The first battle of the new year finally saw Pep Guardiola demonstrate the basic qualities of a top manager - of course, not including the mischief at the end.
In the last game of the year, City finally managed to secure a clean-sheet victory against Leicester City at the King Power Stadium, bidding farewell to an unsavory second half of 2024 and temporarily halting their downward spiral. Although they have uncharacteristically fallen out of the top four in the standings, ending the year with a victory is not too bad of a gift.
The staggered winter break in the Premier League is about to begin. After City return to the Etihad to finish their 20th round match against West Ham United, they will enjoy a 12-day respite, coupled with the opening of the winter transfer window. The staunch supporters of the Premier League champions are absolutely confident in expecting better performances from the team in the second half of the season.
Of course, the prerequisite is that they must defeat the Hammers and start the second half of the season with a victory.
After publicly stating "the responsibility lies with me," Guardiola followed through on his words, not only adjusting the formation to 4-1-4-1 but also placing the two recently criticized meritorious captains, Walker and Gundogan, on the bench, and opting for high balls.
City's dismal record over the past two months may have excuses such as injuries and form, but as the head coach, Guardiola's stubborn adherence to his possession-based tactics and relentless pursuit of short passing penetration is the root of all problems - despite Haaland's header level not being top-notch, he shouldn't be reduced to a mere ornament, given his tall stature as a top striker...
In this match, Guardiola placed Savigno on the left flank, and this tactical change quickly paid off - in the 12th minute, the Brazilian winger, who has been in good form recently, dribbled into the penalty area and forced a low shot. Although the trajectory of the ball had already been anticipated by Areola, Cao Fa's unexpected touch caused it to bounce and change direction, flying into the empty net beyond the diving Areola, rewriting the score.
This rare lead for City this season was quickly followed by frequent counterattacks from the trailing Hammers, which posed significant challenges to the reigning champions. The 1-0 scoreline was not safe, but Savigno soon helped City extend their advantage - in the 42nd minute, Savigno dribbled past the unfortunate Cao Fa and lofted a pass to the far post, where the arriving Haaland leapt high to head the ball into the empty net, making it 2-0.
Just ten minutes into the second half, Savigno brought the ball from the left flank towards the center and delivered a precise through ball to assist Haaland's second goal. In this match, Savigno was directly involved in three goals - one own goal and two assists, delivering his best performance since joining City.
Three minutes later, West Ham made a back-passing error, and De Bruyne intercepted the ball before laying it off for the unmarked Foden to easily push the ball into the empty net. With the score at 4-0 just past the halfway point of the match, the outcome was no longer in doubt. However, Guardiola's inherent obsession began to stir again - in the 61st minute, he simultaneously brought on Walker and Gundogan...
Walker was on the field for less than three minutes before being outmaneuvered by Somerville, ultimately having to commit a foul and receive a yellow card. As for Gundogan, his effectiveness in the holding midfield position clearly did not match that of Kovacic, and the momentum of the game actually changed in the final moments.
In the 72nd minute, Füllkrug scored with a central push, and the cross provided to the German striker by Soucek was completed right under Walker's watch. If it weren't for the limited capabilities of the Hammers' attacking group, there might have been a chance to spoil the reigning champions' first match of the new year. The final statistics showed a possession ratio of 55% to 45%, nine shots to 17, and six shots on target to four, indicating that City did not have an absolute advantage.
But perhaps this is the change after Guardiola's self-reflection - City's long-awaited big victory was won through efficiency. Before Walker and Gundogan came off the bench, City were in absolute control of the game, with a completely rejuvenated team spirit. If Guardiola had discovered his problems earlier, City would not now be 11 points behind Liverpool after playing two more games.
City's realistic goal is still to compete for the top four; without the championship, they can always come back, but losing their Champions League qualification would be a real disaster.