Nicolas Otamendi is ‘The General’ of Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. Pep Guardiola’s most enlightening comments about his Central Defender came when he was asked about the fitness of John Stones.
“John’s return is huge news for us because we have a Superman in the team,” he said. “Nico Otamendi helped us absolutely… without Nico it would not be possible to do what we have done.”
‘The General’ has now become ‘The Superman’.
Usually reluctant to single out his players, the Manchester City boss said “Everybody speaks about a lot of players, like Raheem, Kevin, David, Sergio, and they deserve it, but if I would like to point to some player who deserves all the respect for what we have done until now it’s Nico,” full praise for his main man.
“Nico has been amazing, because he’s a guy who even with pain, even with problems in the ankle, in the knee, in the back, always fights. He’s one of the hugest competitors I’ve ever seen in my life. He was so important as I cannot imagine the situation we would be in, in terms of the table, in terms of the way we play, without him. It would have been impossible.”
Otamendi’s transformation over the past 18 months is second only to Philipp Lahm’s conversion to a central midfielder. Lahm was the key player as Bayern took on a new playing style and won the Bundesliga title quicker than any team has ever won a league title.
Even though Nico has not changed positions he does look like a completely different player now.
Just six months ago his future was the subject of some doubt, only for Aleksandar Kolarov to leave the side. Then everything about the transfer plans changed as the Argentine was handed a new two-year contract, iterating just how important he has become.
This term he has eradicated the kind of errors which undermined him before. He has improved at winning aerial duels, and also has now re-discovered the ability, the timing, and the confidence to play the right pass.
Especially in Stones’ absence he has become invaluable for Guardiola, and highlighted by Nico’s new-found responsibility came against Huddersfield at the end of November, when he played as an extra playmaker.
“Being a central defender in our team is not easy,” Guardiola educates. “You play 40 metres in front [of your own goal], defending a lot of space behind, you have to help us with the build-ups, they can’t just be worried about defending.”
“Right now he’s reading the situations, where the spaces are to pass the ball, amazingly.”
To be precise by November, Otamendi has made more passes (1734) than every single player in the top divisions in England, France, Italy, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands, Turkey and Portugal.
With 92% passing accuracy, 41 headed clearances, 31 interceptions and 24 successful tackles are the numbers to be noted.
“What you have to do when the opponent jumps or when the opponent doesn’t jump. Where are the spaces in front? What are the runs in behind? He’s reading it really, really well, so I’m happy for him, he deserves all our respect for what he has done.”
Guardiola quoted: “I’m really impressed, because it’s not just happened now, it’s from 18 months of working together, and a lot of meetings, talking about what is a good decision, the right way.”
“What I admire the most is that he did not have such skills. For example John Stones can do it, as it’s easy for him. But what I admire the most are the ones for whom maybe it’s not their strong point, but they try and they do it. He does that, and that is…Wow! that is heraldry!!”
Nicolas Otamendi completed 122 passes for Manchester City vs Newcastle – 7 more than all the other Newcastle outfield players managed combined (115).
Super-duper-Man for many reasons huh!!!
Valiente Erebus 