Gary Neville marvels at the defensive strength of Manchester City

‘This is the most physical Guardiola team’: Gary Neville marvels at the defensive strength of champions Manchester City as he pinpoints crucial victory at home to Newcastle as the turning point in their surge to the title

  • Manchester City lifted their fifth Premier League title in six years on Sunday
  • Gary Neville says the current team is the most physical Pep Guardiola has had
  • Jamie Carragher heaped praise on the City manager for ability to change styles

Gary Neville has claimed the current Manchester City side is the most physical team Pep Guardiola has had in his managerial career. 

The Cityzens secured the title after Arsenal lost to Nottingham Forest on Saturday, and lifted the trophy for the fifth time in six years after beating Chelsea a day later.

Guardiola’s side trailed Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal for much of the season but managed to take destiny into their own hands after thrashing the Gunners 4-1 last month. 

However, Neville believes the turning point for Man City came in the 2-0 win over Newcastle in early March, when Guardiola solved his defensive issues according to the former Manchester United defender.  

Speaking on Sky Sports, Neville said: ‘I was watching City over a period and it felt they were encouraging teams and Guardiola was trying to win the league in the most beautiful way. Cancelo leaves in January, everyone was talking about the problems at left-back. 

Manchester City sealed their third consecutive Premier League title in a memorable weekend

Pundit Gary Neville (pictured) heaped praise on the English champions’ strong defence 

The former Man United defender says City’s team is the most physical side Guardiola has had

‘I believe the point of change was Newcastle at home on March 4th. Against Forest, Pep was trying to get Bernardo Silva to be a hybrid left-back, he charges into midfield, all of a sudden it gets really quick, you saw City conceding goals like this, they were giving teams encouragement.

‘Against Bournemouth he played Lewis at left-back, rarely you see Man City counter-attacked four on three. They’ve got that gap where a left-back would be. They can see the goal, they’re about to play Newcastle and Palace. You’ve got difficult wide players, two games where you couldn’t mess about in.’

‘It’s interesting listening to Pep talking about proper defenders. Think about Ake and Akanji at left-back, that is not a very Guardiola sort of teams. It feels like a trend with four centre-backs. This is the most physical Guardiola team,’ Neville continued. 

City have now won the Premier League in five of the last six seasons, with Liveprool pipping them to it in the 2019-20 campaign.

Former Reds defender Jamie carragher praised Guardiola for his ability to switch playing styles, pointing out to the wins over Liverpool and Arsenal. 

‘Against Liverpool they went with the same system but Stones was in midfield,’ Carragher said. 

‘They were losing 1-0. Liverpool haven’t had a great season but they’ve been the biggest challengers in the last four or five years and City battered them.’

‘With the Arsenal game Pep goes more direct because he knows Arsenal’s centre-backs can’t cope with Haaland and De Bruyne. The Real Madrid game will be a game for the ages. They’ve beaten the best teams at home and abroad convincingly.’

Neville pointed to the win over Newcastle in March as the turning point in the title race 

Jamie Carragher heaped praise on the City manager for ability to change playing styles

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