From Klopp to Guardiola: How Pep Lijnders Is Transforming Manchester City’s Playing Style

Manchester City may have invested over £150 million this summer on five new signings, but perhaps their most game-changing addition didn’t cost a dime—and won’t step foot on the pitch.

In early June, Pep Lijnders, the former assistant to Jurgen Klopp and a key figure in Liverpool’s recent golden era, officially joined Pep Guardiola’s coaching staff. The move didn’t dominate headlines like a blockbuster player transfer might, but its implications could reshape Manchester City’s identity on the pitch.

Lijnders wasn’t just an assistant—he was Klopp’s tactical brain in many ways, overseeing training sessions and guiding the evolution of Liverpool’s aggressive, high-tempo football. His arrival signals more than just staff reshuffling; it may mark the beginning of a tactical transformation at the Etihad.

Two Philosophies Meet: Pressing vs. Positional Play

Historically, Guardiola’s philosophy has been rooted in positional dominance—slowing the tempo, dictating the rhythm, and using carefully orchestrated passing sequences to break down opponents. In contrast, Klopp—and by extension, Lijnders—championed high pressing, vertical attacks, and chaos-engineered transitions.

But those boundaries have been blurring. Guardiola has increasingly borrowed from Klopp’s playbook to cope with the Premier League’s pace and physicality, while Klopp incorporated elements of Guardiola’s controlled buildup to stabilize Liverpool. Now, with Lijnders onboard, City may be entering a new hybrid phase.

Guardiola Acknowledges a New Football Era

Guardiola himself admitted the game has evolved.
“Today, modern football is how Bournemouth, Newcastle, Brighton, and Liverpool play,” he told TNT Sports. “Modern football is not positional. You have to ride the rhythm.”

That’s a profound statement from the man who helped define positional play for more than a decade. And the stats back him up—fast breaks and direct attacks are rising, while PPDA (passes per defensive action) continues to fall, indicating more pressing across the board.

City Are Already Adapting — and Lijnders Is Central

Even before Lijnders arrived, subtle shifts in City’s tactics had already begun. In the 2024–25 season, City’s average possession dropped from 65.5% to 61.3%. Meanwhile, fast breaks increased by 36%, and long balls from Ederson became a regular weapon to bypass high presses.

A standout in this transition is Omar Marmoush, signed in January. Known for his direct dribbling and off-the-ball runs, Marmoush represents a clear move toward more vertical attacking patterns. Since then, Rayan Cherki and Tijjani Reijnders have arrived—both technically gifted, aggressive carriers of the ball, not typical Guardiola-style metronomes.

These players aren’t about neat triangles and patient buildup. They’re designed to break through lines with pace and unpredictability—hallmarks of “Lijnders-ball.”

Full-Back Evolution: A Shift in Width and Risk

Another major hint? The signing of Rayan Ait-Nouri, one of Europe’s most attack-minded full-backs. In previous seasons, Guardiola had often used central midfielders and centre-backs in full-back roles to control possession. Ait-Nouri changes that dynamic completely.

Last season, he ranked second among Premier League defenders for successful dribbles (63), sixth among full-backs for progressive carries (89), and was in the top three for expected assists (5.5), goal involvements (11), and touches in the opposition box (96). His profile screams Klopp-style wing-back—and now, Guardiola has him.

A Tactical Rebirth Underway

It’s clear Guardiola is building “Man City 2.0”—a version more in tune with the modern rhythm of the Premier League: faster transitions, more risk in possession, and greater emphasis on verticality.

Fans will have questions. How will Marmoush and Cherki coexist in the same attacking zone? Will Ait-Nouri and Jeremy Doku operate together on the left flank without sacrificing defensive balance? Can Reijnders bring enough structure to this more aggressive midfield?

What’s certain is that Manchester City are entering a new phase—one shaped as much by Lijnders’ intensity as Guardiola’s structure. This collaboration may mark Guardiola’s sharpest tactical pivot yet, an embrace of the chaos he once resisted.

And if the early signs are anything to go by, it may just be his most important evolution.