After surrendering their Premier League title to Liverpool and finishing third in the 2024/25 season, Manchester City have wasted no time reshaping their backroom staff, with the high-profile appointment of Pepijn Lijnders, former assistant to Jürgen Klopp at Liverpool.
Lijnders, a 42-year-old Dutch tactician, played an integral role in Liverpool’s recent success. His addition to City’s coaching staff is seen as a major coup, bringing with him a reputation for tactical sharpness, high-intensity football, and player development. City’s swift move reflects an intent to refresh their tactical identity heading into the 2025/26 campaign.
A Fusion of Styles: Guardiola’s Control Meets Lijnders’ Intensity
With Pep Guardiola known for his intricate, possession-based tiki-taka philosophy, Lijnders’ arrival could spark an exciting tactical fusion. The Dutchman was central to implementing Klopp’s signature gegenpressing system, a high-octane, pressing-heavy style that overwhelmed opponents and delivered success at both domestic and European levels.
Now, with Lijnders on board, Manchester City fans may witness a new hybrid style, blending Guardiola’s positional play with Klopp-era intensity and transition aggression. The tactical refresh comes at a time when City are eager to restore the relentless energy that defined their title-winning seasons.
Lijnders’ Journey: From Anfield Architect to Etihad Innovator
Lijnders spent nearly a decade at Liverpool, first joining Brendan Rodgers’ backroom staff in 2014 before flourishing under Klopp. He briefly left Anfield in early 2018 for a managerial role at Dutch side NEC Nijmegen, but returned later that year to play a vital role in Liverpool’s transformation into Premier League and Champions League winners.
Reflecting on his coaching philosophy, Lijnders told Voetbal International:
“Our counter-pressing football is at an even higher level. The counter-press is such a powerful weapon for creating opportunities, a moment of chaos in which we exploit the spaces and create openings. We’re capable of sustaining long periods of possession but also know when to attack, especially between the lines where it’s most dangerous.”
Despite a short-lived and underwhelming spell as Red Bull Salzburg manager, where he was dismissed in December after 13 wins in 29 games, Lijnders’ stock remains high. His return to an assistant role may surprise some, especially after previously stating he would not take up such a position again. Yet his appointment at City suggests the project and challenge are compelling enough to warrant a U-turn.
Klopp’s Endorsement: “There’s Nothing He Doesn’t Know About Football”
Jürgen Klopp has never hidden his admiration for Lijnders. Speaking to The Liverpool Echo upon signing a contract extension in 2023, Klopp was effusive in his praise:
“As for Pep, wow. I’ve been lucky enough to meet many, many people in football during my time in the game, and I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone with the energy and enthusiasm he has for this game.
I think I’ve said it before: there is nothing he doesn’t know about football. His passion is remarkable, and his enthusiasm on the training ground every single day is infectious.”
Klopp’s endorsement underlines just how vital Lijnders was to Liverpool’s recent era of success and why his arrival at City could be a game-changer.
New Signings Reinforce Tactical Shift
Lijnders’ arrival coincides with a noticeable shift in Manchester City’s transfer strategy. The club has welcomed Rayan Cherki, Rayan Aït-Nouri, and Tijjani Reijnders this summer, continuing the youthful recruitment approach that began in January with Omar Marmoush, Nico Gonzalez, and Abdukodir Khusanov.
City’s 2024/25 campaign exposed clear shortcomings in athleticism, pressing, and transition play, especially as key players aged and their physical output declined. Opponents capitalised on City’s reduced intensity, something Guardiola is keen to address.
These new signings are not only younger and more dynamic but also tactically adaptable, capable of thriving in a system that demands pressing intensity, positional flexibility, and quick transitions. Cherki brings creativity and unpredictability, Aït-Nouri adds pace and width from the left flank, and Reijnders offers energy and control in midfield, all aligning with a more vibrant and aggressive game model.
A New Chapter for City and Lijnders
While Lijnders’ move to Manchester City may infuriate some Liverpool fans, given the fierce rivalry between the two clubs, it marks a new chapter in his coaching journey. For Guardiola, it’s a bold and calculated decision: adding a tactician who understands modern pressing systems and brings fresh energy to a side looking to evolve.
For Manchester City, the combination of fresh talent on the pitch and tactical reinforcement on the sidelines could be the spark needed to reclaim dominance in English and European football.
