. Unfortunately, due to various reasons, that plan never materialized.

Now that they'd witnessed Guardiola and Lin Quan's spectacular success in the Premier League and Champions League, no club could resist the temptation of trying to lure them.

Real Madrid was not only lacking in top players, but they also needed a top coach. While Zidane was doing well, he hadn't quite met Madrid's high expectations yet.

After all, Real Madrid was desperate for their 10th Champions League trophy.

And judging by how Zidane was leading the team, achieving that goal seemed difficult.

So even though Guardiola carried a strong "Barcelona label," if he could bring trophies to Madrid, they'd happily hire him with a hefty paycheck.

However, even if Real Madrid wanted him, Guardiola was unlikely to agree. There were plenty of good teams in the top five leagues; he didn't need to go to Madrid and get criticized.

He remembered the backlash when Figo transferred from Barcelona to Real Madrid—Guardiola had witnessed it firsthand.

When Figo returned to the Camp Nou, Barcelona fans even threw a pig's head at him.

And that was just Figo—a player who wasn't even from Barcelona's La Masia academy. Guardiola, on the other hand, was a product of La Masia, had captained Barcelona for four years, and was one of the club's greatest midfielders.

If he ever coached Madrid, who knows how the Barcelona fans would react!

Even ignoring the fans' feelings, Guardiola himself had no fondness for Madrid. The president was too controlling and often interfered with the coach's work, treating firing coaches like an everyday affair.

On top of that, Madrid had impossibly high expectations. They not only wanted results but also demanded beautiful football that fit the club's aristocratic image.

Guardiola preferred to keep his distance from such clubs.

...

While Manchester City was preparing seriously, Atlético Madrid's manager, Diego Simeone, was racking his brains trying to figure out how to beat City at home.

The 1-4 scoreline from the first leg was a crushing blow to Atlético, but they weren't willing to give up without a fight.

Even though their chances of turning it around were slim, the team still wanted to give it a try.

After all, they were only two matches away from lifting the Champions League trophy.

If they missed this opportunity, who knew when they might get another chance?

Atlético wasn't a true footballing powerhouse, and in a world where the biggest clubs could buy up all the best talent, there was no guarantee they'd be able to hold onto their key players.

So, Simeone valued this chance immensely.

"In the last match, City's defense in the middle was incredibly strong. Their three-defensive-midfield setup created an impenetrable wall in front of the backline. The two defensive midfielders covered the entire midfield, and our passing game just couldn't break through," Simeone explained to his assistant coaches as they reviewed the tactical board, highlighting both teams' positioning during attacks and defenses from the previous match.

According to the post-match heatmaps and possession statistics, City hadn't played their traditional possession-based style.

Instead, they had deliberately dropped their formation deeper, reducing the space in midfield and defense, and denying Atlético the chance to hit them with quick counter-attacks.

It had worked perfectly. Atlético struggled to create any meaningful attacks in the previous match. Their strength, fast counter-attacks after winning the ball, was effectively nullified.

Simeone was worried that Guardiola might employ the same tactic in this match.

Given how well it worked before and the fact that City had a three-goal lead, it seemed likely that Guardiola would stick with the same formation and strategy.

If that was the case, Atlético would need to figure out how to break through City's three-midfielder system.

Sticking to their usual counter-attacking approach wouldn't work. They needed to improve their ability to create chances in open play, diversify their attacking options, and find a way to unlock City's defense.

But for someone like Simeone, a master of defensive tactics, improving the team's attacking play was a tough challenge.

After much thought, Simeone decided to focus on defending to create attacking opportunities. He had a few ideas on how to do that.

...

On May 4th, at the Calderón Stadium, the second leg of the Champions League semi-final between Atlético Madrid and Manchester City kicked off at 5:45 PM with the referee's whistle.

To the surprise of many, including Simeone and other observers, Guardiola didn't stick with the formation from the previous match. Instead, he reverted to a more conventional approach.

City lined up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, with Agüero as the striker. Lin Quan and David Silva played as wingers, with De Bruyne in the attacking midfield role.

In midfield, it was the familiar duo of Kanté and Kroos. The backline was composed of Zabaleta, Kompany, Van Dijk, and Clichy.

This formation increased City's attacking threat but weakened their defensive solidity.

With one fewer defensive midfielder, the midfield was less solid.

However, De Bruyne's inclusion boosted City's offensive capabilities, making their attack much more dangerous.

Additionally, Zabaleta and Clichy were full-backs who could contribute to both attack and defense. Their strong offensive play meant they could support the attack when needed.

Seeing Guardiola use such an attacking lineup away from home, many onlookers thought he was being a bit overconfident.

Despite City's large lead, this was still Atlético's home ground, and City should have been more cautious.

The 4-2-3-1 formation isn't particularly defensive. It's balanced between attack and defense, and some might argue it leans more toward attacking football.

This formation relies on the two central midfielders to start attacks, with the full-backs pushing forward to join in. This leaves the defense vulnerable, especially during transitions from attack to defense.

With the midfielders involved in the attack, there's often a large gap between them and the two center-backs, which opponents can exploit.

If the full-backs also push forward, it leaves the flanks exposed, making it easy for the opponent to either cross from wide areas or cut inside and shoot.

To prevent this, the midfielders need to have excellent stamina, positioning, and awareness to avoid getting caught out of position during transitions.

Typically, such roles are filled by tall, strong box-to-box midfielders, like Yaya Touré or former Spurs player Paulinho.

But Manchester City didn't have players like that in their current lineup.

Kanté wasn't a box-to-box player, and his stature didn't fit the bill either.

Kroos was great at controlling the ball but lacked the physicality for intense defensive battles. He wasn't an all-around midfielder.

In short, Guardiola seemed to be forcing this tactic without having the right players for it.

Was he taking too big a risk?

Realizing this, many Atlético fans, including Simeone, began to sense hope.

Using such a flawed strategy against a team that excelled at pressing high up the pitch seemed like asking for trouble.

Simeone had to control his excitement, hiding his eagerness so as not to give anything away to Guardiola.

If Guardiola realized his mistake and adjusted City's approach, Atlético wouldn't have such a great opportunity.

In the commentary box, CCTV's broadcast team included guest commentator Gong Lei, alongside regulars He Wei and Xu Yang.

"Coach Gong, you played as a midfielder in your career. Based on your experience, why do you think Guardiola has set up the team like this away from home?" asked He Wei, directing the question to their guest.

Gong Lei confidently responded, "I think Guardiola is using this match as preparation for the final."

Xu Yang, always the supportive co-commentator, chimed in, "That makes sense. With such a big lead, it's logical to test out other tactics and gain experience for the final."

"But isn't that risky? Atlético is strong, especially at home. City hasn't secured the tie yet. What if this backfires and they end up losing?" He Wei questioned, voicing concerns shared by many fans watching from home.

"Yes, it's risky, but I don't think we need to worry too much. After all, City has Lin Quan, a top player. And Guardiola isn't the type to stubbornly stick with something if it's not working. If things go wrong, he'll adjust quickly," Gong Lei explained, clearly holding Guardiola in high regard.

Having played in midfield himself and with coaching experience, Gong Lei understood how difficult it was to excel in both roles.

Yet, Guardiola had done just that, both as a player and as a manager, all while pioneering the tiki-taka possession style of play.

Even now, Guardiola was continually refining his approach, constantly seeking perfection. His dedication and talent were admirable.

Besides, City had a three-goal advantage. Even with some defensive vulnerabilities, their strong attack could more than compensate. As long as they scored more than Atlético, it didn't matter if they conceded a few goals—they'd still advance.

As the match kicked off, Atlético, fueled by the support of their fans, launched fierce attacks on City.

Just minutes into the game, Fernando Torres got a shot off, though it sailed over the bar and into the stands.

Nevertheless, the home crowd cheered enthusiastically.

"Atlético's morale looks high!"

From the sidelines, Guardiola looked relaxed, even taking a moment to comment on Atlético's offense.

Torres wasn't the player he once was, but his instincts in front of goal were still sharp.

Though the shot missed, it had been his best option—waiting any longer would've closed the window to shoot.

But if this was the extent of Atlético's attack, Guardiola didn't think they'd have much success breaking through City's defense.

However, City's defensive issues became evident once they began their own attacking play.

(End of Chapter)

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