adminWest Ham United will be cautious when they face Manchester City at the London Stadium this weekend. A wounded team can be very dangerous, and Pep Guardiola’s side will be desperate to respond after their humiliating 3–0 defeat to Real Madrid in the first leg of their Champions League tie. Ernesto Valverde’s Madrid dominated the contest, exposing several weaknesses in City’s setup.
While it may be ambitious to think West Ham can replicate Madrid’s performance at the Santiago Bernabéu, there are still valuable lessons Nuno Espírito Santo can take from that match. One of the key issues for City was how easily Madrid played through their midfield.
The high press that once defined Guardiola’s side looked far less effective, allowing Madrid to move the ball forward with ease. Rodri and Bernardo Silva struggled to control the center, leaving large spaces that were exploited by clever positioning and movement.
West Ham have players capable of doing something similar. Goalkeeper Mads Hermansen has been extremely reliable with the ball since replacing Alphonse Areola, boasting one of the best pass completion rates among goalkeepers in Europe.
Axel Disasi is also comfortable in possession, while Mateus Fernandes has developed a reputation as one of the Premier League’s most press-resistant midfielders. If West Ham can remain composed while building from deep, they may be able to bypass City’s midfield pressure and create attacking opportunities.
Another area where West Ham could hurt City is behind the full-backs. Real Madrid’s opening goal came after Thibaut Courtois launched a long ball over the defense, exposing Nico O’Reilly’s inexperience at left-back. City may once again field makeshift full-backs, which could leave them vulnerable to pace.
Although West Ham will be without Crysencio Summerville, Jarrod Bowen is rediscovering his scoring form and Adama Traore could provide a major threat down the flank.
Traore has troubled Guardiola’s teams before, famously scoring twice in Wolves’ 2–0 win over City in 2019. Targeting City’s wide defensive areas with pace and direct runs could give West Ham a real chance to cause problems.
Defensively, however, Nuno’s side must also remain disciplined. Manchester City’s wide attackers—such as Jeremy Doku, Savinho, Antoine Semenyo and Rayan Cherki—can be devastating if given space. Real Madrid limited their influence by doubling up on the wings and preventing one-on-one situations.
West Ham will likely need a similar approach. If Bowen and Traore track back to support their full-backs, players like Aaron Wan-Bissaka could once again neutralize threats such as Doku. By combining solid defensive organization with quick counter-attacks, West Ham may find a way to trouble a wounded Manchester City side.
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