Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola admitted that he overthinks and comes up with “stupid tactics” in the Champions League but would not have it any other way as he prepares for Tuesday’s quarterfinal tie with Atletico Madrid.
Guardiola, a two-time winner of the competition as a manager with Barcelona, has not won the trophy in 11 years and his teams have often fallen in the knockout stages due to unexpected tactical tweaks and team selection which have caused his system to fail.
“In the Champions League I always overthink — new tactics, tomorrow you will see a new one. I overthink a lot, that’s why I have very good results in the Champions League,” Guardiola told reporters on Monday.
“It would be boring if I always played the same way. If people think I play the same against Atletico and Liverpool, I don’t like (that).
“The movements are different, the players are all different with different personalities. That’s why I overthink and create stupid tactics. Tonight I take inspiration and I’m going to (come up with) incredible tactics tomorrow.”
City are up against an Atletico side that knocked out Manchester United in the previous round and Guardiola said there was a ‘misconception’ about how Diego Simeone sets up his teams, explaining they are not as defensive as they seem.
“It’s more offensive than people believe, he doesn’t want to take a risk in the build-up but they have quality in the final third,” Guardiola said.
“When the ball is in our half, how competitive they are, depends on the position and movement — they know exactly how to play. In the moments of the game, these situations, they are really good.”
City midfielder Bernardo Silva echoed his manager’s sentiments and praised the Spanish champions’ organisation on the pitch.
“We don’t know what to expect, if they press high or go low and wait for us,” Silva said. “We know they will be aggressive, not give us space. It will be tight, it won’t be an open game.
“They are very competitive, organised, with a specific style of play. It wasn’t easy for United (in the last-16) and Liverpool two years ago. It won’t be easy for us, but if we follow Pep’s plan it will work out.”
