Pep Guardiola lays out blueprint for the future in Manchester City's win over Everton

On New Year’s Day, was this a glimpse of the years to come for Manchester City? The difficulties of their Premier League title defence have brought feverish talk of a summer rebuild at the Etihad but this defeat of Everton was a reminder that Pep Guardiola possesses the cornerstones within his current squad.

It was the day of the understudy, not least because Gabriel Jesus scored both of City’s goals. Jesus’s name has come up in discussions of who could leave before the start of next season. Even in this match-winning display, you could sometimes see why. His wastefulness and decision-making in front of goal remains a concern. Yes, he scored twice. He could have had four.

But since Aguero’s injury at the start of last month, Jesus’s record is six goals in five league starts with a Champions League hat-trick to boot. There is something to work with here. “He’s young, we cannot forget it,” Guardiola said. “He’s a young, young lad. The way he defends and fights, of course he has to improve, he knows it. We spoke together about what he has to do but I think every day he is getting better and better.”

It was not just Jesus who caught the eye. This was another impressive showing in the centre of defence by Eric Garcia, suggesting he could have been used in the Premier League earlier, right at the start of City’s defensive crisis. Guardiola believes Garcia has a tactical understanding and game intelligence beyond his 18 years of age, and the way he has shouldered greater responsibility over the past weeks suggests he is right.

Phil Foden was handed only his second Premier League start of the campaign but would have opened the scoring if not for Riyad Mahrez straying marginally offside in the build-up. Foden’s performance did not quite reach the same heights as those of Jesus and Garcia but he played his part in the second goal, squaring Kevin De Bruyne’s pass quickly enough for Mahrez to lay on the assist.

And if City’s starting wing-backs are to have careers beyond the summer, then this should be remembered as an important point in their Etihad careers. Both Benjamin Mendy and Joao Cancelo became the world’s most expensive full-back upon their respective arrivals in Manchester. Neither could call themselves the established first choice in their position, yet both looked comfortable playing further up the pitch without wingers to support.

And perhaps more important than any change in personnel was that switch in system, from the awkward hybrid of a 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 that Guardiola has trialled this season to a new way: a three-man defence, with wing-backs patrolling the flanks alone and wide players tucked inside. It was the catalyst for their gradual improvement during Sunday’s win over Sheffield United and three days later, produced an all-round superior performance.

City have struggled all over the pitch in their poorest moments this season but have looked weak through the middle even in some of their better performances. The base of midfield has been particularly vulnerable, with Rodri’s positioning and Ilkay Gundogan’s energy called into question. With an additional body in defence, the centre held better against Everton and so did the press. Richarlison’s goal was on the erratic Claudio Bravo and nobody else. Guardiola was otherwise thrilled with the display.

“We played top,” he declared in his post-match press conference, adding on the subject of the new shape: “We can do it in the future, I’m not disagreeing. We make a really good build-up. The five guys who are there – Eric, ‘Dinho, Rodri, Gundogan and Kevin – they are so good with the ball. Everything that happens starts from there, everything’s better. Riyad receives the ball in better conditions, Phil receives the ball in better conditions and that helps to play better.”

It is arguably a more conservative system and perhaps limits De Bruyne’s ability to influence events further up the field. But given his supreme abilities in all areas of the pitch and City’s leakiness of late, that is an acceptable pay-off. As a blueprint for the second half of the season, this could work. Guardiola may have already conceded the title to Liverpool and City may be ready to consign this chastening league campaign to history, but their first win of 2020 hinted at a promising future.