Before emphasising the qualities De Bruyne possesses during the attacking phase it’s important that the theory of ‘Juego de Posicion’ or positional play is understood. Simply positional play is where the players adapt to the location of the ball meaning that there is numerical superiority wherever the ball is located. This means that versus a man-orientated defensive scheme the opposition will be drawn into the ball meaning that 1 v 1 situations are created elsewhere on the pitch.

Above you will see 4 vertical lines which represent an opposition’s typical back 4. Using these guidelines players must situate themselves within the 5 zones meaning that these 5 zones are always occupied. It also gives us the opportunity to inter-change positions. For example Barcelona play with a 4-3-3 attacking structure. The centre zone in front of the opposition’s back 4 will usually be occupied by the striker, the two half-spaces by the two wingers and then the two wide zones by the two fullbacks. Having knowledge of the 5 zones means that if the right winger occupies the right wing, the fullback will know to position himself within the right half-space meaning that the 5 vertical zones are occupied. Under the positional play philosophy no more than 2 players may occupy the same vertical zone whilst no more than 3 players may stand within the same horizontal zone.

These horizontal zones are present on what’s called ‘Guardiola’s pitch’ above. This is how Guardiola sets up his training pitch allowing his players to get to grips with this philosophy.

Kevin De Bruyne during the Attacking Phase

Above as a result of the 5 vertical zones Manchester City have outnumbered Manchester United’s back 4. Notice how a 2 against 1 has occurred on United’s right side. This is a win-win situation for City. If Valencia occupies the right half-space (De Bruyne’s zone) then the wide zone is free for Nolito and vice-versa.

Here notice how Nolito began in the left half-space and is now moving into the left wide zone (left wing). De Bruyne has followed up this movement by positioning himself in the left wide-zone and is now moving from the left wide zone into the left half-space. Notice how the right half-space is empty. Later on in this move De Bruyne notices the empty right half-space, and occupies this zone.

It’s not only the attacking phase that Guardiola has improved De Bruyne’s game. He’s also improved his game during other phases of play.

De Bruyne touches from first half

De Bruyne touches from second half

Although De Bruyne played as a ‘number 8’ in the first half and as a ‘number 9’ in the second half notice how De Bruyne is still picking up the ball in the 5 vertical zones. For a team that don’t play with a positional play philosophy the striker dropping deep and coming out wide so much would be a weakness as the central pocket between the midfield and defence ‘zone 14’ would be unoccupied. But of course City don’t have this problem as City’s players adapt to De Bruyne’s movements meaning that all 5 vertical zones are occupied, and that no more than 3 players are always present in the same horizontal zones giving City good depth within their attacking structure.

When we think of the best attackers in the world we think of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. Then in that next category we think of Neymar, Luis Suarez, Sergio Aguero and Gareth Bale. Over the next three years in Pep Guardiola Kevin De Bruyne will be coached by probably the best manager in possession of the ball that there is, and under Pep’s guidance I believe De Bruyne has the qualities, and if his tactical knowledge continues to develop as it has done then he will not only be of the quality to get into that second category of players, but to get into that very top category.