Tactically They Were Much Better — Inverted Full-Backs Were Back

Guardiola initially used Philipp Lahm as a narrow fullback in Bayern's build-up and progression, and then adopted this tactic at Manchester City but last season he tries to change it a little bit.

"Really difficult, they played really well. We found it very hard. Tactically, they changed. Walker and Cancelo played either side of Rodri, no full-backs. We found it difficult to cope when they got it wide. Tactically they were much better and we hadn't prepped for that it was tough.” David Moyes

With these words he described his suffering in this game and dealing with fullback positioning of the fullbacks, and this is our analysis to explain why David Moyes and his players struggled to have the ball.

The Scottish coach was surprised by Walker & Cancelo narrow positioning, Antonio was responsible for to run towards Dias, while wingers with fullbacks.

And here the chaos began, Lanzini didn't know who to press, if Rodri makes a move he can receive and Walker is free so he needs to mark him, while Fornals, the left winger, didn't know who to mark, cutting off the passing lane to Foden and forcing him to leave Walker.

Rodri takes the step and Walker is free, Soucek was with Gundogan while Rice with De Bruyne, creating a space between them where Haaland drops off to receive the ball from Walker, who passes the ball back to Rodri to circulate the ball.

Ake has the ball, Cancelo takes the winger inside to open the lane to Grealish, who received the ball without any pressure, because of Gundogan’s positioning, so Coufal had to stop.

After ten minutes, the situation still the same, Lanzini with Rodri, Walker moved horizontally to receive the pass from Ake, putting the Spaniard in a pickle, cut off the lane on Foden or track Walker, then he decided to stay.

Then Walker played the ball to Foden, who received the ball without pressure, then he passed the ball back again to Walker.

Again Rice with KDB and Soucek with Gundogan, Haaland drops but Walker decides to shift play to Grealish which hits Lanzini then he gets the ball again and circulates it.

The ball with Ake, Antonio seems tired of chasing centre backs, so Bowen the right winger, tries to put pressure on Ake while covering Cancelo who makes a move to get the ball, then he switches the play to Foden.

Rodri drifts on the left side to receive the ball from Ake, Fornals moves towards him, Cancelo was higher than his usual place, so Gundogan shows up and drops to support Rodri.

Gundogan who passing the ball to Ake, to play it back again to Rodri, Bowen wasn’t aware of Cancelo, while Soucek was tracking Gundogan which means that Cancelo is free.

Soucek leaves Gundogan free and goes ahead Cancelo, while Bowen doesn’t track Gundogan, Haaland runs in behind Hammers’ defensive line, which giving citizens the lead from a penalty.

Moyes mentioned that he tried to change at the half-time, and he did, the right winger, here Lanzini was responsible for Foden, in the meanwhile Rice stepping up from his initial place from marking KDB to mark Walker, leaving the responsibility of KDB to Creswell.

And with these adjustments, Rice got all the trouble, Rodri drifts into the left side,

Scamacca tries to stand between Walker and Dias, Benrahma cuts off the passing lane on Foden, Walker makes a move and he is between and behind the first line. Walker receives the ball, Rice here shouting at Scamacca to mark Walker, because he marks Foden.

Again Rice pointing at Scamacca to mark Walker, because KDB occupies him.

Nothing new, Walker get the ball, Hammers didn’t know what to do

So even Moyes’ modifications didn’t make that impact to change the game for him, he’s tactically beaten in the first game in 22/23. and he finished his press conference with, “ We tried to press high up and we couldn’t near them today, I hope the next time we play them we’ve done it”.