One of the major criticisms of Manchester City under Manuel Pellegrini has been a perceived lack of flexibility in terms of the team’s formation.
Pellegrini has favoured 4-4-2 throughout his career. It brought him unprecedented success at both Villarreal and Malaga, and it was the bedrock of his league-and-cup-winning debut season in charge at the Etihad Stadium.
Yet a feeling persists he is too rigid and that his inflexibility has cost City, particularly in Europe against sides with more fluid formations and players with the ability to play a variety of styles.
The 4-4-2 system can leave the two-man central midfield exposed and sometimes overrun when up against three-man midfields.