Positive approach pays dividends for Guardiola

The setting was the wine lands of South Africa, the sport rugby, but it could just as easily have applied to soccer in Manchester and Ireland, or to Gaelic football, especially in Ulster.

Speaking at a conference in the Stollenbosch Academy of Sport a fortnight ago, an experienced, romantic yet ultimately pragmatic coach called Alan Zondagh challenged the mindset of the attending coaches by explaining a concept he has termed the Rugby Speedometer. To the left of his speedometer there is the more conservative, slow game. Defensive play and structure is paramount — lineouts, mauls, scrums, kick-offs. Don’t run it or pass it — kick it. Make it a 10-man game.

To the right then there’s the positive, creative, fast game. It’s all about rapid movement of the ball and off the ball. You throw the ball around, not just kick it away. Of course, you still put a value on structure and defensive play but you expand on those non-negotiable fundamentals.