Since the early 2010s, Manchester City has evolved from an ambitious club to a dominant force in English football. Their journey, marked by dramatic victories, tactical revolutions, and record-breaking achievements, has redefined the Premier League landscape. What began as a historic title win in 2011-12 has since transformed into an era of sustained supremacy, with City consistently setting new benchmarks for excellence. We will explore their rise, the key figures behind their success, and the statistics that underlined their dominance.
The Turning Point: the 2011-12 Triumph
The Turning Point: as one Manchester side starts declining, the other one rises
Manchester City's rise to dominance began with the unforgettable 2011-12 season. Under Roberto Mancini, City won their first Premier League title in great fashion, overcoming an eight-point deficit in the final six games.
Tactically, Mancini's City was built on a solid defensive structure, conceding only 29 goals throughout the league campaign — the fewest in the division. The center-back partnership of Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott provided stability, while Joe Hart kept 17 clean sheets, earning the Premier League Golden Glove.
In possession, City's midfield was orchestrated by David Silva and Yaya Touré, who combined for 22 assists and controlled the tempo of games. Touré, in particular, played a box-to-box role, contributing both defensively and in attack with his 6.7 progressive carries per game.
City's attack, led by Sergio Agüero, Edin Džeko, and Mario Balotelli, was the most potent in the league, scoring 93 goals. Agüero, in his debut season, netted 23 goals, supported by Balotelli's efficiency—scoring a goal every 134 minutes. City's pressing intensity was among the highest in the league, averaging 8.9 opposition passes per defensive action (PPDA), forcing turnovers and launching quick attacks.
Manchester City's first title, Top 8 standings - PL 2011-2012
Consolidation and dominance
Following their first triumph, City remained competitive, capturing a second league title in 2013-14 under Manuel Pellegrini. That season, they outscored all teams (102 goals) and finished with 86 points, two ahead of Liverpool. Players like Yaya Touré (20 league goals), Vincent Kompany, and David Silva were instrumental. However, defensive inconsistencies and Chelsea's resurgence in 2014-15 prevented a successful title defense.
The arrival of Pep Guardiola in 2016 marked another turning point. After an initial adjustment season (3rd place, 78 points), City shattered records in 2017-18, securing 100 points — the first team in Premier League history to do so. Their dominance included:
Most points (100)
Most wins (32)
Biggest title-winning margin (+19 over Manchester United)
Most goals scored (106)
Manchester City's record season, Top 8 standings - PL 2017-2018
Guardiola's management of Manchester City during the 2017-18 season marked a significant evolution in his tactical approach, particularly through the implementation of tiki-taka principles. This style emphasizes short passing and movement, maintaining possession, and creating triangles to facilitate fluid attacking play. Guardiola's tactical framework was built on a foundation of technical excellence and spatial awareness, fostering a culture where players were encouraged to understand their positional responsibilities deeply.
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Pep Guardiola's “Tiki Taka” and building from the back tactics - PL 2017-2018
Building from the back was another crucial aspect of Pep Guardiola's tactics. This approach, often referred to as “juego de posición” or positional play, emphasizes starting attacks from the goalkeeper and defenders, maintaining possession, and gradually moving the ball forward through midfield. Here are some key elements of how Manchester City built from the back:
Goalkeeper's Role: The signing of Ederson Moraes in the summer of 2017 was pivotal. Ederson's exceptional distribution skills allowed him to act as a sweeper-keeper, initiating attacks with precise long passes to bypass the press and find midfielders or full-backs in advanced positions.
Defensive Structure: Manchester City often used a back four, but Guardiola also experimented with a back three in certain situations. The defenders were tasked with playing out from the back, using short passes to maintain possession and draw opponents into pressing, which would create space for City's midfielders to exploit.
Midfield Control: Players like Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva were instrumental in controlling the build-up phase. They would drop deep to receive passes from the defenders, creating triangles and ensuring that City maintained possession while progressing the ball forward.
Pressing Resistance: City's ability to play through high presses was a significant improvement from the previous season. They developed a more cohesive unit that could withstand opposition pressure and transition quickly into counter-attacks once possession was regained.
Manchester City's build-up play was characterized by patience, precision, and a deep understanding of spatial awareness, which allowed them to consistently dominate games and create scoring opportunities.
