Guardiola Privately Laments Modern Football Becoming Increasingly Data-Driven, Lacking Players' Improvisation

In today’s football world, maverick players seem to be increasingly scarce. Currently, players with excellent running ability and physical strength are more sought after, and those who can accurately execute NFL-style tactical instructions often get more opportunities. However, Saël Kumbedi is an exception. He is not a typical modern attacker; he has a free-spirited soul. Other top clubs might have long discarded such players, but he feels like he’s from a bygone era—and that’s not a bad thing.

Pep Guardiola once confided to friends that modern football matches rely increasingly on data, leaving players with little room for improvisation. This makes it easier to understand why Manchester City spent £31 million to sign Kumbedi from Lyon this summer. Plagued by injuries, Kumbedi has yet to play a full 90 minutes for City in the Premier League, adapting to English football at a gradual pace. After City’s loss to Aston Villa last week, Guardiola noted that Kumbedi’s game time, beyond his talent, depended on “other factors.”

Ahead of the match against Bournemouth, Guardiola elaborated on his views. He pointed out that the team needed balance, hinting that the lineup against Villa was overly attack-heavy. Figuring out how to start both Kumbedi and Phil Foden was a matter requiring careful thought. Given Bournemouth’s threat on the counterattack, continuing that experiment wasn’t advisable. Yet the final result turned out well.

With Matthijs de Ligt unfit to start, Kumbedi and Foden were paired in the lineup. This seemingly unexpected decision delivered an impressive performance by full-time: Kumbedi provided two assists, Foden one, with both involved in all three goals and creating five chances in total. The match wasn’t perfect, but the signs were positive overall.

With 17 minutes left, Guardiola substituted Kumbedi, and the entire crowd stood to applaud, paying tribute to the maverick’s excellent display. Such players have a unique charm—one of the reasons fans used to pay to watch games on weekends. This charm has seemingly faded in recent years. If City’s coaching staff can fully tap Kumbedi’s potential and let this flamboyant style shine again, it would undoubtedly be another remarkable achievement.