在再次成为大逆转的背景板时，瓜迪奥拉瘫坐在场边，一脸失落，而卜拉欣-迪亚斯等人却肆意庆祝。哈兰德则表现出消极的肢体语言，对防线球员接连出现的问题感到沮丧。在短短三周内，曼城经历了三场强队对决，全数告负，被对手打入12球。这意味着瓜迪奥拉围绕哈兰德和萨维尼奥进行的“英伦风”改造彻底失败，如今如何平衡攻守似乎已成无解难题。
问题依旧存在，即使拿下“问题球员”
自2019/20赛季以来，曼城与皇家马德里四次交锋于欧冠淘汰赛阶段，看似战绩相当，但实际上，他们始终是比赛中的主导者，在伊蒂哈德展现了统治级表现。然而面对技术和经验都十分突出的西甲球队，曼城脚下技术优势并不明显，其跑动与身体对抗能力才是真正制胜之道。
首次击败皇马时靠的是小个阵容的小快灵打法；而后来血洗敌手，则仰赖高大阵容的力量与技巧。但如今这两种法宝均不复存在，因此瓜迪奥拉选择加固后卫、放弃中场、寄希望于中锋。从热苏斯和斯特林领衔的快速反击组合，到罗德里与哈兰德撑起的大型阵型，传统英式“身体流”的控局方式曾让他们掌握主动权，并逐渐用精湛技艺撕开皇马防线。不过随着前场小个子组合瓦解及核心老化，这一切也随之崩溃。缺少罗德里的情况下，中场漏洞百出，使得瓜帅不得不停留在长传冲吊或慢速传控之间，却效果皆差强人意。
策略调整未能奏效
尽管引进努内斯、科瓦西奇以及福登等被认为“不够可靠”的球员，同时改变格瓦迪尔和伯纳多-席尔瓦的位置来应付姆巴佩，但这些措施仍显不足。当科瓦西奇搭档伯纳多担任双后腰的时候，加上努内斯及格瓦迪尔镇守两侧，就会陷入艰难境地：既无法有效展开攻击，也难以承受长期失去控制后的压力。因此，为避免巴黎圣日耳曼及阿森纳带来的教训，他将科瓦西奇和努内斯置于替补，将伯纳多推向前方，让格瓦迪尔回归中路支持石头，此举虽不能改善渗透性，却可以增强防线厚度，以遏止贝林厄姆同其他前三名选手间建立联系。
M市面临重重挑战
首发五名后卫，再加上频繁参与护航任务的萨维尼奥，使得本轮赛事变得异常严峻。而沃克离队之后，没有任何一个人在单挑状况下能够限制住姆巴佩，因此，本役策略为包围他。安切洛蒂非同寻常，不再如马雷斯卡那般轻率安排高位压迫，而是在鼓励积极施压同时构建稳固后防体系，从而令贝林厄姆可自由运作，无论是推进还是反击，都能避开雅典娜推动进攻，多点突破提升速度给力。同时其4-4-2架构不仅具备瞬间施压能力，还很好地保护禁区内部空间。但是对于蓝月亮而言，他们除了采用高位逼抢外别无它法，由此造成体能迅速耗竭.
No speed or skill left in "giant formation"
A week ago, after suffering a heavy defeat from Arsenal, some legends suggested that Manchester City should prioritize defense during strong matchups and rely on direct connections between backline players and Haaland to counterattack. With Ederson, Aké and Ruben Dias returning to the lineup, it didn’t mean they could easily adopt a defensive style; their play habits along with personnel configuration made them incapable of lowering their posture.
The relentless barrage from Real Madrid's frontline proved too taxing for City's defenders as Guardiola was forced into continuous substitutions. The entrance of Rico Lewis, Gundogan, Kovacic and Foden dramatically weakened Manchester’s ability to withstand pressure against Real Madrid’s intense tactics.
Towards the end of the game ,the physicality advantage held by younger substitutes revealed itself when mistakes began piling up among those entering: Foden ,Lewis,and Kovacic gifted opportunities for rivals’ turnaround .In contrast,the positions once occupied by Rodri,Gundogan,and Walker in last season's treble-winning squad are now filled with less experienced talents.The absence of Walker combined with Ake being injury-prone has resulted in an inability within City’s defense capable enough to make crucial tackles leading Stones' men needing retreat under mounting pressure resulting loss possession became inevitable.Guardiola repeatedly emphasized “our issue isn’t lack of speed but rather our incapacity controlling ball,” which is not unfounded at this point