5 ways Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho are tactically different

4) Pep's counter-pressing vs Mourinho's low pressing

The managers shake hands after the derby

Guardiola has infused extra energy in the City line-up as they press the opponents as soon as the ball is lost. The aim is to win the ball back quickly or force the opposition to a negative transition. The entire idea of counter-pressing is to prevent the opposition from making counter-attacks.

Each City player presses the opposition to force them to lose the ball. What Guardiola has added with the pressing, is swift counter-attacking.

As soon as the ball is revived, Kevin De Bryune and David Silva look to play forward passes to Sergio Aguero (Kelechi Iheanacho since his suspension), Nolito and Sterling, as the pacey trio make inward runs to the opposition box.

Mourinho, however, prefers his team to defend deep and try to not concede a goal. All eleven players stay in their own half waiting to win the ball from the opponent. Central defenders Eric Bailly and Daley Blind had done a commendable job till the City game, before, De Bryune and Iheanacho found gaps in the defence.