Thursday 21 July 2016 10:13, UK
It’s more than five months since Pep Guardiola was announced as Manchester City’s new head coach but in Munich on Wednesday we finally got a glimpse of his side in action.
Up against former club Bayern Munich, his young City side were beaten 1-0 in the Allianz Arena and while the scoreline offered little consolation, the game was not without its intrigue.
Here, Adam Bate takes look at five things that emerged from Guardiola's first game in charge…
Passion and pressing
So it begins. Our first look at a Pep Guardiola City side and the new man certainly looked up for it. His demeanour did not match his casual attire as he screamed instructions from the touchline and regularly ventured outside of the confines of his area. Antonio Conte is the Premier League's new arrival with a fiery reputation but Guardiola is no less committed.
The players were tasked with mirroring this enthusiasm on the pitch and that was always going to be tricky - pressing Bayern doesn't often end well. However, there were signs of the players trying to deny their opponents space and in the second half, in particular, Gael Clichy and others had some success in winning the ball back high up the pitch. Encouraging.
Unfortunate to lose
After being outgunned before the interval, young goalkeeper Angus Gunn was wrong-footed by a deflection off Clichy to allow Erdal Ozturk to score the only goal of the game with a quarter of an hour remaining. It was not an accurate reflection of a second half that City dominated. Indeed, the team appeared to visibly grow in confidence and conviction as the game went on.
Bersant Celina had his moments, Pablo Maffeo and Angelino played with pace and purpose, while Aleix Garcia soon looked at home. But whether young or old, all of the squad appeared engaged and that was reflected in the team's organisation. Not convinced five things can be learnt from a friendly? Guardiola might well feel he learnt even more than that.
Position changes already
City supporters will have been expecting something interesting. Hands up who had Aleksandar Kolarov at centre-back? The Serbian left-sided player has gained a reputation in England for being better going forwards than defending but Guardiola wasn't afraid to ask the 30-year-old to play in the heart of his defence against the might of Bayern Munich.
Kolarov stroked the ball around as might be expected and got caught out for pace once or twice - as might also have been expected. It was no disaster. Clichy even got a go there too so Guardiola is clearly prepared to mix things up. Will Fernando be next to drop into the back line? Fabian Delph to left-back? Rule out nothing. Pep's gonna Pep.
Building from the back
Call off the search? Well, not quite. But while Guardiola reportedly pursues a new goalkeeper, Willy Caballero was the star of the first half, repelling attack after Bayern attack. The Argentine saved once from David Alaba and twice from Julian Green when all expectations suggested he'd be beaten and it was a reminder that City's second-choice goalkeeper is one of pedigree.
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Perhaps the more significant aspect of Caballero's display was his reluctance to hit the ball long. Time after time he indicated for the centre-backs to spread and even hit the occasional fast pass further forward to the flanks. This was a reminder of what Guardiola expects from his keepers, even if Caballero's quest to prove he can be that keeper could be forlorn.
The Bayern template
Expecting too much from City's young squad would have been folly given Bayern's superior quality on show. But rather than be a source of disappointment for City supporters this really should be a reason for excitement. This was Guardiola's Bayern team playing the Guardiola way. City now have the man who made that happen.
The way in which Xabi Alonso and Philipp Lahm (playing in the midfield role that Guardiola moved him to) shifted the ball around at speed was hugely impressive, while the incision in Franck Ribery and David Alaba's play was a welcome reminder that tiki-taka's critics rarely tell the whole tale. It's Guardiola's past but this could be City's future. Bring it on.
