The Pep Revolution: Inside Guardiola’s Manchester City

By Marti Perarnau

The only authorised story of Pep Guardiola's triumphant reign at Manchester City: as close to Guardiola as you can get.

'Write about everything you see. Be as critical as you like.' This is what Pep Guardiola told the journalist Marti Perarnau in 2023, when Perarnau arrived to spend a season as an insider at Bayern Munich. In the ten years since, he has followed Pep Guardiola across Europe, and since 2016 has been a fly on the wall at Manchester City, where Guardiola has broken records and revolutionised the Premier League with his radical managerial style.

This is the long-awaited, access-all-areas story of Pep Guardiola's time at Manchester City, telling every twist and turn of their journey to the top and providing the definitive lessons of Guardiola's leadership. The only true insider account, it's an essential read for any football fan, and any reader in search of the lessons of one of sport's great leaders.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ebury Digital
• Release date: Aug 15, 2024
• ISBN: 9781529935271

Book preview

Prologue

The solitary figure stands at the towering window of an attic apartment gazing down at the city spread before him. A single candle casts a bluish hue over his reflection as he contemplates the city lights.

Far below, Manchester sleeps. Conquered.

A glass of red wine in his hand, Pep Guardiola paces the huge living room back and forth, just as he’s done so many times over the last seven years. He’s looking at Deansgate, the city’s main artery, but his thoughts are elsewhere.

Miles away, on the football pitch.

He’s puzzling over how to apply old concepts in new ways, how best to tackle the many challenges he’ll face in the next few games, how to make sure his team is progressing, moving forward …

This unfiltered book lays out the many faces of Pep, every facet of his character.

The meticulous, punctilious artisan, zealous in his pursuit of perfection.

The champion many times over, a serial winner who fights tooth and nail for every title, no matter how insignificant it might appear to others.

The perpetual innovator, bound in equal measure to his ideas and doubts and constantly searching for the single gambit that will change a game.

The mercurial maestro, sometimes affable, sometimes enraged, equally capable of putting up a wall between him and his players or throwing his door open for them, ready and willing to help.

The brilliant tactician who can find the perfect solution in the darkest of moments and guide his squad safely through uncharted territory.

The Sisyphus determined to scale the tallest peak, even as the Fates predict his downfall.fn1

The obsessive workaholic, convinced that only even harder work can overcome a nagging worry that he lacks natural talent, and who pushes everyone around him to the point of exhaustion.

The charismatic leader whose team talks captivate his foot soldiers, because he’s proven time and again that his way is the only guaranteed route to success.

Spikey, disagreeable, engaging, aggravating, vacillating, ironic, histrionic, stoical, euphoric, passionate, cerebral and, of late, increasingly relaxed about life.

These are the many sides of Pep.

• • •

As this, the third era of Pep’s coaching career, approaches its completion, it’s a good time to take stock. Back in 2016, Guardiola understood that Manchester City would be a colossal undertaking. With no clear idea of exactly what awaited him, the Catalan approached his new job as if it were a blank canvas upon which to stamp his mark. Bringing his vast experience to the role, he continued to learn and develop, drawing on the triple stimuli of high risk, extreme pressure and complete freedom to fire up his creativity and imagination.

Eight years and 17 titles later, it’s clear that Manchester City has become Pep’s magnum opus.

During that time, the most demanding, difficult, complex and exhausting years of his life, we’ve seen Pep at his innovative, paradoxical, anarchic, fertile best. He’s steered City through the calamitous times, watched them produce epic comebacks and countless goals, and revelled in their sensational performances on the pitch. A seven-season saga of dizzying highs and demoralising lows. Much like life itself.

‘It’s not about titles. It’s how you make people feel. Legacy consists of the emotions you generate. The important thing is how you make people feel!’

This book is the last in my trilogy about Pep Guardiola. The first, Pep Confidential (2014), chronicles his debut season at Bayern. Pep welcomed me into the dressing room and has continued to give me exclusive behind-the-scenes access ever since. In the second book, Pep Guardiola: The Evolution (2016), I explained Pep’s next two years in Munich, focusing specifically on the way Germany changed him and examining how that transformation might manifest itself later, in Manchester. This third book describes how he has conquered the hostile, difficult terrain of the English Premier League and imposed his own brand of football upon it.

Pep’s approach has changed constantly over the years (although it may be more accurate to say that he has responded to the changing circumstances of life itself) and the book’s structure reflects this. Each of the following seven chapters varies in length, format and depth of analysis. They have all been written in real time and I report my own and others’ observations, analysis and predictions exactly as they were expressed, without revisions or retrospective corrections.

Seven years of raw emotion. Pep can’t hide the intensity of his feelings, even if he wants to. Manchester has humanised Pep in every sense.

The circumspection of the first months and those crushing losses; that dreadful, dispiriting first season; the panic he felt during the tragic Manchester Arena terrorist attack in 2017; the boundless energy he brings to his pursuit of success; the joy of victory; the brutal defeats that rip open old wounds; his obsessive quest for perfection; his unstoppable determination to scale that mountain time and again; reaching the apogee of success by winning the treble and then celebrating with a cigar on the main road of Manchester, standing in the pouring rain, yet somehow appearing not to get wet …

This is the story of a coronation, a faithful account of seven rollercoaster years of raw emotion.

Nights of agony, days of glory.

God save Pep.

Season 1: 2016–17

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‘DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE A COACH?’

SCENE 1. ‘REMEMBER HIS NAME: PHIL FODEN’

Manchester, 12 October 2016

Pep and Cris stroll through Deansgate. Nobody seems to recognise City’s coach even though Pep hasn’t bothered wearing the cap he uses when he wants to fly under the radar. He doesn’t need it this evening. They’re both wrapped up in black winter coats and nobody gives them a second glance. Just an ordinary couple out for a stroll and looking for somewhere to have a romantic dinner.

Then we bump into them. My wife Loles and I are looking for somewhere to eat too. This will be my first of many visits to Manchester and, having learned from some of my experiences in Munich, these days I too prefer to travel incognito.

It could be a scene straight out of a Hollywood movie. Both couples are peering into a restaurant in Deansgate when we realise exactly who the ‘strangers’ beside us are and suddenly it’s dinner for four. Just like the old days in Munich. We greet each other, four kisses on the cheek, and then Pep’s off:

‘I just couldn’t work out how to deal with the way Tottenham set themselves up in that game. I went over and over it but couldn’t come up with the right thing to turn the game for us. That’s why I cancelled the trip to Oktoberfest in Munich, so I could spend some time working out what I should have done. The international break has given me ten days to analyse what has been going well for us … and where we’ve been lacking. We need to get back to basics: control the game. We need four men in the centre of the pitch so that we control matches and force our opponents to chase after the ball.’

Pep has made a declaration of intent and, judging by the expression on her face, Cristina is already resigned to the fact that their ‘romantic dinner’ has now become a ‘football dinner’. Pep wants to find a quieter place to talk, a back street where he can explain in detail what he plans to do from now on. Deansgate, Manchester’s main commercial thoroughfare, is far too busy for such discussions.

He finds the perfect spot in Brazennose Street, just beside the statue of Abraham Lincoln, and embarks on a detailed, animated description of how he anticipates his changes will work. He explains how and where he wants each player to move, how they’ll occupy the centre of the pitch while at the same time causing maximum disorganisation in their opponent’s ranks.

‘I’ve decided to play a 3–4–3 against Everton. Like a 3–2–2–3 or a WM formation. Four in the centre of the pitch. We’ve already practised it but only with the kids from the youth side because our senior players were away with their national teams. Tomorrow we’ll try it with the first team in an 11-a-side game and then we’ll field a 3–4–3 on Saturday. The objective is control and getting back to basics; disorganise our opponents with pass after pass after pass.’

It’s a chilly night, though, and Cristina and Loles are desperate to find somewhere to eat. Pep suggests Wings, a Chinese restaurant he knows isn’t too far away. We set off just as Pep remembers something he’s desperate to communicate. He grabs my arm and starts to explain enthusiastically, almost shouting,

‘Listen … everyone’s talking about Jadon Sancho and Brahim Díaz. And, don’t get me wrong, they’re great. Really. I love them. But there’s another name I want you to remember. Phil Foden. I swear, he’s an astounding player. I’m putting him in the team very soon. In fact, if the League Cup game had been against anyone except Manchester United, that’s where he’d have made his debut. He’s your typically pale-faced English footballer, left-footed, skinny as a rake with bandy legs, but he protects the ball brilliantly and has a fantastic vision of the game. Foden, remember that name. He’s going to be outstanding.’

Our dinner at Wings is delicious.

SCENE 2. THE BEST TEAM IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE

Manchester, 15 October 2016

Ronald Koeman makes light work of Pep’s 3–2–2–3.

Despite City’s absolute domination of the pitch, the final score doesn’t reflect the superiority of their game. Everton’s keeper Maarten Stekelenburg has made sure of that. He’s played out of his skin.

Pep, as planned, fields a 3–2–2–3 despite the absence of two of his key players (John Stones and Leroy Sané) from Thursday’s training session. Problems with their return flights from international duty have meant that Friday is their first day back, making it the only chance for the team to try out the new game plan. Despite the lack of practice time, the coach is still sure about the personnel he wants – and the team’s tactical shape. Claudio Bravo in goal; a back three of Nicolás Otamendi, Stones and Gaël Clichy; Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, İlkay Gündoğan and David Silva will form the midfield diamond; Sané and Raheem Sterling as inverted wingers and the striker is Kelechi Iheanacho. On the whiteboard the 3–2–2–3 reminds me of the WM formation introduced by Herbert Chapman (1925) but in action it’s much more of a Cruyff-inspired 3–4–3.

City’s performances in their last few games are worrying Pep. It’s not just that loss to Tottenham, his first defeat of this new era, but also the lack of control they displayed against Celtic, in Glasgow, where a poor performance left them with a 3–3 draw in a key Champions League match. The thing that most irritates the Catalan, however, is if his team fails to control the game, yet that’s exactly what’s happened over their last 180 minutes of competitive football. And it’s why he’s decided to change his system from the more orthodox 4–3–3 with which they started the season to this 3–4–3, which he hopes will allow them ‘to control the play’. Four midfielders forcing the opposition players out of position as City pass and move the ball around and around.

And his men pull it off. Well, sort of.

Under the attentive gaze of Sir Alex Ferguson, City make 661 passes against Everton’s 255. The Sky Blues have almost double the touches of the ball of their opponent (878 and 478 respectively), 19 shots at goal compared to the visitors’ 3, and take 13 corners to Everton’s 1. City dominate completely: 73 per cent possession.

Koeman, who knew Cruyff well and played alongside Pep for many years at Barcelona, was under no illusions about the brutal pressure City would put them under at the Etihad Stadium. He’s planned various defensive strategies with which to try and slow down the home team’s playing style. Every attacking move City make is met with at least eight Everton players behind the ball. In total Everton clear the ball out of their penalty area, and away from the danger zone, 49 times.

Despite these ultra-defensive tactics, Pep’s men impose a fluid rhythm, controlling the pace of the game and patiently constructing almost non-stop attacking movements. They make several clear-cut chances, all of which are saved by Stekelenburg. It’s a masterclass in smooth, well-coordinated attacking play, which enraptures the home support. They’re loving this exhibition of first-class football.

But City’s positional superiority doesn’t produce a goal, not even from De Bruyne’s 43rd minute penalty resulting from Phil Jagielka’s foul on Silva. The Belgian shoots hard at mid-height to the keeper’s left but Stekelenburg stretches full-length and punches it away with both hands.

Then, just when a City goal seems inevitable, Everton score.

It’s all down to, as Pep often points out, a failure to properly mark opponents who hang around higher up the pitch, waiting for quick transitions and breakaway chances.

City press Everton as the visitors try to bring the ball out and even Otamendi pushes up to add to the general press – hoping to prevent Romelu Lukaku getting service. Everton abandon their methodical approach and Yannick Bolasie thumps the ball long. Stones tries but fails to intercept and now Lukaku is on the charge with only the fragile Clichy in front of him.

Caught out of position, Otamendi and Fernandinho sprint back but don’t manage to stop Lukaku slamming it past Claudio Bravo. It’s the kind of calamity that will be repeated many times this season and, to a lesser extent, over the next few years. Poor man-marking of wide players sitting high on the pitch will cost City a lot of time and many painful goals. Only once Rúben Dias and Rodrigo Hernández – Rodri – start to make their mark on the team in 2020 will this defect become a more sporadic occurrence, although it’s impossible to completely neutralise the possibility of a successful counterattack by a strong opponent.

One–nil down, Pep’s men are now looking for the equaliser. Just five minutes later Jagielka commits another foul, this time on Sergio Agüero, who then takes the penalty. His shot is a carbon copy of De Bruyne’s. Same spot, equal power, identical height. But Stekelenburg is just as agile and defiant as before. Making the most of his impressive long-limbed stretch (he’s 1.97m/6 ft 6 in tall), the Dutch international once again palms the ball away with both hands.

The Dutchman stubbornly continues his exhibition of defiance and saves several more big chances. Then, finally, there’s a breakthrough. Silva sends in a cross from the left wing and Nolito heads it home beautifully.

Stekelenburg is finally beaten … but Everton have their 1–1 draw.

A point at the Etihad is a huge result for the Toffees, who celebrate accordingly while City act – long faces and slumped shoulders – as if they’ve just suffered a huge defeat. Pep is dismayed. Three consecutive games without a win and a Champions League clash with Messi’s Barcelona at the Camp Nou just four days away.

His men have clearly mastered the 3–4–3 and have controlled the game with brilliant, fluid passing but it hasn’t been effective. As ever in football, it’s the final score that tells you whether or not your system is doing its job. En route to the dressing room, Domènec Torrent, Pep’s assistant, wishes Koeman good luck for the rest of the season. Koeman laughs. ‘I think today we’ve had a full year’s worth of luck. I don’t expect to get so lucky for the rest of the season …’

Post-match, the Dutch coach is crystal clear in his analysis:

City are the best team I have ever faced as a coach. When I saw that they were fielding three defenders I told my men that we’d play with three forwards and try to get the second balls. City played brilliantly: high pressing, high tempo. But my defenders were heroic today and our keeper had the game of his life.

City are the best team in the Premier League: their attacking and movement, their control of the centre of the pitch, the way they recuperate the ball … And today they’ve produced that same level of play from the first minute to the 95th. Without taking a breath. It’s been an incredible exhibition of elite European football. It won’t be easy but if they play like that against Barcelona they’ve definitely got a good chance of winning. I’ll say it again so everyone is clear: City is the best team I have played against in my entire coaching career.

As we leave the stadium I share Koeman’s comments with Pep. He’s chuffed:

‘He said that? Bloody hell, Ronald’s a gem. I couldn’t ask for better feedback. The trophies and titles aren’t what really count. It’s getting praise like that from people you rate.’

The following morning Guardiola’s technical team have a long debate as they prepare for the recuperation session. They’re already planning for the game against Barcelona. They won’t be going with the 3–4–3 because it’s clear that the players aren’t yet 100 per cent comfortable with it despite executing it so well against Everton.

Dome Torrent makes the first suggestion: ‘We’ll need one extra man in defence at all times in the Barça match. We can’t use the line of three because they’ll tear us apart. We’ll need one more. Four defenders because they’ll definitely attack with three.’

Pep is even firmer. ‘We’ll need one more in defence and another in midfield. That’s the only way to maintain possession. If we don’t do that it will be impossible. They’ve got a monster up front. Let’s see how we can stop him …’

They agree the focus of the match that will see Guardiola return to the site of his greatest triumphs so far. Four in defence, giving them numerical superiority in the middle of the pitch. Stopping Messi? That’s another thing entirely.

Pep’s German friend Michael Reschke, head of scouting at Bayern, is with us for Sunday training. It’s a low-key training session, just the substitutes practising positional play. I take the opportunity to give copies of my recently published book, Pep Guardiola: The Evolution, to a couple of the coaching team whom I haven’t previously met: Xabier Mancisidor, the goalkeeping coach, a serious, meticulous Basque, and Mikel Arteta, who, having just hung up his football boots, has immediately stepped into this role as Pep’s assistant. Definitely another superb football coach in the making. I want to know what Arteta makes of the magnificent Sportcity (the multipurpose sports complex that houses the Etihad Stadium) and his response confirms my initial assessment. He has the kind of football philosophy that will take him to the elite levels of world football management in the years to come.

‘It’s an outstanding set-up but you have to fill it with substance and only the right quality of people can do that. Football clubs are made up of people.’

It’s a sunny day and we stroll round the training fields with Manel Estiarte (who has worked with Guardiola since Barcelona) chatting about the coaching team.

‘We’re really happy. Dome Torrent is brilliant, Carles Planchart is an incredibly modest guy who can’t do enough to help and Mikel Arteta has all the makings of a fantastic coach. He’s really got his head screwed on.’

I ask him about Pep, about whether the three-year contract he’s signed will give him enough time to dominate English football and, above all, build a true legacy at Manchester City.

‘Pep will probably stay in coaching for another six to ten years, although I reckon six is more likely than another ten. Then again, with Pep you never know. He doesn’t make long-term plans. It’s all about focusing on the here and now rather than thinking too much about the future.’

We also chat about my new book, which describes the ways in which Pep’s time in Germany changed him and how that might impact this new stage in England.

Estiarte: ‘Munich was a great experience for Pep. It was his first time coaching abroad, away from Barcelona. Experiences like that toughen you up and make you mature very quickly. Pep gave you complete access to the dressing room and training at Bayern for your books because it was all so new and fresh, an adventure, and he was prepared to allow things he didn’t allow in Barcelona.’

It’s the perfect moment to tell him what I’m planning. ‘Maybe it’s not possible to say how long Pep will stay in Manchester but if he’s here for any length of time, I think I’ll write one more book. My third and final book about him.’

Estiarte’s all for it, as I thought he would be. ‘A trilogy. That sounds just right.’

So far so good. Prior to losing at Spurs, Guardiola has made an outstanding start to his first season at City.

The trilogy continues.

Good things come in threes … right?

SCENE 3. ON PEP’S SOFA …

Four months earlier, Barcelona, 27 June 2016

We’re sitting on Pep’s sofa staring at a TV screen, which he actually switched off quite some time ago.

It’s a huge, grey sofa but, somehow, we’re crushed up together. But not speaking. Just gazing at a blank screen …

Our only companions are the 87 packing cases and 15 suitcases piled up in one corner of the room, waiting to make their journey to Manchester next week.

I push Pep on what he thinks Manchester City will be like.

No response.

By now, what seems an endless, claustrophobic silence has filled the room.

Until, at last, Pep punctures it: ‘I don’t know … I just can’t tell you what my team will be like, how we’ll play. I can’t visualise it as yet – I don’t even know what players I’ll have!’

It’s the middle of my first visit chez Pep in Barcelona and here we are – sitting on his extremely comfortable couch, ploughing our way through a couple of litres of water.

Reason? Pep has his annual health check with Dr Albert Estiarte tomorrow and thus isn’t allowed any solid food today.

Neither of us has moved for four hours.

We’ve watched Italy unceremoniously bundle Spain out of the European Championship (2–0).

Pep is unashamedly fascinated by the way the Italians are playing under coach Antonio Conte.

‘Conte’s version of positional play is outstanding! It’s not the traditional model we’re used to, it’s much more about vertical. But he executes it brilliantly!’

Pep anticipates that the coming decade is going to unleash countless innovations in football and he’s on alert to pick up ideas from other coaches: ‘None of us can afford to stand still. Football is constantly changing and we have to change with it. I mean, Italy, playing positional football!’

‘It’s different from what I do with my teams but the mere fact that they’re playing it at all … I really admire Conte for that! And his players, Buffon, Bonucci, Chiellini … the rest of them.’

City’s incoming coach is transfixed by Conte’s passion for his work and by the aggressive, intense style of football he demands of his teams.

They always fight to the death. In Pep’s mind there’s no question that Conte’s Chelsea are favourites to win the league this season.

Chelsea have all the ingredients: a superb coach, outstanding players and no European matches to distract them from their rigorous training schedule and match preparation.

The 5–3–2 formation Conte is likely to use has another great advantage. It’s easier, thus quicker, to learn and apply than Pep’s more complicated model.

Ergo, Pep is sure that Chelsea will be favourites for the title: ‘It’s always a total nightmare trying to attack a 5–3–2.’

Even more so if you still have no idea what your own team is going to be like. ‘I honestly can’t visualise it yet! I don’t even know who’ll be our key players. All I know is what Txiki [Begiristain, the sports director] has told me. He says that we have a talented bunch of footballers and speaks very highly of Fernandinho, who’s versatile positionally and could be very important to us. Txiki also really rates Fernando, who’s a great team-mate apparently. But I’ve still no idea who I’ll be able to sign or indeed whether the squad is going to change at all. So, you can see, it’s basically impossible for me to visualise what my team will look like.’

I catch Pep’s reflection in the blank TV screen and his glum expression indicates that something is bothering him. I’m reminded of a conversation we had in Munich in the summer of 2014, just after his bosses at Bayern had informed him that they were selling Toni Kroos despite Pep’s heated opposition to the idea.

‘Clubs promise you the earth when you’re negotiating!’ he’d told me then. ‘But the minute the contract’s signed all that’s forgotten. And by then, of course … you’re trapped.’

I suspect City initially promised him a total squad renovation but, now he’s on board, they’re imposing only a partial renovation via small changes. Pep is currently facing far too many unknown factors. Far more than he expected. He’s got his work cut out in the weeks to come.

Then, suddenly, he rouses himself. ‘I’ll tell you this, though … any player who isn’t prepared to run his legs off and work like a beast will be out and I’ll put one of the kids in his place! There’s outstanding talent in our youth team.’

Hours later, making my way home, I decide to jot down a few notes from our day together. And I never really stop.

Those notes are the basis for this book. My observations of seven years of life at Manchester City. The worst days and the moments of sheer joy, the matches – official and friendlies – the team talks and training sessions.

I’ve been there for it all, filling hundreds of pages with my observations on the technical and tactical aspects of City’s football; their playing models and tactical variants, the way they take corners, how they defend set pieces, their counterattacking, successful or otherwise, and how they’ve dealt with opposition counterattacks.

Seven thick notebooks full.

I’ve had the privilege of countless conversations with Pep and most of his assistants. Usually after a game, rather than before.

I’ve observed City’s tactical evolution and attempted to truly understand the hearts and minds of Pep’s players. The very soul of the team. What you’re reading is the culmination of that work. A finely drawn portrait of the legacy of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City.

Two days later, Pep gets his check-up results. He’s as fit as a fiddle – although the hernia in his back is troubling him. And will continue to do so.

SCENE 4. WE CAN’T CHANGE THE SQUAD THE WAY YOU WANTED

Manchester, 3 July 2016

Guardiola has inherited 12 players over the age of 30. More than half City’s squad. And 17 players are at least 28 or over – only 4 are 25 or under. This group urgently needs a radical overhaul – a swift injection of the youthful energy City need in order to achieve the competitive edge he’s determined to instil.

Back in early June, Guardiola met Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Txiki Begiristain in Dubai. The coach requested ten new players but was told that City could only stretch to half that number. There were good reasons for their reluctance to do more. The club was keen to respect the contracts of current players and determined to keep the salary spend under control. Above all, it was important to continue their policy of amortisation, which would allow them to make bigger investments in key players further along the road.

City’s directors view Guardiola’s appointment as the start of a long-term project and know that he’s eventually going to need serious financial backing to successfully replace the ‘golden generation’ of Agüero, Silva, Vincent Kompany, Joe Hart, Fernandinho, Yaya Touré etc.

And to elevate City to a higher dimension.

Essentially, Pep’s employers reckon that his first season will be a transition phase during which current contracts and pending amortisations will come to an end. There will then be plenty of opportunities to finance high-value signings.

Pep gets it. But this is nowhere near what he’s hoped for. He’s certain he requires a new keeper, two full-backs, two central defenders, two midfielders, two wingers and a striker but has had to settle for a keeper, one defender, one midfielder and two wingers instead.

A substantial sacrifice. Fifty per cent.

Nor is Pep content with the specifics of who he’s able to sign. He had set his sights on Marc-André ter Stegen and is gutted when, despite the German sweeper-keeper’s own desire to leave … Barcelona refuse to sell him.

The Catalan club does agree to the transfer of Claudio Bravo, who was their starting keeper last season. On paper at least, the Chilean has exactly the right profile for the kind of goalkeeper Pep wants. Frustratingly, Pep can’t pull off the signing of left-footed centre-back Aymeric Laporte from Athletic Club (Athletic Bilbao). For now at least.

But City do manage to sign three of Guardiola’s key targets: right-sided centre-back John Stones, who will play a key role in bringing the ball out in the build-up phase; midfielder İlkay Gündoğan, whom Pep has dreamed of signing since coaching Bayern and whose metronomic skills will control the rhythm and pace of the team’s play; plus Leroy Sané, the promising young winger from Schalke 04 in whom Pep hopes to find another Arjen Robben. There’s also a bargain buy in the shape of veteran Spanish winger Nolito.

Unfortunately, the club’s strategy has precisely the effect Pep suspected it would. Their decision to delay making the major squad improvements that Pep knew were vital results in a lacklustre season in footballing and economic terms. Those gaps and imperfections in City’s squad just get more obvious.

The new goalkeeper proves vulnerable, they lack a left-footer at the heart of the defence, plus the technical abilities and physical energy of the full-backs are sadly lacking. Worse, Gündoğan suffers a bad injury in December so the centre of the pitch loses a gifted playmaker. Sadly, after a promising start, Nolito’s form dips significantly and the general lack of goals forces the club to add striker Gabriel Jesus to their number during the winter transfer market. (The Brazilian striker was in fact signed in August but remained at Palmeiras until January 2017.)

All entirely predictable.

But the fact that it’s understandable in context does absolutely zero to diminish Guardiola’s frustration. Being forced to ‘struggle’ through the transition season really rankles.

Given that City only acceded to half his wishes to redesign the squad, Guardiola, more than ever, wants to keep things low-key in Manchester. His years coaching in Munich taught him that maintaining a low profile is the best way to go and, here in England, it’s going to be more important than ever, if somewhat challenging.

The club’s aim is to use the presentation of their new coach to really connect with City’s fans. Above all, they want to begin creating a strong bond between Guardiola and their supporters. Any false perception that Pep thinks of himself as some kind of football Messiah coming here with ‘highfalutin ideas’ to singlehandedly save the club needs to be stamped out.

No, the Catalan needs to be viewed as just one more cog in what is already a highly efficient trophy-winning machine.

The presentation is a relaxed, informal affair. There’s something of a party atmosphere and Pep is obviously enjoying himself. He fields a few questions from the fans but is very careful not to make any lofty claims, focusing instead on his excitement at the idea of experiencing first-hand the might and power of the Premier League.

He’s genuinely relishing the prospect of visiting historic stadia, from small and idiosyncratic to globally famous, and testing himself in this footballing culture. He’s excited by the thought of measuring ‘his’ City against the giants of English football.

Naturally for Pep, he’s also very clear about his priorities.

‘My main objective is creating an exceptional team spirit. We want City to play the kind of entertaining football that our fans will really enjoy. That’s what we will try to produce but first we must create something special within the team: a real spirit of unity.’

Pep is choosing his words precisely.

He wants everyone to be crystal clear about his order of priorities.

To succeed in producing great football you must first create a strong sense of team spirit. You can’t achieve the former without the latter.

From this day forward, team unity will be at the absolute core of the Cityzen universe (‘Cityzens’ is the name City fans have adopted for themselves).

Legendary US basketball coach John Wooden talked about something similar in his famous ‘pyramid of success’. In Wooden’s model, ‘team spirit’ is placed roughly halfway up but, Pep makes very clear, here in Manchester it will be the foundation of everything they do.

In reality, the seeds of this new focus were sown several months previously when, under Manuel Pellegrini, City reached the Champions League semi-finals only to be beaten by Real Madrid.

This was a historic achievement for the club, no question. But the matches also exposed a worrying lack of competitive spirit in the team. Pellegrini’s men seemed apathetic – physically and mentally exhausted. City’s president, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, was worried and told City TV: ‘Losing to Madrid didn’t anger me but I’d like to think that the players are giving it 100 per cent and that’s not what I saw out there.’

The level of apathy he observed has become a fundamental concern for all the club’s directors. They concur with Pep that building exceptional team spirit has to be the top priority of this new era – the cornerstone of everything.

‘I want people to be proud of the way Manchester City play. I want our supporters to come to our games, spend two entertaining hours and then go home knowing that they’ve just watched some brilliant football. That’s our huge challenge – to produce first-class football.’

Pep really wants to stress that everything will depend on these two priorities. ‘First you build team spirit, then you produce great football. Then win one game, then another, and another …’

Having only given Pep half of his requested players, the club’s directors want to protect him by moderating people’s expectations about how much he can realistically achieve in the short term.

Khaldoon explains, ‘There’s no doubt in my mind that Pep is going to transform this team and take us to another level. His passion and dedication mean that we anticipate great things from him. Our great objectives for the next few years are to fight hard every year to win the Premier League and, of course, do our best to win the Champions League as well.’

Chief executive Ferran Soriano is also at pains to temper fan and media expectations. ‘We want to get into a position to be able to compete for everything in the months when titles are decided.’

Having denied Pep his much-desired renovation of the squad, the club does as much as possible to protect him from the unrealistic expectations of starry-eyed supporters. Nevertheless, none of his employers are going public on the degree to which their decision has upset the Catalan’s plans.

Pep’s second-in-command, Domènec Torrent, an avid student of military strategy, has his own acerbic take on how this first season is likely to turn out, given the club’s intransigence.

‘The best generals win the biggest battles. But only because they’re given the best weapons.’

SCENE 5. A BRILLIANT START

Swansea, 24 September 2016

City win their first ten official games with Pep in charge.

Ten out of ten. Thirty scored, just six conceded.

It’s a brilliant start – so much better than Pep anticipated after his request to overhaul the team was rejected. And the two priority objectives, strong team spirit and first-class football, are also being achieved. Not a day goes by that one of the players doesn’t comment on the ‘team spirit’.

City’s football is superb. Compliments flood in.

Manchester City are a force to be reckoned with.

This all began in Munich back in June when Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Pep agreed it would be a cool ‘transition’ idea to kick off the new era with a friendly between Bayern, managed by incoming coach Carlo Ancelotti, and Manchester City.

The game is in the Allianz Arena on 20 July. Tens of thousands of fans have turned up to say goodbye to, and salute, their ex-coach. Pep’s top players, most of whom have just competed in the Euros, aren’t yet available and he takes the chance to try out youth team regulars like Pablo Maffeo, Tosin Adarabioyo, Angeliño, Brandon Barker, Iheanacho, Bersant Celina and Sinan Bytyqi. Plus there’s room for a certain baby-faced, fair-haired youngster called Oleksandr Zinchenko.

On paper, it’s pretty clear that Bayern are likely to dominate the game. Their lineup is incomparably stronger with the likes of Philipp Lahm, David Alaba, Xabi Alonso, Franck Ribéry, Rafinha, Juan Bernat and Javi Martínez in the starting 11. Things are made even more complicated for the visitors when their bus gets caught in a traffic jam en route to the stadium, resulting in a 30-minute delay to kick-off.

Bayern’s supporters are exuberant about their 1–0 victory (Erdal Öztürk’s shot is deflected into the net by Clichy) and will undoubtedly be spending the next couple of days delightedly analysing their team’s performance. This is a very passionate fan base who are always true to their favourite chant.

‘Einmal Bayern, Immer Bayern’ (Once Bayern, Always Bayern).

And the local supporters turn out in their thousands for City’s training session at Säbener Strasse the next day. They’ve come to watch the Manchester City players work out and to catch a last glimpse of the great man – even in new colours. It’s this, the huge support and dedication Bayern’s fans have shown him, that will stay with Pep.

The happiest memory of his time in Munich.

But two City players have piled on the pounds and it’s spoiling Pep’s good mood. Anyone who has read my previous books will know that ongoing weight-control monitoring has always been a fundamental part of fitness management in Pep’s teams. At Barcelona, still more so at Bayern and, now, here at City.

Before the summer holidays Pep requested a detailed chart showing the weight of every player at City and worked with the fitness coaches to set an ideal weight range for each man. Txiki Begiristain then sent the information to the players asking them to make sure that they came back for the new season fit and ready to start training with their weight well within the agreed parameters.

Today, it’s obvious to everyone that two of the players are carrying extra weight. They’re puffing and panting as they tackle fitness coach Lorenzo Buenaventura’s exercises. Both of them have come back around 6 kilograms overweight! Pep takes one look at them and immediately decides that City needs to bring in a nutritionist to oversee the dietary changes that are clearly desperately needed. Of the various specialists available, he opts for Silvia Tremoleda, a fantastic Catalan nutritionist who, over the next two years, will introduce nutrition guidelines and standards, as well as a range of different menu plans which allow the players to maintain a healthy weight while enjoying the great food served up in City’s canteen.

Essentially, Pep’s first few weeks at Manchester aren’t very different from the same period at Bayern. It’s all about teaching and learning. And it’s not easy. Understanding and assimilating so much new information are always tough, and he needs the team to change a lot of their routines and habits. His men have to learn a new model of football, develop a different rhythm and dynamic, and start to play as a cohesive unit. They need to find the competitive spirit that has been lacking and, of course, consistently produce good performances. In reality, Pep and his coaching staff aren’t just building a culture of unity and team spirit. They’re working to establish a whole new identity.

It’s a bit like downloading a whole load of new, complicated software. Pep and his coaching staff require boundless patience as they calmly correct and redirect the players over and over again. They know that there are no shortcuts. Great oaks grow at the speed nature intends, and you can’t argue with nature. It’s just so frustrating when it feels likes some new instruction isn’t going in. But it’s the only way to make a success of this. Slow and steady.

Months later, when I ask him for his assessment of those early weeks, he tells me tersely, ‘Let’s just say there’s still a lot of room for improvement and a lot of new things to assimilate.’

Having spent intensive time with his men during City’s short, calamitous, pre-season tour of China, during which their match against José Mourinho’s Manchester United had to be cancelled because of the dreadful weather and the Borussia Dortmund game ended in a disappointing draw (although the Cityzens won the penalty shoot-out), Pep has a pretty accurate idea of the strengths and weaknesses of each of his players.

He understands their technical/tactical abilities, their attitude to their physical health and the process of rehabilitation post-injury. In other words, he knows how each man trains, looks after himself and manages his recuperation. He also has a good idea of what drives each of them. Guardiola has already carried out a radical shake-up of the club’s medical care and physiotherapy. He’s recruited a team of top nutritionists and brought in new fitness coaches and video analysts. Sportcity’s facilities are extraordinary and all he needs now is to get it all working like a well-oiled machine so that he can get on with creating the team ethos they badly need. He’s going to be ultra-demanding towards his squad. Intense hard work all-round.

As Arteta said: ‘clubs are made up of people.’ Pep knows that if he develops the right environment the results will follow, even if this first season has to be a transition period before the complete renovation of the squad can take place.

It’s not just what the players are learning that matters, it’s how they approach their work, their attitude.

Pep is eagle-eyed for a desire to shake off the inertia and apathy that has dogged the squad. He wants guys who are hungry, willing to buy in to all the positive habits and dynamics he’s committed to instilling. City’s new boss makes it brutally clear from the outset that nobody is guaranteed a first-team place, and that whoever earns it will find himself in the starting 11.

Several players are loaned out or released in August. Jason Denayer, Samir Nasri, Wilfried Bony all go, as does the iconic Joe Hart, who Pep doesn’t believe has the required skills and characteristics. Hart has been a first-class goalkeeper but has limited ability with his feet. Pep is totally upfront about what’s happening. The England international will have to go. Hart’s gutted, of course, but accepts the firmness of Guardiola’s reasoning and becomes convinced that the door, here, is shut. Later on, he’ll only have good things to say about Pep, specifically about the Catalan’s honesty and clarity.

With those departures, plus the arrivals of Bravo, Stones, Gündoğan, Sané and Nolito, Guardiola has a squad of 23, although at the moment only 20 of his men are able to play. Gündoğan, Kompany and Sané are all still afflicted by injuries from last season.

Their first Premier League game looks straightforward. At home to David Moyes’s Sunderland. Pep fields what appears, on paper, to be a classic 4–3–3.

Willy Caballero in goal, centre-backs Stones and Aleksandar Kolarov … but the ‘pivot’ Fernandinho in central midfield has the two full-backs, Bacary Sagna and Clichy, positioned either side of him. It’s a repeat of the innovative strategy he introduced at Bayern. In front of these five players, De Bruyne and David Silva need to move freely between lines, finding creative space, while Sterling and Nolito use both wings to ‘stretch’ the opponent. Agüero is the centre-forward. This is 4–3–3 in appearance, 2–3–2–3 in effect.

The positional organisation of his men in this first challenge reveals four of Pep’s fundamental principles in English football:

Centre-backs who bring the ball out well.

Inverted full-backs.

Attacking, ‘inside’ midfielders with freedom to roam.

Wingers who remain open and pegged to the touchlines.

1. THE CENTRE-BACKS

Guardiola’s centre-backs have to protect their area just like any defender, but above and beyond their defensive abilities they must be exceptional at bringing the ball out in the build-up. Without passing precision from the back, City’s positional play will be short-circuited and it’ll be impossible to move possession into their opponent’s half with the order needed to dominate them.

The centre-backs create the framework of the attack, establishing the path the ball takes in the build-up stage and initiating the movement towards their opponent’s penalty area. But Guardiola asks even more of them. Once the ball is around the opposition’s area, his game plan demands that the centre-backs remain close to the centre circle, 50m from their own goal, so that they can continue to press the play forward. Meaning there’s a good chance they’ll be out of position if there’s a sudden counterattack. It’s high risk, requires nerves of steel and a super-fast turn of speed.

Although Otamendi is a significantly more experienced centre-back, his passing isn’t nearly as good as Kolarov’s. For Pep, the Serb’s passing ability with his left foot is a huge plus (the need for this skill is why he insisted, without success, on buying Aymeric Laporte). So the Serb, not Otamendi, starts today. This means that Stones – who was signed specifically for his superb control of the ball – can bring the ball out on the right and Kolarov on the left. Over the next few games, Stones will partner alternately with Kolarov or Otamendi. One of them defends better, the other moves the ball more skilfully.

2. THE FULL-BACKS

Full-backs now have a fundamental role in Guardiola’s playing philosophy and bear no resemblance to the old-school defenders who defend from the touchline and only occasionally join the attack down the wings. No, these guys have to act as deep midfielders who move between supporting the attacking midfielders in the centre of the pitch and defending on the touchline when necessary.

At least that’s the idea.

What Pep discovers in Manchester are four players who just can’t get their heads around his vision of how a full-back should perform. Bacary Sagna, Pablo Zabaleta, Gaël Clichy and Aleksandar Kolarov are all hugely experienced and very talented, but seem unable to get to grips with this ‘new’ idea of becoming deep midfielders who support the attacking midfielders. In that sense, they’re nowhere near as good as his wonderful Bayern quartet of Lahm, Alaba, Rafinha and Bernat. As Pep explains it:

‘Using interior or inverted full-backs allows me to field five attacking players [three forwards plus two advanced midfielders]. The full-backs play a vital role, forming a line of three with the central midfielder, thereby maximising my other midfielders’ attacking potential. This positional play hopefully means that my creative midfielders need to be on the ball and circulating possession less in the middle of the pitch than they are in or around the opposition penalty area to create or score because they know that their backs are always covered.’

3. CENTRAL MIDFIELDERS

Pep has found the perfect ‘positional’ central midfielder in İlkay Gündoğan. This was Guardiola’s role in his own playing days and his up-to-date version of this concept flows naturally from what he used to do on the Camp Nou pitch. So it’s only players with similar abilities as he himself possessed who make the cut; Sergio Busquets and Yaya Touré at Barcelona … Philipp Lahm and Xabi Alonso at Bayern.

It’s no coincidence that Gündoğan is Pep’s first signing on taking over at City. This is an organising midfielder who facilitates the game’s ‘construction’ in the centre of the pitch, allowing forwards to ‘move up together’ into the box. Crucially, he’s also a magnificent playmaker, equally capable of drawing opponents away from City’s forwards or breaking up their lines of pressure through pinpoint accurate passing. Effectively, Gündoğan’s range of skills and versatility make him either an outstanding organising midfielder or an attacking, creative inside-forward.

Unfortunately, an old back injury begins to act up at the beginning of the season and Gündoğan is out of action for the first few weeks. Touré’s not yet match-fit so Guardiola deploys Fernandinho in central midfield. The coach has total faith that the Brazilian can handle it: ‘Fernandinho is so talented that I could put him in any one of ten positions.’ The coming months will prove Guardiola right.

Both of Pep’s attacking midfielders are extraordinary players whose skills enhance and complement each other. David Silva brings that rare skill where things go quiet and still in his brain while everyone else is thundering around, and then the pint-sized Spaniard does the smart thing over and over again. Kevin De Bruyne is forward looking and forward thinking. He makes City’s play ‘vertical’ and elevates everything.

The coach gives them the freedom to roam between the lines at all stages of the build-up, to initiate joint attacking moves, seek to score goals and establish the rhythm of play at any given time. Like two ‘free electrons’ they run at the opposition, smashing their lines of defence and generating chances for City’s forwards.

4. WINGERS

During his time in Germany, Pep’s use of wingers evolved and changed. At Barcelona he demanded that his wingers stay as wide as possible, stretching opponents’ lines of defence to provide attacking chances on the inside, where the unbeatable Leo Messi could work his magic. At Bayern the magnificent dribbling abilities of Robben, Ribéry, Kingsley Coman and Douglas Costa gave Pep a wide range of options for tactical adjustments to his wingers’ role.

Now, here in Manchester, Pep wants to combine the two approaches. His wingers will stay wide, still ‘opening’ the game as much as possible, but waiting ultra-patiently for the ball to reach them so that they can dribble forward, beating defenders and getting into a position to make chances for a teammate or take the shot themselves. They are told to be daring on the ball, urged to go one-on-one.

‘In my playing model, the wingers have to spend a lot of time alone on the wing, almost immobile, without getting involved in the action, without touching the ball. Just waiting. A bit like the keeper who can spend 40 minutes without a sniff of the ball and then, all of a sudden, has to leap into action to make a miraculous save. In my teams the wingers have to have a unique perspective on the game, much like the keeper.’

• • •

In Pep’s master plan his keeper decides the initial direction of play, the central defenders bring the ball out until it is in their opponent’s half, the pivot and the roaming midfielders move possession closer to the opposition box, while the wingers lie in wait, looking for the chance to score or give assists.

Against Sunderland however, not everything goes to plan. Willy Caballero’s passing is poor and the forwards are nowhere near as effective as Pep would like. Although Agüero scores a penalty three minutes into the game, City struggle to get past the visitors’ banked defence – Sunderland have ‘parked the bus’. Twenty minutes before the end, City’s defence appears to disintegrate and Sunderland gleefully make it 1–1.

It’s looking like Pep’s ‘glorious’ reign is about to get off to a very bumpy start.

But, in the dying moments of the game, Jesús Navas, in a perfect demonstration of what Pep wants his wingers to do, dribbles the ball towards Sunderland’s goalmouth, where defender Paddy McNair, in an attempt to block Fabian Delph, deflects the ball into his own net. A last minute, skin-of-the-teeth triumph but a triumph nonetheless. Things have begun.

A couple of hours later, once Pep has recovered from the high emotion of the game, I ask what he thought of his team’s performance.

‘We started very well and did brilliantly bringing the ball out. Our attacking wasn’t great, though. We should have focused on pressurising their central defence more … It’s a decent first step though.’

• • •

Pep spends time the following morning analysing the game with Domènec Torrent and Mikel Arteta. As always he’s happy to give credit where it’s due: ‘Dome, you won that match for us when you suggested we change to a three-man defence. When we swapped Clichy for Iheanacho, we broke Sunderland.’

During the game, with City in a muddle, Pep had pushed Torrent for suggestions on how to turn things around. The assistant had argued that they had too many defenders on the pitch – Sunderland were so defensive that moving to three at the back would immediately mean more players, numerical superiority, in attacking, creative areas. It worked perfectly and brought City their win. Pep’s keen to acknowledge his second-in-command in front of Arteta. For Guardiola, recognising his people’s successes is a fundamental part of building good team spirit.

Pep’s in a great mood today. He’s been watching the Rio Olympics and is bowled over by the performance of Katie Ledecky, the fabulous US swimmer who has won numerous Olympic medals and world championships in everything from the 200m to the 1,500m freestyle. She’s become one of his sporting idols and he tells anyone who will listen all about Ledecky getting up before 5am to train every day for years, in all kinds of weather. He knows how gruelling her training schedule is, and he is evangelically impressed. ‘I’m a huge fan. What she’s achieved is amazing!’

City win their next nine games and the team keeps improving. There are powerful scorelines, like the 0–5 against Steaua Bucharest in the qualifying round of the Champions League first leg, where Agüero gets a hat-trick – as well as missing two penalties – and City hit the woodwork four times. And the 4–1 victory at Stoke’s bet365 Stadium where the pundits had been predicting Pep’s ideas would end in disaster. Because it’s windy there. The doom-merchants don’t trouble Pep, however – he’s more inspired than ever to prove them wrong. He tells me later, not without sarcasm: ‘A breeze like that couldn’t stop us. Talk about the answer being blowin’ in the wind! It was actually quite bracing. It kept their eyes clear and helped our play.’

And it’s in Stoke that he hears the Cityzen supporters’ new chant for the first time. They’ve adapted the words of the Dave Clark Five’s 1964 hit ‘Glad All Over’ and are roaring Guardiola’s praises: ‘Coz we’ve got Guardiola, yes, it’s Guardiola, baby it’s Guardiola. So glad your mine.’

The goal difference isn’t quite as impressive in their next two clashes: they knock Steaua out with another win, 1–0, then brush West Ham aside, 3–1 at home.

The international break gives Pep the chance to take a breather and review his first month. ‘We’re really happy so far. Things are going much better than we anticipated. Let’s see whether or not they all come back fit from their international duty so that we can then do a really good job of preparing for the Champions League game against Borussia Mönchengladbach. That’s going to be our biggest game of the year so far and we have to beat them to go through to the knockout round. I think we can do it. It’ll be the next step in our process of building something extraordinary here.’

It’s no surprise to hear him describe the 14 September match as their biggest so far. City’s Champions League group now includes FC Barcelona, Celtic and Borussia Mönchengladbach. Of the three, Messi’s Barcelona will definitely be the hardest to beat and Celtic probably the easiest. Which is why Pep is focusing on the Germans. He’s sure that if they win at least one of their games against Mönchengladbach, City will make it through to the next stage.

Just four days before that vital match, already highlighted on his whiteboard, Guardiola faces another huge test. A Manchester derby – at Old Trafford. And he’s extremely tense. This is going to be his first derby in England and he’ll be facing none other than his old enemy: José Mourinho.

If that wasn’t enough, he’s going to have to do it without Sergio Agüero, who’s serving a three-match ban for elbowing West Ham defender Winston Reid in the face during that 3–1 win. Although the ref missed the foul, and Agüero escaped any punishment at the time, the English FA later decided to sanction him for ‘violent conduct’ and issued the ban five days after the match. It all means that Pep is noticeably uptight about the upcoming clash. A Manchester derby is certain to be a significant change from the relatively straightforward wins so far.

United play a 4–2–3–1, with Paul Pogba and Marouane Fellaini behind Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Wayne Rooney and Jesse Lingard in the attacking trident and Zlatan Ibrahimović up front. Guardiola deploys his usual 4–3–3 with Claudio Bravo making his debut in goal. Stones and Otamendi are his centre-backs, Sagna and Kolarov the full-backs, whom he’s asked to play open/wide; Fernandinho, De Bruyne and Silva are City’s midfield; Sterling and Nolito the wingers, and Iheanacho is at centre-forward.

Guardiola’s men play with positional daring against formidable rivals and are two goals up within 30 minutes. Kolarov launches a long ball downfield; Iheanacho and Eric Bailly both jump for it but the Nigerian wins the clash and heads it towards the box, where it looks like it’s going straight to Daley Blind’s feet. De Bruyne, much more alert, beats him to the 40:60 challenge and slots home from his position on the edge of David De Gea’s area. This isn’t the kind of goal you’ll see a lot from the Cityzens. Instead of culminating a sequence of precision passes, this is the result of a very, very long pass of more than 60m fired from deep within their own half. Kelechi and De Bruyne have gone off script. To great effect.

Minutes later, the same two players are involved in the visitors’ second goal. De Bruyne’s curving shot comes off the post and Iheanacho, totally alone in the six-yard box having been played onside by the hapless Blind, calmly tucks it away.

Mourinho can’t be happy with his team’s performance but, as coach, he shares responsibility for his team’s inability to contain City.

Silva and De Bruyne constantly draw United’s midfielders out of position and Fellaini, in particular, is being run off his feet as he chases around like a headless chicken. Pogba just looks bemused, as if he has no idea what’s happening. The two slow, confused United players are totally outclassed by Silva and De Bruyne, who establish complete dominance. De Bruyne, in particular, moves across the lines of attack ensuring that none of the defenders manage to mark him effectively.

Unfortunately for City’s calm procession to victory there’s a road bump, when a bad Claudio Bravo mistake just before half-time radically changes the mood of the game. From a free kick launched in towards the middle of his box, the Chilean goalkeeper tries to catch a ball Stones is about to