Manchester City 3-1 West Ham Review

PREMIER LEAGUE

Notable Stats:

• Manchester City are the first side in English football history to win four consecutive top-flight titles. Beating two of the best second place finishers (Arsenal 23/24, Liverpool 21/22) along the way. Huddersfield Town (1923-26), Liverpool (1981-84), Arsenal (1932-35) and Manchester United (1998-01, 2006-09) are the only sides to have achieved three in a row.

• Manchester City have amassed 359 points in the last four seasons, that’s 49 more than any other team. Averaging 2.4 points per game, a win percentage of 73.7% in the Premier League and losing only 11.2% of them. Scoring 372 goals which is 49 more than anyone else. Conceding 125 which is 31 fewer than any other team during that time.

• Manchester City have won more high turnovers (417) than any other team in the Premier League this season, the highest total of goals from those turnovers (13). City becoming a better pressing team this season?

• This season has been the slowest movement of a Manchester City team towards the opposition goal, for an attacking sequence, during any season under Pep Guardiola.

• Manchester City’s record from March to the end of the season, for the last three seasons, reads 36GP 30W 5D 1L. The one loss coming at the end of the 22/23 season with the title wrapped up (Brentford away).

• Erling Haaland is the first player in Premier League history to win the golden boot back-to-back in his first two seasons.

MOTM: Phil Foden

Other standout performances include: Rodri, Bernardo Silva and Kevin De Bruyne

Phil Foden decided that Manchester City will win the Premier League with his involvement across the final third and working alongside Kevin De Bruyne in the middle of the pitch. A phenomenal season by him and we are only scratching the surface of his potential. Only strikers have more non-penalty goals in the Premier League and Europe’s T5 Leagues than Phil Foden this season.

Another moment awaits at Wembley.

Manchester City Thoughts

Here is how City lined up for this game and we mentioned in the preview that Pep could make one change to it. Knowing how tough breaking down a low block is, Mateo Kovacic sat this one out for Jeremy Doku.

Initially City were building up with a 2-3 shape as Walker/Gvardiol pushed up higher. Rodri was in the middle. De Bruyne and Foden in the two half spaces. Bernardo Silva and Jeremy Doku out wide.

For the first goal City quickly shifted the ball over to the right side, Walker running over and providing the overlap. Kevin De Bruyne pulls Paqueta with him which gives Foden just enough space to get a shot off after Bernardo Silva finds him. Incredible finish and a goal that settled fan’s nerves within two minutes.

For the second goal, Gvardiol does an excellent job of getting away from two West Ham players pressing him and finds Haaland. He then immediately puts Jeremy Doku through down the left side.

Phil Foden makes the run into the box and times it well to be free, calling for a pass along the way. Jeremy Doku provides that brilliant pass needed, between four different West Ham players to find Foden. First time finish into the goal.

Some small insight into next season with Jeremy Doku who get’s into these positions twice a match at least, if he get’s his shot timing and placement right since he strikes them normally very well then that’ll be a fair few more goals for him next season!

One tweak that City made in the second half was quite distinct, inverting Gvardiol into midfield and changing the buildup from a 2-3 shape to a 3-2. Having the three central defenders (including Walker) to deal with balls over the top and be prepared for any transitions. Gvardiol drawing Paqueta away from Rodri to free him up around the box.

Here is his touch map in the second half, completely different from what we are used to seeing from Gvardiol this season normally in a high and wide left back role.

For the third goal City worked the ball to De Bruyne on the right side, threading a pass into Bernardo Silva who layed it off to Rodri. Scoring a goal reminiscent of one in Istanbul.

You’ll also notice Gvardiol tucked in midfield next to Rodri. If Kudus and Paqueta pick up those two than that would leave Doku 1v1 at the back post.

I’ve included below the touch maps of Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden so you can see how freely those two move across the final third and get involved in the middle third to receive line breaking passes. Pulling the West Ham midfielders arounds all game long. That’s what everyone wanted to see at the start of the season and by the time the title run-in arrived, we got it. Leading City to the title.

Thanks to Mark Stats Bot for this graphic on Manchester City in/out of possession. Gvardiol and Walker key for the team pressing out wide. In possession Doku is given the left wing as they aim to get him the ball isolated in space. Foden and De Bruyne free to move across the central spaces in the final third. Gvardiol getting more advanced than Walker who is more like a RCB in a back three at times.

Final mention to both Bernardo Silva and Rodri who were fantastic in this game in different ways. Rodri the tempo controller, putting out counter attack fires, finding Foden between the lines and spraying passes out either side. Bernardo Silva the width on the right side, patient and controlled until the right moment to pick out Foden and lay it off to Rodri. This season has been career high for Bernardo with fifteen goal contributions and Rodri with seventeen in the league.

Thoughts on West Ham

Here is the starting eleven of West Ham against City and their average positions. Jarrod Bowen was out due to illness and Moyes opted to play a back five for the first time this season.

The goal scored by Kudus was one of the best finishes this entire season, it’s very hard to read too much into that on City mistakes or it being a brilliant team move by West Ham. But it make sure City woke up to the danger they were facing, if they weren’t able to finish their chances and kill the game.

Kudus continued throughout the first half to have success in his dribbles out wide and that’s part of why Gvardiol inverted into midfield during the second half. City then build up with a 3-2 and had the players back to slow down and control the transitions.

Rather than need to win the ball off Kudus, slow down his movement and crowd him out to force the turnover. Paqueta was the main way of West Ham finding Kudus or Emerson out wide but never got enough time to make any decisive passes to progress the team or find Antonio over the top. City made sure West Ham had now way out and pulled their midfield around with De Bruyne and Foden.

Manchester City Moving Forward

Manchester City are now Premier League winners for a fourth time in a row and included below is the final standings for this season. Only the game against Manchester United awaits at Wembley with a chance to become the first English team to win back-to-back doubles.

Erling Haaland leads the way for goal contributions with Phil Foden, player of the season, only slightly behind. Julian Alvarez made significant contributions in the first half of the season, as Guardiola said after the game “I will not forget Julian earlier in the season”. De Bruyne, Rodri, Bernardo and Doku all providing over 10 goal contributions across all competitions.

After the last match of the season against Manchester United, regardless of the result, the attention of City will turn to the transfer window and finding the motivation for next season. To evolve the team, fix any holes and bring in players hungry to win. To set their sights on an unprecedented five in a row.

Interesting Moments, News and Links

• Rodri on the mentality of Manchester City.

• To stay up to date with the Manchester City outfield players minutes, checkout our G Sheet here.

• Mark Stats Bot on City vs West Ham here.

• “Youngsters Jacob Wright, Mahamadou Susoho and True Grant are among the group lifting the trophy after being involved on the bench this season. Walker insists they go to the stage rather than watch from afar.” - Joe Bray

• Why Josko Gvardiol was pivotal for Manchester City’s fourth league title by Stefan Bienkowski here.

• Thread on Manchester City Premier League 23/24 trophy pictures here.

• Opta Analyst post on whether Manchester City are the greatest English team ever here.

• Pep Guardiola post match press conference here.

• Sky Blue Times Thread on Standout Player Stats this season here.

• Sky Blue Times Thread - Post Match Analysis here.

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