Pep Guardiola is known all over the world as one of the greatest football managers ever, a man who thinks about the game in ways that other coaches can’t even dream of. He sees details, he sees patterns, and he sees possibilities where others see only chaos. That is why Manchester City have been so dominant under him. He knows how to use his players, he knows how to bring out the best in them, and he knows how to win. But even geniuses make mistakes. And against Huddersfield Town, Pep made one mistake that many Manchester City fans hope he will never repeat again. That mistake was playing Savinho, the exciting young Brazilian winger, on the left side of the pitch instead of his natural right side.
On paper it may have looked fine. Savinho is young, full of energy, full of confidence, and he wants to prove himself at Manchester City after his £21 million move. He finally got his first start of the season against Huddersfield, and everyone was watching to see how he would perform. Pep decided to start him on the left wing because Jeremy Doku, the usual left winger, was unavailable and Omar Marmoush was injured. It seemed like a simple solution. But as soon as the game began, it became clear that Savinho was not comfortable in that role.
The Brazilian has always said his favorite position is the right wing. That is where he feels free, that is where he can cut inside, that is where he can dribble defenders on either foot, and that is where he can truly shine. But on the left wing, everything about his game looked predictable, one-dimensional, and limited. Time and time again, Savinho would push the ball down the line, trying to beat his marker and whip in a cross. And time and time again, his crosses were either too short, too strong, or simply blocked. He kept running into the same problem and had no solution.
Huddersfield’s Lasse Sorensen deserves credit because he handled Savinho well. But Manchester City fans were left frustrated because they know how good this young player can be when he is in his natural role. Instead, he looked like a shadow of himself. He ended the night with one goal, yes, but even that came after hitting the crossbar and needing a bit of luck before it went in. Apart from that one moment of brilliance, his overall game was full of errors and poor decisions. The numbers tell the story. He lost the ball 18 times, he completed just one dribble out of four attempts, and he managed only three accurate crosses out of eight. For a Manchester City player, especially under Guardiola, that is simply not good enough.
And this is where the debate begins. Some fans say it is normal for young players to struggle when asked to play out of position. Others say Pep should have known better, because Savinho has struggled on the left wing before. Last season against Wolves and Everton, when he was put on that side, he was ineffective and looked uncomfortable. So why try the same thing again? Why repeat the same mistake? Especially when everyone knows that Savinho is at his best on the right, where his creativity, dribbling, and decision-making are far sharper.
To understand why this is such a big issue, we need to look at how Pep Guardiola usually works. He loves versatile players. Josko Gvardiol, for example, is a natural center-back but has been excellent as a left-back. Bernardo Silva can play almost anywhere on the pitch—Kevin De Bruyne even joked once that Bernardo can play in 19 positions. Pep loves that kind of adaptability. But not every player can do it. Some are specialists, some are made for one role, and forcing them elsewhere only takes away their strengths. Savinho seems to fall into this category. He is a winger who needs to be on the right. That is his home.
It is not that he has no talent. In fact, Manchester City paid £21 million for him because they believe he can become one of the next stars of world football. His pace, his skill, his ability to create moments out of nothing—these qualities are real. But if you put him in the wrong place, you take all of that away and you turn him into an average player. And that is what happened against Huddersfield. City still won, but the fans watching could see the difference. Savinho was not himself. He looked frustrated, and he made the fans frustrated too.
Imagine a painter being told to use only half his colors. Imagine a singer being told to sing in a language he doesn’t understand. That is what it felt like watching Savinho on the left wing. He had ideas, but he couldn’t execute them. He had energy, but he had no space. He had chances, but he didn’t use them well. Even his goal did not fully save his performance, because it was clear he was out of rhythm for most of the game.
Pep Guardiola is usually quick to notice when something isn’t working. He makes adjustments, he changes tactics, and he finds solutions. And City fans believe he will learn from this. They believe he will not make Savinho play on the left again, at least not when there are better options available. Because with Jeremy Doku in sensational form, there is no reason to move Savinho away from the right. Doku should remain on the left, and Savinho should fight for his place on the right. That way, both players are in positions where they can do the most damage.
But this also raises a bigger question. Can Savinho truly make it at Manchester City if he only fits one position? Pep’s teams are built on flexibility. Riyad Mahrez, who once ruled the right wing for City, could also play in other areas when needed. Phil Foden, Jack Grealish, even Gabriel Jesus before he left—all of them had to learn how to adapt. Sooner or later, Savinho will need to add more to his game. Otherwise, he risks being seen as too limited for a team like City.
The pressure on him is high. £21 million is not the biggest transfer fee in modern football, but it is still a lot of money for a young player who needs to prove himself. Fans expect him to grow, to improve, and to justify Pep’s faith. And he has shown glimpses of brilliance, enough to make people excited. But nights like the one against Huddersfield remind everyone that he is still raw, still learning, and still far from the finished product.
For now, the best thing Pep can do is keep him where he is strongest. Give him confidence on the right, let him build rhythm, and then slowly teach him new responsibilities. Throwing him into the left wing again and again, when it clearly does not work, will only damage his confidence and frustrate the fans. The goal he scored against Huddersfield may be remembered, but so too will the 18 times he gave the ball away. Those are the numbers that make managers think twice.
In the end, Savinho is young and he will learn. Pep Guardiola is experienced and he will adapt. Manchester City are strong enough to carry these growing pains while still winning games. But this story is a warning. Even the best managers can make mistakes, and even the most talented players can look ordinary if they are not used properly. Savinho’s journey at City is only just beginning, but one thing is clear already: if Pep wants to unlock his full potential, he should never waste him on the left wing again.
For the fans, the message is simple. They want to see Savinho flying down the right, beating defenders, cutting inside, crossing with both feet, and scoring goals that make the Etihad roar. They don’t want to see him stuck in a position that turns him into a one-trick player, easy to read and easy to stop. They know his talent is too big for that. They know he has the ability to become a star. But only if he is allowed to play where he belongs.
And so, the story of Huddersfield vs Manchester City will be remembered for many things. City’s win, Savinho’s goal, and above all, the lesson it gave Pep Guardiola. A lesson that even legends sometimes need reminding: football is about putting players in the right place at the right time. Savinho on the right wing is danger. Savinho on the left wing is frustration. The difference is that simple, and the future of this young Brazilian may depend on whether Pep accepts it.
