Kaizer Chiefs boss Arthur Zwane looking cool in the heat. Image: @kaizerchiefs / Twitter
Kaizer Chiefs boss Arthur Zwane to emulate Pep Guardiola at Man City?
Kaizer Chiefs are about to have a surplus of central defenders at the club. We’ve got a suggestion that he mimics Pep Guardiola at Man City with a subtle tactical tweak.
Kaizer Chiefs boss Arthur Zwane looking cool in the heat. Image: @kaizerchiefs / Twitter
Kaizer Chiefs have signed a pair of top-quality PSL defenders, which gives us a wild notion that they could have a peep at Pep Guardiola over at Man City and copy one of his tactical tweaks.
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KAIZER CHIEFS WELCOME DITLHOKWE AND MSIMANGO
With the arrivals of Thatayaone Ditlhokwe and Given Msimango, the Glamour Boys have augmented their central defensive options. Siyabonga Ngezana is enjoying a renaissance at the club after a difficult star to 2022-23 and Edmilson Dove is one of the more dependable players at Naturena. In short, Arthur Zwane has a lot of defensive options at his disposal. So, how can he reshuffle them? The boss could do a lot worse than mimicking the work of Pep Guardiola at Premier League and FA Cup champions Man City.
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Man City manager Pep Guardiola made a subtle but noticeable change to both his formation and tactical approach when he tasked central defender John Stones with inverting into midfield early in 2023. Guardiola has routinely deployed three at the back and then Stones and holding midfielder Rodri in front of them. Essentially, he utilizes four central defenders at all times in a fluid formation.
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At the moment the first-choice central defensive quartet is Stones, Ruben Dias, Manuel Akanji and Nathan Ake, and there’s also the more than capable Aymeric Laporte in reserve. 33-year-old Kyle Walker, still blessed with electric pace, can also slot into midfield with ease like Stones does. City’s hunt for a historic treble reaches its climax on Saturday when they face Inter Milan in the Champions League final.
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WHY WOULDN’T CHIEFS EMULATE CITY AND PEP?
Both Msimango and Ditlhokwe are now on board so there’s no reason Arthur Zwane shouldn’t be deploying four central defenders in varying systems next season. Ngezana was one of the club’s most improved players at the back-end of the campaign, and we all know he is capable of filling in at right-back and in the centre of defence. Add Edmilson Dove to the mix, a man who has deputised at left full-back before, and you have a perfect replica of the Guardiola system. Two specialist central defenders, and two versatile men able to make various formations work. Perfect.
How about it, 10111?
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Meanwhile, hit up James Freemantle for more insights, analysis and love for the beautiful game.
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