Former Manchester United and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho believes that the physicality of Manchester City’s team was a key factor in their Champions League triumph last year.
Despite domestic success under Pep Guardiola, City had consistently failed to secure the Champions League trophy. However, in the 2022/23 season, they defeated Inter Milan 1-0 in the final, completing a remarkable treble-winning campaign.
Mourinho, known for his sometimes defensive style of football, points to the presence of multiple central defenders in City’s lineup as a significant factor in their success.
“Look to Manchester City, look to Arsenal – just to give two examples. How many central defenders do they have in the team? Sometimes they have six. As a matter of principle. Then they play in other positions,” Mourinho told the Telegraph.
“They play right-back, left-back, they play midfield. But they play with five or six central defenders on the pitch. Why? If I am a journalist I would ask the manager. They feel the need for defensive stability and a defensive compactness.”
Mourinho added: “The way to look at it is thinking how many Champions League years Man City were not successful and the difference in the season they were successful. And I go immediately in one direction – look at the physicality.”
For City, Ruben Dias, Josko Gvardiol, Manuel Akanji, Nathan Ake, and John Stones are the center-backs who have all been used this season, with the likes of Stones and Akanji moving into midfield and Ake playing at left-back. Kyle Walker has also been used as part of a back three.
Mourinho’s comments highlight the importance of physicality in modern football, particularly in high-level competitions like the Champions League.
