Discover Pep's revolutionary 2-4-4 system and use it to dominate in Football Manager 2024.
Recreate Pep Guardiola's game-changing 2025/26 Man City tactic in Football
Manager 2024
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The 24/25 season was, arguably, the worst season in Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City reign as his team finished below 2nd for the first time since 2016/17 - additionally, his City team also went without major silverware in a season for the first time since 2016/17 too.
In what was a, comparatively, poor season, City fans certainly had glimpses of
hope to hold on to as their team’s late-season form crucially guided them to
Champions League football once again. A major reason for this impressive
late-season form was thanks to a key tactical tweak made by Pep Guardiola – a
tactical tweak of which I’ll be alluding to later in the article.
With Manchester City having confirmed the signings of Rayan Ait-Nouri, his
namesake Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders in recent weeks, there’s real
reason for City fans to be excited ahead of the 2025/26 season, where they’ll
be hoping for a major improvement on 2024/25. Firstly, let’s have a look at
the main tactical tweak made by Pep Guardiola that galvanised his City squad
in late 24/25, and how I’ll be incorporating it into my tactical
recreation/concept.
A key principle of Pep Guardiola’s tactics throughout his managerial career has been the idea of creating maximum width, allowing his teams to stretch out the opponent’s defensive line and get players positioned in the half-spaces, usually culminating in the creation of a front-five. Whilst this principle holds great benefits, such as creating numerical superiority against an opposition’s back-four, the result of the benefits actually ends up with his teams facing their biggest challenge: Low-blocks. In 24/25, this challenge was felt even more as teams would sit deep and would spring deadly counter-attacks in-behind the City defence who could be caught high.
No Width is Maximum Width
A key principle of Pep Guardiola’s tactics throughout his managerial career has been the idea of creating maximum width, allowing his teams to stretch out the opponent’s defensive line and get players positioned in the half-spaces, usually culminating in the creation of a front-five. Whilst this principle holds great benefits, such as creating numerical superiority against an opposition’s back-four, the result of the benefits actually ends up with his teams facing their biggest challenge: Low-blocks. In 24/25, this challenge was felt even more as teams would sit deep and would spring deadly counter-attacks in-behind the City defence who could be caught high.
The solution? Forcing the opposition to flee their low-block, and then
penetrating and, ultimately, getting access over the opposition’s defence.
City’s new in-possession shape has been the catalyst, as City now have at
least one less player on the last line – this lures the opposition into a
false sense of security where they believe they can step up higher, only to be
caught out by late, third man runs in-behind. Now, Man City operate in more of
a 2-4-4 shape in-possession, rather than their classic 3-2-5/2-3-5
shape.
Also, the creation of both shapes are contrasting – in their classic
2-3-5/3-2-5 set-ups, the full-backs and/or centre-backs would have to deviate
from their natural positions to help form their in-possession shape. Now,
within the creation of this 2-4-4 shape, the centre-backs’ positioning is a
lot more fixed, whilst the full-backs tend to stay wider, rather than invert
like in previous tactical iterations of Pep’s City.
Additionally, the full-backs’ positioning is a lot more flexible as they can
move in tandem to situationally move higher/drop deeper to either form a
front-five/help retain possession.
A key component to making this shape work and, ultimately, carry out what it is intended to do is the implementation of a front-two at City and the positioning of the front-two. With Marmoush arriving for big money in January 2025, it was quickly made clear that a tactical tweak would be needed for the Egyptian to thrive at City.
One occupies Two – Two occupy Four
A key component to making this shape work and, ultimately, carry out what it is intended to do is the implementation of a front-two at City and the positioning of the front-two. With Marmoush arriving for big money in January 2025, it was quickly made clear that a tactical tweak would be needed for the Egyptian to thrive at City.
Pep’s solution? Forming a menacing, scary striker partnership with Marmoush
associating with Haaland at the tip of City’s shape. The movement and
positioning of the pair is crucial for City’s new system, as the idea is for
the pair to occupy all four of the opposition’s backline – they aim to do this
by situationally moving wider towards the opposition’s full-backs.
This positioning pins the opposition’s full-backs, preventing them from
pressing City’s full-backs should they receive the ball – if the opposition
full-back is brave enough to press anyway, either Marmoush or Haaland could
run into the space vacated/in-behind: A dangerous catch-22!
Another benefit of setting up in such a naturally narrow shape is the opportunities created to play centrally – by emphasising central dominance numerically, the opposition naturally squeeze to compact the centre, creating space out wide for the full-backs to exploit.
Central Dominance
Another benefit of setting up in such a naturally narrow shape is the opportunities created to play centrally – by emphasising central dominance numerically, the opposition naturally squeeze to compact the centre, creating space out wide for the full-backs to exploit.
If Man City were to lose the ball, their central dominance would be imperative
too, as their natural narrowness would shorten the space their players would
need to close down on the counter-press, allowing City to immediately regain
possession and begin probing once again.
When City have the ball, I want them to deploy a possession-based style of play, focusing on a shorter passing method whilst working in a thoughtful, methodical manner, aligning my concept with Pep Guardiola’s tactical ideologies – this begins from the defence, with the team instructed to ‘Play Out of Defence’; The ‘Attacking’ mentality will give our possession purpose, whilst the ‘Pass Into Space’ instruction will allow us to penetrate the opposition who have been drawn higher to close down our midfield.
Let’s Break Down the Tactic
In Possession
When City have the ball, I want them to deploy a possession-based style of play, focusing on a shorter passing method whilst working in a thoughtful, methodical manner, aligning my concept with Pep Guardiola’s tactical ideologies – this begins from the defence, with the team instructed to ‘Play Out of Defence’; The ‘Attacking’ mentality will give our possession purpose, whilst the ‘Pass Into Space’ instruction will allow us to penetrate the opposition who have been drawn higher to close down our midfield.
From this possession, I want to utilise our central numerical superiority by
primarily focusing our play in narrow/central areas. Finally, once we enter
the final third, we want to patiently work the ball into the box, with an
emphasis on exploiting the half-spaces and reaching the byline for cut-backs.
When we lose the ball, I want to implement the famous ‘6-second rule’ fashioned by Pep Guardiola himself – our narrowness will allow our counter-press to be extra effective! When we win back the ball, I want to give our players the keys to decide amongst themselves whether they should counter-attack or retain possession. From goal-kicks, I want the ‘keeper to distribute short, allowing us to begin our build-up phase with an ‘extra man’.
When we don’t have the ball for sustained periods, we want to press high aggressively – we use a higher line to supplement our high press. However, we don’t want to be reckless with our pressing, as we want to remain patient and wait for certain triggers – we can establish said ‘triggers’ using Opposition Instructions. When the opposition have goal-kicks, I want our team to operate in a man-oriented pressing system with the goal of forcing the opposition’s ‘keeper to go long. Finally, to add a touch of tenacity to our press, I applied the ‘Get Stuck In’ instruction.
In this system, I want our ‘keeper to join our build-up, creating a +1 numerical advantage in deeper areas – with the ‘keeper joining our build up and our full-backs moving slightly higher, in line with our defensive midfielders, this will see us situationally create a 3-4-2-2 build-up shape. When we don’t have the ball, I want our ‘keeper to be aggressive and assertive when leaving his area to sweep and claim crosses. Therefore, I felt this role was perfect.
In this position, I wanted our right-back to primarily position himself wider in order to hold the width on that side. When we don’t have the ball, I want both full-backs to be able to jump from their position to close down the opposition aggressively and press high. Therefore, I felt this role was ideal, with the added instructions:
In Transition
When we lose the ball, I want to implement the famous ‘6-second rule’ fashioned by Pep Guardiola himself – our narrowness will allow our counter-press to be extra effective! When we win back the ball, I want to give our players the keys to decide amongst themselves whether they should counter-attack or retain possession. From goal-kicks, I want the ‘keeper to distribute short, allowing us to begin our build-up phase with an ‘extra man’.
Out of Possession
When we don’t have the ball for sustained periods, we want to press high aggressively – we use a higher line to supplement our high press. However, we don’t want to be reckless with our pressing, as we want to remain patient and wait for certain triggers – we can establish said ‘triggers’ using Opposition Instructions. When the opposition have goal-kicks, I want our team to operate in a man-oriented pressing system with the goal of forcing the opposition’s ‘keeper to go long. Finally, to add a touch of tenacity to our press, I applied the ‘Get Stuck In’ instruction.
Player Roles
Sweeper Keeper – Attack
In this system, I want our ‘keeper to join our build-up, creating a +1 numerical advantage in deeper areas – with the ‘keeper joining our build up and our full-backs moving slightly higher, in line with our defensive midfielders, this will see us situationally create a 3-4-2-2 build-up shape. When we don’t have the ball, I want our ‘keeper to be aggressive and assertive when leaving his area to sweep and claim crosses. Therefore, I felt this role was perfect.
(DR) Wing-Back – Support
In this position, I wanted our right-back to primarily position himself wider in order to hold the width on that side. When we don’t have the ball, I want both full-backs to be able to jump from their position to close down the opposition aggressively and press high. Therefore, I felt this role was ideal, with the added instructions:
%20Wing-Back%20%E2%80%93%20Support.webp "(DR) Wing-Back – Support")
Central Defender – Defend
In this position, I want Dias to be able to go a bit more direct at times to bypass the midfield and supply Haaland with long balls to drop down to teammates around him. Furthermore, if Dias were to take more of a risk, he could try and find Marmoush with a direct ball into the channel for him to chase. Therefore, I felt this role was suitable as it allows me to apply the ‘More Direct Passing’ instruction, as seen below:
Ball-Playing Defender – Defend
In this position, I want Gvardiol to be able to regularly provide our central players with progressive passes – the ‘Ball-Playing Defender’ role naturally does this in-game. As a result, this role is perfect. No additional instructions.
(DL) Wing-Back – Support
Whilst the roles and duties of the two full-backs are the same, there is a slight differentiation in their instructions as I want to provide Ait-Nouri, our most attacking full-back, with extra responsibility in-possession. Firstly, I don’t want him to hold the width as much as our right-back as this will encourage Ait-Nouri to position himself slightly narrower, giving him opportunity to link-up with teammates and combine using 1-2s. When he does receive the ball, I want him to use his excellent stamina and strength to carry the ball forward, riding challenges from opponents, with the ultimate aim of reaching the byline, where he can supply teammates with cut-backs, predominantly aiming for Haaland at the back-post. All defensive ideas remain, as seen in the instructions below:
%20Wing-Back%20%E2%80%93%20Support.webp "(DL) Wing-Back – Support")
Defensive Midfielder – Support
In this position, I want Reijnders to utilise his elite carrying abilities to full effect, picking up possession in a deeper position and carrying forward, before trying to create for a team-mate. When we don’t have the ball, I want Reijnders to be aggressive in duels. As a result, I felt this role was ideal, with the added instructions:
Defensive Midfielder – Defend
In this position, I want Rodri to be our main defensive midfielder, putting out fires all over the pitch, in a fairly aggressive fashion, and dominating central areas. In possession, I don’t want him to do anything too flashy/eccentric, rather just retaining possession and dictating the tempo – doing the stuff that won him the Ballon d’Or. Therefore, I felt this role was perfect, with the added instruction:
Attacking Midfielder – Support
In this position, I want our right-sided attacking midfielder to begin slightly wider, before cutting in and creating for Haaland and Marmoush or shooting himself – a role primed and ready for Phil Foden. Additionally, I want him to get further forward and crash the box for tap-ins from cut-backs. When we don’t have the ball, I want him to move from his ‘right-10’ position into a winger position to form a 4-4-2/4-2-4 defensive shape – to do this, I ask the player in this position to mark the specific position: ‘D (L)’. Therefore, I felt this role was suitable, with the added instructions:
Advanced Playmaker – Support
In this position, I want to give Cherki the keys and allow him to go wherever he feels he can influence play most. Primarily, I want him to sit narrower to form our 4-2-2-2/2-4-2-2 in-possession shape, however, from there, he can go wherever he wants. Finally, when he receives the ball, I want him to use his incredible technique to carry and dribble part opponents. Therefore, I felt this role was crucial, with the added instructions:
Poacher – Attack
In this position, I want Haaland to do two main things: pin the opposition and score goals. The ‘Poacher’ role allows this completely. No additional instructions.
Advanced Forward – Attack
In this position, I want Marmoush to be potent in our attack, running the channels and constantly making runs in-behind the opposition’s defence; To give Haaland optimal space to pin the opposition, I want Marmoush to stay wider, which will simultaneously allow him to occupy just the opposition’s right-sided centre-back – when he receives the ball in this position, I want Marmoush to use his exciting flair and devastating pace to burst pace opposition defenders. Additionally, when we have the ball, I want Marmoush to roam and switch positions with Cherki. Finally, when we don’t have the ball, I want Marmoush to subsidise for Haaland’s lack of effort from the ‘Poacher’ role, as seen in the instructions below:
Players Swapping Positions & Individual Roles
In this system, I want Cherki and Marmoush to swap positions to allow for extra fluidity in our tactics. This can be seen below:
As a result, both players have individual roles and instructions to fit their respective new positions. Both can be seen below:
(These changes apply to all tactics provided in the link)
In the Premier League, we were excellent as we won the league with 99 points – the second highest points total ever recorded! Of our 38 league games, we won 32 games, whilst drawing and losing just 3 games each. Finally, in our 38 league games, we scored an astonishing 118 goals, whilst conceding just 23 goals.
Opposition Instructions
Results
Premier League
In the Premier League, we were excellent as we won the league with 99 points – the second highest points total ever recorded! Of our 38 league games, we won 32 games, whilst drawing and losing just 3 games each. Finally, in our 38 league games, we scored an astonishing 118 goals, whilst conceding just 23 goals.
Domestic Cups
UEFA Champions League
Indeed, we could! A 3-1 victory over FC Barcelona in the final secured the treble that slipped through our fingers previously in the season. On our way to the final, we overcame Bayer Leverkusen (0-5 AGG), Chelsea (2-6 AGG) and Celtic (5-2 AGG) after successfully navigating a group containing Atalanta, PSG and AEK Athens.
READ ALSO: Arne Slot’s 25/26 Liverpool Masterplan – FM24 Tactical Concept
Conclusion
Manchester City were, by their standards, dreadful for a large part of the 24/25 season, especially in a period that followed an unfortunate injury to their Ballon d’Or-winning holding midfielder. However, looking ahead to the 25/26 season, they’ll be hoping to avenge their embarrassing defeats from the prior season by going for the title once again.
If you want a taste of this fantastic tactic, make sure to download the
tactics using the link attached to this article and follow FM Blog and myself
(@AshtonGgmu) on our respective
socials. I hope you have enjoyed this article, and I wish you much success
with this tactic on your saves!
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