The Untold Stories: Chris Davies Reveals Shocking Insights on Leicester Exit, Swansea Triumph, and Unveils Secrets About Pep Guardiola

Chris Davies has not completely detached himself from football after leaving his position as assistant manager at Leicester City. On the contrary, it has presented an opportunity for him to expand his knowledge and enhance his skills. Recently, he has embarked on a journey to visit prominent clubs in five different countries. "I visited Atalanta and Monaco, returned home to explore Villarreal and Benfica, and then proceeded to Wolfsburg," Davies reveals to We. The purpose of these visits was to delve into the culture and mindset of these clubs, examining their playing style, training methods, and approaches to recovery. The experience proved to be immensely valuable for Davies.

There were fresh concepts. However, fortunately, it was not all unfamiliar. "It was comforting because I didn't return believing that I had been doing everything incorrectly," he chuckles. Villarreal was the place where he truly felt at ease, he discloses. "Possession-based football is at the heart of my ideology."

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Chris Davies during his time as assistant manager at Leicester City

This idea had already taken shape well before his successful tenure at Leicester's FA Cup victory, his trophy accomplishments with Celtic, his title run with Liverpool, and the promotion with Swansea. The crucial factor in his alignment with Brendan Rodgers was that these notions resonated with him.

As a young child sitting in the stands at Watford, he distinctly recalls keeping track of the number of times his team successfully completed five passes in a row. Although it was a rarity, he came to realize at a tender age that whenever they maintained this continuity, positive outcomes were bound to follow.

He discovered a kindred spirit in Rodgers, who assumed the role of his coach during his tenure as captain of Reading's youth squad. Even within the club, resistance was notable at that point. "I recall a touch of mockery from the more seasoned coaches directed at Brendan and his concepts," Davies recalls.

In matchday programmes, I continued to come across comments made by rival managers that seemed to undermine our playing style. One manager in particular went as far as labeling it "academy football" in his notes. It's worth mentioning that this incident occurred during the season when Swansea achieved promotion.

In his twenties, he faced criticism for his unconventional ideas about football, as it was not the norm. Upon joining Swansea, it became evident that the concept was still in its early stages in English football. In the Championship, we stood out as the sole team committed to implementing this approach systematically.

Numerous coaches encouraged their players to showcase their skills and play freely. However, there exists a significant disparity between this spontaneous style and a well-organized system. These two approaches are fundamentally distinct from each other.

"I still witnessed opposing managers in matchday programs consistently undermining that style of play. In fact, one specific manager went as far as labeling it as 'academy football' in his program notes. Interestingly, it was during that very season that Swansea successfully secured their promotion."

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Swansea City players celebrate during their 2011 play-off final win at Wembley

Following their play-off victory at Wembley in 2011, Swansea emerged as the masters of passing in the Premier League, securing a mid-table position through their distinctively patient approach to build-up play. This style of play served as a prelude to the subsequent transformation in football tactics that would unfold throughout the next decade.

In the recently concluded season, Manchester City executed a remarkable 10,581 passes within their own half, with four other teams coming within a 2,000-pass range of this total. However, in the 2011/12 Premier League season, Swansea surpassed all others by a staggering margin of 2,265 passes, achieving a remarkable total of 10,303 passes made within their own half.

"Davies explains that Swansea was the ideal club to embrace their innovative ideas about football. Under the guidance of Roberto Martinez and Paolo Sousa, a new football philosophy was established, which Brendan Rodgers further enhanced upon his arrival. Swansea continues to excel in terms of their stylish playing style."

"Following their departure from Swansea, Rodgers and Davies demonstrated that there were alternative approaches to achieving victory. During his tenure at Liverpool, Rodgers constructed a formidable counter-attacking team. At Leicester, Jamie Vardy emerged as the top goal scorer in the Premier League while being guided by Rodgers."

However, possession remains crucial for Davies. "The fundamental concept of maintaining control of the ball in order to dictate the pace of the game is still, on the whole, the most effective approach for achieving positive outcomes. While there may be alternative strategies that cater to different groups of players, there is a certain level of specificity involved. Nevertheless, in my opinion, it remains the superior method.

"In essence, it comes down to having faith in its efficacy. I become concerned when I hear individuals emphasizing its aesthetic appeal. If you only adopt this style for the sake of appearances, you will inevitably resort to a different approach when faced with challenges. You must truly believe that this style of football is effective."

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I believe Pep Guardiola is a pragmatist, even though some may state that he is a purist. However, I strongly differ in opinion. If he genuinely believed that adapting his approach would lead to better results, he would undoubtedly do so. He is firmly convinced that his current style is the most effective way to play football. And he has consistently demonstrated that he is correct in his belief.

Take, for example, Ederson's ability to launch the ball 70 yards beyond the defensive line, thus introducing a new dynamic in the build-up. This showcases Pep's pragmatic nature. Similarly, when faced with Arsenal's man-to-man pressing, Pep's decision to utilize Erling Haaland as a reference exemplifies his pragmatism.

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Chris Davies and Brendan Rodgers were in each other's company at Leicester. Tactics continue to captivate Davies, who is particularly interested in the various formations employed both in possession and out of possession. "Teams are adopting a 4-4-2 pressing style. The shape popularized by Arrigo Sacchi has made a comeback. However, when they have possession, everything changes as they transition to a 2-3-5."

Content: The build-up play in the Premier League has undergone a significant modification. A recent addition is the concept of pausing, with teams like Brighton excelling at it. They demonstrate a knack for temporarily halting their play, which is different from the previous emphasis on fast-paced, fluid football. By intentionally attracting pressure, they create moments of stillness in the game before accelerating to break through or choosing the opportune moment to advance.

"They possess a solid understanding of the game, refraining from simply executing hasty ball movements along the back line for the sake of speed. Instead, they exhibit patience, recognizing that this approach fails to yield any advantage and does little to outsmart their opponents."

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Kolo Toure (left) and Chris Davies flank Brendan Rodgers on the Leicester bench

Leicester's frustrating decline this season resulted in their drop from the Premier League. Despite consecutive fifth-place finishes and winning two trophies at Wembley, the club's downfall saw the departure of coaches Rodgers and Davies in April. Davies, having experienced years of success with the team, could only witness Leicester's relegation through television and expressed empathy for the people he had worked with.

However, I can only speak highly of Leicester. This truly reflects the amazing individuals there, starting with the exceptional owner. I personally believe that Leicester will be one of the teams to make a strong comeback next year.

He recognizes that it served as a lesson for all clubs on how easily you can falter, but he emphasizes that there was no ill will. "When Brendan addressed the players as we departed, there was still a great sense of unity within the team," he further explains.

Leaving a football club can sometimes feel cynical, but I still experienced a sense of warmth and unity there. However, due to various reasons, we were faced with an unstoppable negative momentum, leading to poor results.

Football is an ongoing journey with no fixed destination. It is a continuous process of creating cherished memories, whether it be winning the league in 2016 or securing the FA Cup in 2021. Leicester will undoubtedly continue to forge new memories for their fans in the future.

Content: Despite the setback, it was just another valuable learning experience in a career filled with them. Along the journey, I had the opportunity to collaborate with the esteemed Jamie Carragher while at Liverpool, whose winning mindset and immense talent were truly inspiring. Although we could have continued benefiting from his expertise, he has found great success in his television endeavors. Moreover, my three seasons at Celtic were marked by utter domination in domestic competitions.

Glasgow is unparalleled when it comes to the intensity of its football culture. With two immense football clubs and a rich history of cultural, political, and religious rivalries, the profound layers of competition are truly remarkable. To truly grasp the essence of it, personal experience is essential. The passion that emanates from Glasgow's football scene is undeniable.

During his time in Scotland, he vividly remembers shouldering media responsibilities, adapting to the intense scrutiny that accompanied it. These invaluable experiences offered firsthand insights into the functioning of top-tier clubs, serving as valuable reference points.

Now officially appointed as Ange Postecoglou's assistant manager at Tottenham and invigorated by his recent club tours across Europe, Davies is steadily advancing as a top-tier coach. Anticipate the Spurs team to reap the rewards of his expanding expertise.