Pep Guardiola could do something he’s never done before in Sheffield United vs Man City

The Manchester City boss will be hoping his side can maintain their perfect start to the Premier League season when they visit Bramall Lane with Juanma Lillo on the touchline.

Pep Guardiola never ceases to surprise us. Every season, the Manchester City manager comes up with a new tactical plan that we find completely ridiculous, but he manages to execute it.

Playing without a striker, John Stones in midfield, not playing full-backs – whatever, he tried. Trying to guess what lies ahead is almost as entertaining as serving football, yet no one would have guessed that Tony Pulis would turn his full attention and play four centre-backs.

The City boss tried the tactic last season and clearly appreciated what he saw as the Blues beat Arsenal to clinch their third consecutive Premier League title.The ploy has yet to catch on this season as Kyle Walker has featured in all three of City’s games so far.

Guardiola also had the audacity to play with two full-backs and two centre-backs against Burnley on Matchday 1.

Pep has sometimes been accused of tinkering for the sake of tinkering, although the results speak for themselves; 11 league titles in 14 seasons as a coach is truly a phenomenal achievement.

More records could be set to tumble this season as City aim to become the first side to ever claim four consecutive Premier League crowns. Guardiola’s sights are firmly set on unchartered territory, and the Blues boss (with a little help from his dugout replacement, Juanma Lillo, though he insists Pep will still be in control) could even do something he’s never done before as a manager as early as Sunday – and his unconventional backline deserves plenty of plaudits if he does.

Never has a team managed by Guardiola kicked off a league campaign with three consecutive clean sheets, including his time in charge of Barcelona and his three years in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich.

The trip to Sheffield United offers him the chance to do just that, with the 3-0 win over Burnley and last week’s 1-0 victory over Newcastle meaning City are already the only team in the English top flight yet to concede a league goal in 2023/24.

While some may find the above relatively insignificant given the time remaining until the end of the season, the Blues’ excellent start to the season should not be overlooked.

Burnley’s dynamic side, playing on the noisy Turf Moor, could easily have dished up their first banana peel of the season, while City should be lauded for their insane Champions League triumph over Newcastle less than 72 hours after winning the Super Cut.

It seems strange to think that there is something in football that Guardiola has not yet achieved. The Catalan manager has dominated the three major European leagues, won three Champions League medals and is undoubtedly the proud manager of the biggest club in Premier League history.

If City leave Bramall Lane without conceding, Guardiola is unlikely to remove the Champions League medals from his coat and replace them with a table printout showing City have yet to concede in three games but that feat would be definitely a message to the rest of the league.

City may be known for their attractive football and complex game, but as someone once said, offense wins games and defense wins titles.