"When Jack Grealish arrived from Aston Villa for 100m in 2022, he was one of English football's most audacious, improvisational talents a player unafraid of expression. But the free roaming virtuoso of Villa Park became, for better or worse, a cog in Guardiola's relentless possession machine: his dribbles per game dropped by 40% in his first season at the club, and his flair and freedom was swapped for a regimented support role."
"even if some fans longed to see more of the old Grealish. Danilo, the former City defender, said that working with Guardiola was like being at university and being brainwashed but in a good way, adding that he had played football in completely the wrong way before he arrived in Manchester. Riyad Mahrez, Phil Foden, Joao Cancelo and Bernardo Silva have all had to adapt their style or move on."
Pep Guardiola typically fine-tunes players, enforcing control, structure and repetition that can suppress individual spontaneity. He has transformed talents into regimented roles, reducing dribbling and improvisation while delivering team success. Jack Grealish saw his dribbles per game drop by 40% after joining Guardiola, yet contributed to multiple trophies. Some players adapt their style to fit Guardiola's methods; others depart. Rayan Cherki arrived from Lyon for £34m and retains a sharp, unpredictable edge. Guardiola's handling of Cherki appears more accommodating, testing the balance between system-driven coaching and preserving individual flair in elite football.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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