Pep Guardiola’s recent tactics highlight a different approach to rebuilding Manchester City’s squad amid defensive struggles

Then, from a throw-in, Matty Lund almost got a shot off, but Kevin Berkoe couldn’t find the target. If Salford had kept their cool, they could’ve made it 2-1, and you could see Pep Guardiola was feeling the pressure on his defense.
Paul Scholes was up in the director’s box, and Guardiola was on his knees, both knowing how crucial that moment was. But City quickly turned it around, with Jeremy Doku setting up Nico O’Reilly for a third goal just before halftime, sealing the deal.
Guardiola was happy but also a bit on edge as he saw some sloppy passes. He was quick to give Matheus Nunes some instructions as they headed off the pitch. He was also chatting with Doku before the second half, emphasizing that they need to step up their game, no matter the score.
In the City program, he mentioned that while the last game against West Ham was a win, their performance wasn’t up to par. He knows they have a lot of work ahead to get back to their best.
In his pre-match chat, he expressed concern about their defensive issues, which led to a lineup with only two recognized defenders. The mix-up before O’Reilly’s goal was definitely on his mind.
O’Reilly was playing out of position as a left-back, and they had a few other makeshift players in the backline. With some key defenders out, it was a tough situation. City is looking to sign center-back Abdukodir Khusanov and possibly Vitor Reis, along with striker Omar Marmoush. But it seems like they really need to focus on defensive midfielders too.
Even though they have some depth in defense, two players were missing, and one had to leave at halftime. Youngster Jahmai Simpson-Pusey is doing his best, but he’s not quite at the level of past academy stars.
Interestingly, it was Simpson-Pusey’s clearance that started the move for their first goal. He’s got potential, but it looks like he might not stick around at City for long.
Guardiola’s decision to leave out Kyle Walker was a bold move, and the lineup might have been a message to the board and fans. He’s clearly trying to rebuild from the back, which is classic Pep style.