Pundit says to even suggest Pep Guardiola ‘ruined’ one Man City star is ridiculous

Redaction Simon Brett with Srinivas Sadhanand
Published on 2024-04-23 09:30:00

Pat Nevin argues that the idea that Pep Guardiola has “ruined” a Manchester City player is inaccurate, especially in the case of attacking players like Raheem Sterling. Nevin points out that Guardiola has actually improved Sterling’s game by coaching him to take up better positions inside the box, making him a more clinical goalscorer. Nevin believes that Guardiola’s coaching has had a positive impact on many attacking players, despite criticisms of restricting their freedom on the pitch.

Nevin specifically focuses on Jack Grealish’s performances under Guardiola, disputing the notion that the legendary coach has stifled Grealish’s creativity. Nevin highlights Grealish’s tendency to play cautiously and pass backwards instead of taking risks and beating defenders, pointing out instances where Grealish missed opportunities to go at the opposition. Nevin encourages Grealish to rediscover his attacking mindset and take more chances on the ball to unlock his full potential.

Nevin’s analysis of Grealish’s performances and Guardiola’s coaching style challenges the narrative that Guardiola limits players’ freedom and creativity. By highlighting the contrasting roles of Grealish and other players like Jeremy Doku in Guardiola’s system, Nevin suggests that each player has a specific role to play based on their strengths and tactics. Nevin argues that Grealish must play to his strengths and take more risks to fully utilize his abilities, rather than conforming to a more cautious style of play.

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