Agreed. The best team will be more of a contain-and-counter side. But I can’t see it commanding enough of the ball to secure the dominance required to get to the 90-100 point mark for a title win.
The best XI I could think of to play Pep style would be something like this:
Sancho---------------Kane----------------------Salah (Richarlison, Pukki, Sarr)
-----------Tielemans---BernardoSilva-------------- (Moutinho, Fornals)
-------------------------Phillips--------------------------------- (Bissouma)
Tierney----Guehi--Christensen---Livramento (Trippier, Ajer)
-------------------Emi Martinez----------------------------- (Pope)
Emi Martinez is good enough on the ball and sweeping that I went with Bernardo Silva as my City choice since it's hard to find a #8 outside of Chelsea who can really keep the ball and I wanted Christensen because he's so good on the ball. Guehi in for the same reason. Ajer is okay on the ball from what I've seen.
Livramento and Tierney are good on the ball and Tierney can play in a back 3 which Pep used to go to and might have to again without a perfect squad. Trippier chosen because he looked fine as an LB for England and can play the Cancelo role if need be out left.
Bissouma and Phillips fight for the #6 role. Bissouma never gives it away and Phillips plays the role well.
Tielemans is good on the ball and can do the things Gundogan does ghosting into goal scoring positions in attack I think. Moutinho is old but good enough on the ball to fill in for an hour or 30 minutes and Fornals works his ass off and keeps the ball well and West Ham are so Moyes-y the next best choice was probably moving Rice back to CB or picking Bowen and Watford only have wingers so I had Sarr. I considered Kilman for his futsal past and good passing stats, but didn't want to start him and couldn't find a Watford or Norwich player I liked as much as their attackers.
Sancho is out of form but he's quality and St Max gives it away too much I think. Also wasn't sure what United player to pick really. Could have gone Shaw and had Saka and think there's a decent case for that. Salah too good not to pick and I don't think Van Dijk is miles ahead at CB anymore when I watch him; Matip certainly outplayed him the last couple times I've seen. Sarr is a good winger. He's way better on the counter but I didn't like any other Watford players really. Maybe Dennis is the right call on form but Sarr is more proven.
Up front, we know he likes Kane and I did feel like I needed someone who can drop deep and score a ton of goals. Pukki is a poor man's Aguero. Richarlison is probably my backup 9 and backup winger since he's played there and Gabi Jesus has similar qualities and Pep uses him out wide.
Weak spots: Backup left-winger, are the CBs good enough overall.
