Kaka employs a spinning playing style, not one that relies solely on speed.
Ronaldinho's even worse, a "super spinner," playing too delicately and severely impeding the team's progress.
Based on Sporting Lisbon's style last season, in evenly matched conditions, they could usually try five or six threatening attacks in twenty minutes.
But now, just two, and neither resulted in a goal.
While quality remained the same, the frequency decreased, which is an indication of weakening.
Guardiola was keen to see what Deng Kai would do.
Would he scold Ronaldinho?
This is a method every core player tries when the team loses its grip, but at the early stages of team integration, it can easily sow seeds of discord within the squad.
"Hmm? What's this... switching flanks?" Guardiola was somewhat surprised.
Deng Kai had actually taken the initiative to swap wings with Kaka.
He was planning to…
"Guardiola, find me!"
