Taming the Salah Storm: Guardiola’s Masterplan for City’s 3-0 Derby Triumph
10 November 2025
Tactical blueprint to neutralize Salah
Pep Guardiola, Manchester City's manager, revealed the plan his side implemented to blunt Mohamed Salah during the 3-0 victory over Liverpool in the Premier League. He praised the defensive discipline and organization that limited the Egyptian's influence.
City's high-press and compact shape allowed them to win back the ball quickly and deny Salah the spaces he usually exploits. Guardiola noted that the plan hinged on coordinated marking from the left side of the defense and steadfast support from midfielders to trap Salah when he received the ball.
Match significance and quotes
In a post-match reflection cited by the Liverpool Echo, Guardiola called the win a "gift" for his 1000th game in management, highlighting the performance of teammates and the battles these fixtures demand. He said he was delighted by how his players stepped up against a major rival and praised the spirit shown in every phase of play.
The game unfolded with City taking the lead after Haaland's early penalty was saved, before a second-half surge produced a second and then a late third to seal the result. City controlled the tempo, while Liverpool struggled to test the defense and goalkeeper in the first half and into the second.
Guardiola explained that the second half required extra attention to individual duels. "We had a great first half, but the second required us to win more battles," he said, praising the backline for its resilience and the left-back for tracking Salah with tight support from midfield.
He stressed the importance of preserving defensive shape while keeping attacking rhythm. "We must win those battles, and we did more of that after the break," he added, noting improvements in the team’s collective duels and positional discipline.
Regarding Salah specifically, Guardiola stated that Salah has been "a nightmare for defenders for years," but his staff lined up a plan with a dedicated marker and help from three or four teammates whenever Salah touched the ball. "We made life difficult for him," he said, highlighting the effectiveness of the strategy in turning the game in City’s favor.
The coaching staff, including the new assistant Leinders and others, were credited with implementing the plan, while Conor Bradley helped anchor the wide areas and contributed to the overall defensive structure.
City’s 3-0 victory keeps them in second place in the table, four points behind the leaders, while underscoring Guardiola’s ongoing emphasis on defense-led transitions and tactical adaptability against different opponents.
In summary, Guardiola’s blueprint worked: Salah was contained, City’s defense and press functioned as designed, and the result reinforced City’s status as title contenders while heightening the tension at the top of the table.
Caption: Getty Images photo of City celebrating after the win.
Punchline (Sniper 1): City’s plan was so tight, Salah’s GPS probably redirected him to the bench without a detour. Punchline (Sniper 2): If Guardiola ever did stand-up, the punchlines would come with an offside flag and a high-press round of applause from the crowd.
