Manchester City’s recent defensive slumps have coincided with Aymeric Laporte’s injury. In addition, the duo of Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones had a tough time and their defensive mistakes haven’t strengthened their case. City’s overall defensive structure encountered problems and Ederson had to step up multiple times to keep the score as it is.

Laporte’s absence isn’t harming City defensively only though. The Spaniard is a key player for City offensively in terms of breaking down deep oppositions using vertical line splitting passes and cross field diagonals. The types of passes that City have missed lately as Otamendi isn’t that type of player, and Stones’ recent injuries along with his decline in form haven’t helped either.

An example of Stones’ recent issues can be seen in the picture below. Gundogan is well positioned between the lines, but Stones opts to play the safe pass to the right. Stones’ reluctance to play the vertical line splitting pass has been an issue for the defender lately which is harming City’s ability to progress the ball up the field especially against deep oppositions.

Stones not able to play Gundogan who is well positioned between the lines

The idea of playing Fernandinho as a center back has been on Pep Guardiola’s mind since last season with the former having been fielded in a half center back half midfielder role in the 3–1 win against Arsenal at the Etihad.

Injuries and decline in form left Pep with few options to start with at the heart of the defence, and against Crystal Palace he decided to field Fernandinho and Rodri Hernandez as a center back pairing. Considering Guardiola’s track record of undecipherable formations and innovations, this wasn’t surprising.

The midfield duo helped City progress the ball faster up the field and played the ball directly between the lines. The evident thing though was how Fernandinho and Rodri positioned themselves alongside Gundogan. In a 1–2 setup rather than the usual 2–1, meaning that in the build up phase City sometimes appeared to be in a 1–4–4–1 shape.

City’s shape during the build up phase

The theory behind this is that opponents who are playing in a 4–5–1 formation would have their 8s busy with City’s 8s, and the opponents’ wingers busy with City’s full backs leaving the forward as a piggy in the middle between three City players.

The build up players now should have more time on the ball and if they are pressed by the opponents’ 8s it leaves City’s most threatening players in the space they seek the most.

Fernandinho had plenty of time on the ball against Palace as Palace’s midfield line were keen to keep their structure. Here Fernandinho is surrounded by multiple Palace players but none press him, leaving him with plenty of time on the ball to make a decision. The Brazilian played the ball into Gabriel Jesus who then rotated the ball, and Kevin de Bruyne had a penalty shout inside the box.

The 1–4–4–1 build up was at present again on Saturday against Villa. Ilkay Gundogan was City’s best player on the day, and in the first half he occupied that role of the build up player in the left channel.

An early example came in the 5th minute with John McGinn too concerned with David Silva and Trezeguet tracking Benjamin Mendy, Gundogan had the space to play a vertical pass towards the dashing Raheem Sterling.

Sterling’s run was excellent, however the final pass was intercepted by Bjorn Engels.

Gundogan had the time and space of his life from that position which enabled him to showcase his passing ability during the game. He again fed Sterling on the left wing, but the forward’s combination play with David Silva was intercepted by Frederic Guilbert.

City’s performance in the final third was underwhelming despite having an excellent build up phase. This perhaps could be seen in David Silva’s chance in the 42nd minute. Gundogan advanced forward as Aston Villa’s lines dropped deeper and was completely free to receive Sterling’s pass.

Sterling gave the German the ball, and sprinted inside the box. Gundogan’s through ball found the dashing Sterling who then laid it off to David Silva.

It was Gundogan’s positioning and City’s shape in the build up along with the runs of the forward players that made him able to pick that pass. The finishing improved in the second half, and City were able to bypass Aston Villa but their new build up shape has definitely helped them in the absence of Laporte.

City have tried this build up shape in only three games, two mentioned above and against Atalanta in the Champions League. However, in the Champions League game it didn’t work as Atalanta transitioned smoothly from 3–4–1–2 to 3–4–2–1 to nullify City’s build up players.

The idea in theory makes sense, and in practice kind of worked against Palace and Aston Villa. Two teams who set up in a deep 4–5–1 shape which City’s build up scheme is most useful against. It’s yet to be seen though whether this is a one-off or a tactic that Pep will use against deep teams who play in a 4–5–1 shape.

After all, City’s miseries in defence could turn out to be another solution to break down deep oppositions.