‘I would ask’ – Jose Mourinho explains why Man City achieved what they couldn’t before

Jose Mourinho has said that extra physicality in Manchester City’s team is a key reason that they broke their Champions League hoodoo last year.

Despite success domestically under Pep Guardiola, the Champions League was always one trophy that alluded City. That was until the 2022/23 season with the team coming out as 1-0 winners over Inter in the final to complete an incredible Treble-winning campaign.

City suffered more disappointment in the competition last week, exiting after a penalty shootout defeat against Real Madrid in the quarter-final. But they bounced back at the weekend to book a place in the FA Cup final with a 1-0 win over Chelsea.

Mourinho, the former Manchester United and Chelsea manager who is known for his sometimes defensive style of football has pointed to City’s success in the Champions League last year, as well as Arsenal’s challenges for the Premier League title. He’s highlighted a tactic that managers are now using.

“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,” he 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.”

He 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 centre-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.