Are Manchester City boring or efficient?

When Manchester City won the 2017/18 Premier League title, they were the first champions since Chelsea's 2009/10 triumph to score over 100 goals in a season (106 for City, 103 for Chelsea respectively).

That season, Pep Guardiola led his team to an eye-watering goal difference of +79, conceding just 27 goals in the league. Manchester City would beat Liverpool by just one point to hold onto the title the next season. Although not hitting the heights of before, the City team of 2018/19 still managed to score 95 goals while only conceding 23 goals, becoming champions again with a +72 goal difference.

Watching City now, it's hard to see much resemblance of those scintillating teams.

So far this season, there hasn't been any of the free-flowing, goals-for-fun football that Guardiola transformed the Sky Blues into. In fact, what's been seen is an evolution into a completely different style of play.

In the 14 league games played this season, City have managed 21 goals while conceding 12. That stands at a ratio of 1.5 goals for and 0.85 goals against per game. Compare that to last seasons 2.64 goals for and 1.14 goals against at the same stage of the season, and you can see major drop offs in numbers at both ends of the pitch.

This season has seen City tighten up at the back considerably. In the last 15 games in all competitions, City have kept 11 clean sheets, conceding just six goals. Ederson and company
are letting in goals at an incredibly low 0.4 per game.

What does all this mean though? Why has there been a shift to a defensive mindset?

After losing 2-0 to Tottenham in November, Guardiola enforced a tactical shift. His decision to start games with two defensive midfielders was made to help stabilise the team. The Citizens have since then become the clean sheet specialists, becoming the best defence in the league. Without the double protection of Rodri and İlkay Gündoğan, there is no way City would have climbed the table so steadily.

With their frontline of Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus missing huge chunks of the season, Pep's team have had to alter the way they play. Ferran Torres and Raheem Sterling have taken it in turns to lead the team, but with limited success. Playing without a specialist striker as a focal point, City, therefore, had to ensure that they keep it tight at the back.

In turn, this has lead to the club's performances being, well, a tad dull. Yes results have been good, and clean sheets are always welcome, but the way in which City currently play has ultimately lost the gloss they once had.

The victory over Newcastle on Boxing Day saw City finally finish a matchday in a European position (albeit a Europa League position). Guardiola won't mind one bit at how his City team performs currently. Creeping back into the title race is the agenda, and if that requires boring 2-0 home wins, then so be it.

By 2021's return of the Champions League, however, it will be interesting to see if Guardiola sticks to his new 4-2-3-1. Having often left Champions League knock-out games too open, ultimately leading to City's exits, this new formation may be the perfect setup to guide City deep into the competition.

Until then, City can be expected to continue to churn out clean sheets and low-scoring wins.