Thread by @city_tactics

De Bruyne creating from False 9.
Opposition centre backs beware 1/

When KDB plays False 9 he tends to be the F9 option who wanders furthest from the forward position for City. This can create problems for opposition centre backs who are being asked unusual new questions 2/

For this Sterling chance in the first half yesterday De Bruyne has moved into a left midfield position to receive the pass in space from Stones 3/

When De Bruyne receives the ball, Mahrez sprints off down the wing, taking his full back and Mari, the centre back, with him.
City’s central midfielders are advanced and Holding has been tempted into Bernardo before turning and sprinting towards his own goal 4/

These are not situations defenders are used to dealing with and their decision making is often confused by the new problems being posed 5/

Sterling runs in behind Bellerin directly into the space Holding has vacated when tempted in to mark Bernardo. His sprint back is too late.
Sterling is also taking advantage of the deeper backline created by Mahrez run which tempted Mari to go back with him 6/

De Bruyne plays the perfect pass and Sterling should score but dithers and the chance goes.
It was a great example of the confusion a False 9 can cause for opposition centre backs. Their decision making directly created the conditions for Sterling to be put clean through 7//

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