How Will Jesus Navas Change Manchester City's Style Of Play?
£17 million from Sevilla despite having been capped by the Spanish national team 28 times, admittedly many of these appearances being from off the bench. Navas was primarily used as a 'game changer' in a Spain system which is actually very similar to the Manchester City system in that it lacks any natural width. The current Manchester City system is a 442/4231 with the wide players tucking right in, effectively becoming number 10's. This means that the full backs - Zabaleta and Clichy are relied upon to provide the side with width to ensure that the side does not become too predictable. Despite the efforts of the energetic duo of Zabaleta and Clichy, Man City were still left being very predictable far too many times whilst attacking last season. Teams knew that if they defended narrow and deep and allowed the fullbacks to operate in the wide zones that they could clog up the space that City's number 10's - Silva and Nasri thrive in. The signing of Jesus Navas means that Man City are likely to have a change in style of play, it is highly likely that he will be stationed on the right of the attacking band of 3 behind the striker when selected , with two of David Silva, Samir Nasri, James Milner and possibly Yaya Toure operating in the two other vacant zones. With Navas on the right it will mean that City have genuine width on that side of the pitch, thus lowering the responsibility of Pablo Zabaleta. It is likely that when the team is in possession that Zabaleta will often stay quite deep alongside the centre backs. On the other side of the pitch however, the natural narrowness will continue, with the wide player- probably Nasri cutting in on his favoured right foot into the centre of the pitch, this means that Clichy will still be effectively having to carry out the role of two player's - a left back and a left winger. This however will mean that City arent too predictable as there is variation within the side, due to the natural width on the right provided by Navas and the forced width on the left provided by Clichy. This evidence shows that Manchester City may be attempting to shift towards the system that Barcelona often use as their 'plan B', this involves Jordi Alba sitting very deep alongside the central defenders due to the natural width that Pedro provides and on the other side Dani Alves had the responsibility of the whole right side, with Messi tucked in very much from the right. In the Man City system Zabaleta would be performing the role of Alba and Clichy operating in the Alves mould. Whatever system Pellegrini chooses at City it will be interesting how key Navas is to his plans.