Manchester City rediscover their identity with tactical reshuffle and breakthrough performances at Bournemouth

Sometimes, a season-changing moment comes when you least expect it.

For Manchester City, that moment might just have been a scrappy FA Cup tie at Bournemouth.

It wasn’t glamorous, and the performance wasn’t exactly vintage City. But something clicked.

Pep Guardiola’s team found themselves trailing and underwhelming.

Yet, by the end of the match, they’d secured a semi-final spot—and maybe something more valuable: a rediscovered identity. Guardiola said he saw the fighting spirit return.

And fans saw the surprising rise of Nico O’Reilly, who stepped up as a dynamic left-back. From there, the tide began to turn.

A Tactical Refresh That’s Paying Off

City’s recent revival—five wins in six games—hasn’t just been about passion and energy.

It’s also about tweaks. Guardiola’s known for reinventing the wheel when necessary, and that’s exactly what he did here.

Instead of relying on traditional wingers, he’s played around with a box midfield—a compact square of four central players.

It’s not used in every match, but it’s helped City plug a gap that’s been exploited by opponents since October.

Against Aston Villa, this structure frustrated their attacks through the middle.

And while wingers have mostly taken a back seat, City’s full backs—yes, including the breakout star O’Reilly and midweek hero Matheus Nunes—have stepped up in a big way.

They’ve been pushing high and wide, playing more like wide midfielders than defenders.

It’s a setup that raised a few eyebrows among the coaching staff at first. But it’s working.

Doku: The Super-Sub With a Spark

One of the more intriguing shifts has been Jeremy Doku’s role.

The explosive winger has only started once since mid-March, but his impact off the bench has been electric.

In just 28 minutes across two recent appearances, he’s made things happen—like his stunning assist against Villa, when he tore down the flank and whipped in a teasing ball with the outside of his foot.

Against Everton, he unlocked space for others just by being a threat.

Guardiola’s historically asked his full backs to drift infield, not hug the touchline.

But he’s had a change of heart recently, allowing more width from those positions and calling Doku a game-changer—especially when City are chasing control late in games.

Growing Into the Role

Doku still has some polishing to do.

His decision-making in the final third needs work, and Guardiola’s been clear about that.

“Right now, he does everything at full speed,” the boss said.

“Sometimes, you need to slow down, take a look up, and pick the right option.”

Still, at just 22, Doku brings a unique edge with his pace and directness.

Even if he’s not the finished product, he’s a constant menace for tired defenders—and Guardiola is clearly investing in his development.

From Makeshift Roles to Match-Winning Moments

Plugging defensive leaks with full backs learning on the fly isn’t a textbook strategy, but Guardiola’s making it work.

That cross from Nunes for O’Reilly’s goal at Everton? Not a fluke.

And O’Reilly nearly had a hat-trick of assists in the next game.

Sure, there have been hiccups—Nunes is still adjusting defensively—but players like Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol have been rock solid, cleaning up any messes at the back.

A New Shape, At Least for Now

Tactically, this isn’t your typical City setup.

We’ve seen them roll out a 4-1-4-1, experiment with split strikers like James McAtee and Omar Marmoush, and shuffle between compact midfields and wide threats.

But don’t expect this to last forever.

Guardiola’s hinted that he still prefers natural wingers, just like in the days of Raheem Sterling and Leroy Sané.

With Doku and Savinho in the wings—literally—we might see that classic style return.

For now, though, this tactical shake-up is all about one thing: survival.

Or more specifically, Champions League qualification.

With a crucial summer window looming, Guardiola is doing just enough to keep City on track for what’s next.

So, What’s Next for City?

With the FA Cup semis and the top four race heating up, City’s current approach seems to be a smart short-term fix.

But bigger changes may be on the horizon.

The summer transfer window could usher in a new era—and maybe a return to City’s trademark flair.

In the meantime, expect more clever tweaks, more surprise stars like O’Reilly, and more late-game sprints from Doku.

Guardiola’s got his eyes on the bigger picture, but for now, he’s coaching like every game could change the season.