The Spanish midfielder has gone from being Pep Guardiola's defensive stalwart to the complete central midfielder. And along the way he's developed into a key cog in Man City's attacking machine.
I have been banging that drum about KDB’s physicality and carrying for ages; I think that because a) his passing is beautiful and b) he doesn’t _look_ elite athletic, that aspect of his game is overlooked by many. Great piece
Thanks Alex! Really appreciate the kind words. And yeah it's such an odd one. I suspect it may also be a case of him not really "bulking up" until later in his career, so perhaps most of us still thinking of him as that tall but rather skinny midfielder at Wolfsburg or Chelsea before becoming the world class player he now is at Man City. But he's obviously noticed it himself and tried to make ammendments: why else would he have that new grizzly beard?
Ha yes absolutely this. I think there’s also a thing here with Pep’s evolution. He prizes big lads more than you’d think for the manager of Iniesta and Silva and Xavi. The current City team is very physical
Yeah he definitely does. And it’s interesting to ponder whether that’s just his own evolution as a manager or just him reacting to English football. Considering how much he adapted to the Bundesliga with Bayern, I’m inclined to suggest the latter. Which suggests he’s far more malleable with his tactics and systems than most perhaps think.
I have been banging that drum about KDB’s physicality and carrying for ages; I think that because a) his passing is beautiful and b) he doesn’t _look_ elite athletic, that aspect of his game is overlooked by many. Great piece
Thanks Alex! Really appreciate the kind words. And yeah it's such an odd one. I suspect it may also be a case of him not really "bulking up" until later in his career, so perhaps most of us still thinking of him as that tall but rather skinny midfielder at Wolfsburg or Chelsea before becoming the world class player he now is at Man City. But he's obviously noticed it himself and tried to make ammendments: why else would he have that new grizzly beard?
Ha yes absolutely this. I think there’s also a thing here with Pep’s evolution. He prizes big lads more than you’d think for the manager of Iniesta and Silva and Xavi. The current City team is very physical
Yeah he definitely does. And it’s interesting to ponder whether that’s just his own evolution as a manager or just him reacting to English football. Considering how much he adapted to the Bundesliga with Bayern, I’m inclined to suggest the latter. Which suggests he’s far more malleable with his tactics and systems than most perhaps think.