One of Pep Guardiola’s recipes to success at Manchester City, Bayern Munich and Barcelona has been how he has tweaked his tactics season after season to remain successful.
Even during the previous campaign, the Manchester City boss deployed a midfield diamond consistently at the start of the season in what seemed to be the next evolution of his approach.
However, City’s persistent injury problems coupled with several players underperforming meant Guardiola could not stick to the tactic at the time.
During the FIFA Club World Cup, Pep Guardiola will be conducting tactical experiments to determine what the next iteration of his team should look like.
Guardiola hopes to win the Premier League in the following campaign and one way he could do so is by potentially taking rival managers like Arne Slot and Mikel Arteta by surprise with how he sets up.
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images
Pep Guardiola could play no wingers at Man City next season
Manchester City are confident about signing Rayan Cherki, a player who could potentially dictate Pep Guardiola’s tactical approach next season as it seems like he could line up with no natural wingers for the most part.
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Jack Grealish is set to leave Manchester City and the Englishman’s possible exit would mean only Jeremy Doku and Savinho would be the natural wide forwards on their books.
A chunk of City’s attacking options could consist of players who are best suited playing in central positions, which includes three attacking midfielders in Cherki, Foden and Oscar Bobb and one second striker in Omar Marmoush.
During the 2023/2024 season in particular, Pep Guardiola deployed Foden as an inside forward; a move that was made possible by Josko Gvardiol holding the width down the left flank.
In the summer, Manchester City have made Tino Livramento a priority target while the Sky Blues have enquired about signing another high-flying full-back like Rayan Ait-Nouri, according to Fabrizio Romano.
🚨🔵 Understand Manchester City have asked for deal conditions for Rayan Aït-Nouri at Wolves.
He’s high on the list for left back position with contacts expected to continue. pic.twitter.com/W0eo0HrYSn
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 26, 2025
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With Doku and Savinho still finding themselves at the Etihad Stadium but City always being in the hunt to win trophies in the here and now, all signs point towards Pep Guardiola not giving his two widemen much of a chance.
In the past, Guardiola has employed such a tactic but only to get the best one out of his two widemen, be it Foden or Bernardo Silva but he could take a full-throttle approach with his tactic next season.
How Man City could line up next season
Even at the backend of last season, Manchester City boss Guardiola switched to a 4-2-2-2 approach and played Marmoush and James McAtee up front while tasking Gvardiol and Matheus Nunes to push on at times.
Diogo Costa is targeted by Manchester City and he could potentially replace Ederson in goal, with a back four of Livramento, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol and Ait-Nouri possibly lining up in front of him.
In midfield, Rodri could be accompanied by Tijjani Reijnders and Cherki, with Foden and Marmoush playing as inside forwards and Erling Haaland leading the line for a potentially new-look City side.