Manchester City focused relentlessly on offense, while Aston Villa stayed committed to a compact, defensive game plan—making the tactical contrast immediately clear.
The roar from the stands inside Wembley Stadium was deafening. Yet despite the energy in the air, the match was beginning to feel frustratingly one-sided.
City dominated possession, but O'Neill couldn't afford to feel optimistic. Their attacking moves led nowhere. With no breakthrough in sight, he instructed both full-backs to drop deeper and help stabilize the backline—hoping the shift might coax Aston Villa into committing more players forward and loosening their grip on defense.
