How Manchester Citys second-ball strategy helped them beat Newcastle -

It was advice from one of his Bayern Munich players that alerted Pep Guardiola to one of the unique traits of Premier League football.

“I was in Munich and I spoke with (former Liverpool midfielder) Xabi Alonso. He said, ‘You have to adapt, (it’s) the second ball, the second ball’,” Guardiola said in 2016. “I thought, ‘It’s OK, second ball, OK’. But really, you have to adapt to the second ball, and the third ball, and the fourth. I never before was focused on that, never.”

In his quest to have total control of the ball back in his first season at Manchester City six years ago, pressing and counter-pressing weren’t enough. His side needed to add another form of ball retention once the ball was in the air.

Throughout Guardiola’s reign, City’s midfielders, especially Fernandinho and Rodri, have been mopping up the field after aerial duels. Positioning themselves closer to these situations to win the second balls and regain possession allows City to attack quickly on the transition, or to simply circulate the ball before breaking down the opponents.

As customary with all great managers, adaptation is part of the process. And just like Guardiola adapted to the transitions in German football at Bayern, his City side became more aware of winning the second balls.

After the win over Newcastle United on Saturday, Phil Foden’s brilliance — deservedly — got most of the attention, but Guardiola also praised Rodri and his defenders.

“Our back four was brilliant, because they defend well the duels, block the shots and many, many things; they were there,” he said.

Their interceptions and focus on set pieces minimised Newcastle’s threat, but it was winning the second balls that proved to be most decisive.

On the ball, it wasn’t City’s most eye-catching display, but their defenders were ready when Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope went direct — not only for the inevitable aerial duel, but also for the ensuing second ball.

When Pope or any of Newcastle’s back four tried launching one forward…

… Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake and Ruben Dias (blue) were in position for the aerial duel. More importantly, Rodri was around to sweep the second ball. In this example, Dias’ header gets collected by the Spanish midfielder.

City’s alertness in terms of picking up the scraps of possession helped offensively as well, allowing them to start their composed attacks and also providing opportunities to transition.

Their first chance of the game came from winning the second ball after an aerial duel: Dan Burn fires a throw into the penalty box…

…and after Rodri wins the header…

…Kieran Trippier picks up the ball, and is immediately smothered by Ilkay Gundogan (blue) and Rodri. Trippier dribbles past the German…

…but Rodri pounces to pressurise the England right-back…

…and win the ball to start City’s transition…

…which ends with Jack Grealish crossing the ball into the Newcastle box for Gundogan…

…whose header narrowly misses the target.

And both of City’s goals originated from them winning a second ball.

In the lead-up to the first, Jamaal Lascelles launches a clearance forward after Newcastle’s right side halt a City attack…

…and both Rodri and Dias are there — one for the aerial duel, and the other to support and tidy up. The midfielder heads the ball back to Dias…

… and from there, City begin the move that sees them take the lead.

A few seconds later, Rodri switches the play towards Foden…

…and the England international cuts through the Newcastle defence to make it 1-0.

The second followed a similar pattern.

A launched attempt from Pope towards Trippier…

…is contested by Ake. While that is happening, and before the ball reaches Trippier, Gundogan is dropping towards his own goal to position himself for the second ball…

…and prevent Joe Willock from comfortably gaining possession.

Trippier wins the header…

…but the immediate pressure from Gundogan and Ake forces Willock to pass towards his right-back…

…who mistakenly plays the ball in to Ake…

…before City combine down the left for an attack that leads to Bernardo Silva scoring.

It wasn’t the prettiest win but over the years, Guardiola’s City have learnt how to suffer.

Their midfielders and defenders have become more aware of the second balls, adjusting their positioning to press the opponents immediately after an aerial duel.

In 2016, Guardiola knew that to win the Premier League, second balls were crucial. “Here, you have to control the second balls,” he said. “Without that, you cannot survive.”

Four Premier League titles and a handful of domestic cups later, Guardiola has incorporated second balls in his team’s setup.

It is another tool to maintain ultimate control — and for Guardiola, it’s all about that, whatever the method.

ncG1vNJzZmismJqutbTLnquim16YvK57k2tub29iaXxzfJFsZmlrX2WCcLnAp5qhnaOpsrN5wqKrsmWemsSkrdKto55lo5qwsLrDZpmapJyofA%3D%3D