Manchester City’s defensive deficiencies further exposed by Klopp’s vibrant Liverpool

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Liverpool and Manchester City showdowns have developed into popular Premier League fixtures in recent years, and the arrival of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola was expected to enhance the competitive rivalry between the two clubs. Sunday’s clash at the Etihad was not only vital in regards to the current top four race, but stylistically, it also highlighted the growth witnessed throughout the league over the past 12 months.

Although the attacking philosophies vary between the two managers, the emphasis on dynamic pressing and clever passing combinations suggested the possibility of a potential goal-fest. But, unlike previous meetings against Klopp’s Reds, the hosts were dominant in the opening period.

Guardiola decision to employ a 4-2-3-1 meant David Silva operated in his preferred no.10 role, whereas Kevin De Bruyne sat deeper in midfield alongside Yaya Toure. The most intriguing change in Guardiola’s XI witnessed Fernandinho start at right-back, where he pushed forward at every opportunity and quickly pressed James Milner when the Liverpool left-back received possession.

Interestingly enough, City’s ability to stretch the pitch through Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling’s positioning created more space in central areas for David Silva to drift into. Silva’s positioning, here, was integral to City’s dominant spells, yet the hosts created majority of their chances in wide areas via overloads and incisive passing into half spaces.

Fernandinho and De Bruyne both delivered dangerous crosses into the six-yard box within the opening 15 minutes of the match, whereas Sane also created dangerous chances that resulted in a Simon Mignolet save, and a last-ditch tackle from James Milner to deny Sterling an easy tap-in. Later on, Milner was once again the key cog in denying City an opener following De Bruyne’s brilliant reverse pass to Silva in left half-space, but Guardiola’s approach was fairly successful in terms of field positioning to get the better of Silva and De Bruyne’s creativity.

A string of Liverpool chances towards the end of the half offered signs that they were growing into the game, but their poor start was down to sloppy passing and their reluctance to swarm Guardiola’s men in the early stages. Sadio Mane was presented a glorious breakaway following a poor John Stones back pass, whereas Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana both tested Willy Caballero.

Gael Clichy rarely pushed forward with fear of leaving vacant space for Mane to charge into, and despite Firmino’s positive link up play when he dropped into midfield zones, Liverpool’s possession was tedious, opposed to efficient in the final third. Liverpool’s positive spell continued in the second half, and Clichy’s slip subsequent to Emre Can chipping a pass over the City defence for Firmino led to a penalty that Milner comfortably converted.

Liverpool were now free to revert to a narrow 4-5-1 with the intent to hit City on the counter and one break ignited by Firmino and Philippe Coutinho forced Caballero into a vital save around the hour mark. Toure was now a liability in transition, and Guardiola quickly sacrificed the Ivorian for a natural right-back in Bacary Sagna, thus pushing Fernandinho into midfield. Toure’s decline has been evident in recent seasons, but with Coutinho easily gliding past the City midfielder in the aforementioned move, the possibility of Liverpool increasing their lead appeared evident.

However, Guardiola’s substitution was followed by Silva moving alongside Fernandinho, while De Bruyne hugged the touch-line on the right flank. Therefore, Sterling, Aguero and Sane operated centrally with the former as the no.10 – but his wayward passing limited his influence – while Sane constantly aimed to run behind the Liverpool defence.

Aguero, on the other hand, moved into wider areas to evade the pressure applied by Joel Matip and Ragnar Klavan when the Argentine received the ball with his back to goal. For all of the speculation associated with Aguero’s future under Guardiola, here, his reliable finishing was his downfall, whereas his linkup play was fairly positive.

Nevertheless, City responded superbly following Guardiola’s alterations. Silva’s starting position was deeper, while De Bruyne delivered two dangerous crosses into the box before creating Aguero’s equalizer shortly afterwards. Guardiola’s decision to move his creative cogs away from the congested midfield zone was logical, and though it led to more chances, City remained vulnerable in transition.

Lallana missed a glorious chance set up by Firmino, and minutes later Mane’s powerful run from midfield resulted in the aforementioned Brazilian firing a low effort into side-netting. Meanwhile, besides Sterling breaking behind and nearly chipping Mignolet, and a wonderful individual effort from Aguero – when he dropped into a deeper zone in the left channel – De Bruyne and Silva architected City’s best moves down the right flank. Both men created opportunities for Aguero to notch a winner, but the Argentine’s profligate finishing ensured the score line remained deadlock at full-time.

In a truly enthralling end-to-end game, the performances from both sides epitomized the current obstacles preventing a proper title challenge. Where Liverpool still lack a reliable goal-scorer despite their devastating high-octane brand of football, City’s defence and lack of protection in midfield outweighs Guardiola’s riches in the final third.

 

Chelsea’s new system faces potential halt against energetic Spurs

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What a difference a few weeks make. Ask Antonio Conte’s Chelsea side and they’ll provide a detailed summary.

Consecutive losses to Liverpool and Arsenal left many questioning Conte’s merit as an elite manager, whilst declaring the Blues out of the title race before it really began. Now, they sit top of the Premier League, scoring 17 goals and recording six clean sheets in that span, yet all it took was a simple tactical shift following the arrival of David Luiz and Marcos Alonso.

Chelsea now look like a well-equipped machine with all the tools capable of mounting a legitimate title challenge, and finally stepping away from the Jose Mourinho aura that’s incessantly floated around West London for over a decade. Unlike the Portuguese manager’s initial departure – where the Blues failed to find a new identity – Conte has stamped his philosophy at Stamford Bridge in a fair manner.

But the significant feat in Conte’s brief success in England was his overall approach to the situation. Roman Abramovich’s rash decisions to freely sack managers based on the club’s form was no secret to the Italian, yet he still carried forward in a pragmatic manner.

Avoiding the mistake of attempting to make initial drastic alterations like Andre Villas-Boas and Filipe Luiz Scolari, two foreign managers that were hired based on success abroad was wise. Also, Conte couldn’t rely on Mourinho’s failed approach like previous managers, so the Italian simply offered the players a chance to prove their worth in a defensive-oriented 4-1-4-1 heavily based around structure.

The Blues simply didn’t possess the personnel to operate in the 4-2-4 Conte previously deployed prior to his appointment at Juventus. Moreover, Conte also didn’t have the centre-back options to accommodate the 3-5-2 that was successful during his tenure in Turin. A 4-1-4-1, on the other hand, was logical because the Blues simply didn’t have a No.10 that could dominate or win games in a free role.

Interestingly, this was the default Chelsea system till the turn of the decade due to the abundance of top-class central midfielders at Stamford Bridge. Carlo Ancelotti attempted to stray away from the system with some success with a 4-4-2 diamond and eventually the 4-3-2-1 Christmas tree system, but Conte doesn’t possess similar quality midfielders.

This has to do with the West London clubs brief obsession with diminutive technically gifted players following their Champions League triumph. Chelsea moved to a 4-2-3-1 and were slowly playing captivating football but were retrospectively feeble in central areas, lacking a creative cog and ball-winner to protect the back four.

Although Chelsea enjoyed a perfect start to the Conte era, the performances weren’t convincing, as the Blues struggled to create chances from open play. Ultimately, individual lapses and a peculiar defensive approach – sitting off technically gifted dynamic sides and not applying pressure in their own half – left many questioning the quality of current crop of players and Conte’s ability to succeed overseas.

Consecutive dropped points could serve as in indicator that change was required, and it was certainly beneficial that injuries in key areas enabled Conte’s system alteration without dissent. Two of last season’s major underachievers Cesc Fabregas and Branislav Ivanovic were eased out of the XI, and though John Terry started the season well, at some point this season Conte would have to consider a future without the Chelsea captain.

Conte tried it their way and Chelsea were played off the park by potential title rivals Liverpool and Arsenal, and more worryingly conceded eight goal in three games. With Terry and Ivanovic injured, and Fabregas failing to impress like many Chelsea supporters hoped he would against former club Arsenal, Conte’s switch to a 3-4-2-1 was not only logical, but desperately required.

Frankly, late deadline day signings were possibly acquired specifically for this system. Marcos Alonso was one of Serie A’s standout defenders in a left wing-back role for Fiorentina last season, whereas David Luiz impact with and out of possession is significant.

Luiz’s most recent display against Middlesborough striker Alvaro Negredo displayed astute defending and the aggression that’s not associated with the Brazilian. Likewise, the 29-year-old’s proficient passing typifies the defender as deep-lying playmaker from centre-back, as he consistently builds plays with long diagonals into the channel – this is also essential due to Fabregas’ exclusion deprived the XI of a genuine ball-player in deep zones.

More so, Chelsea’s 3-4-2-1 frees Eden Hazard of lengthy defensive duties – now he roams into central positions from the left, drifts into space in the channels, and is beginning to shoot more, which is significant to his world-class form. Pedro Rodriguez is also familiar with coming off the right flank and utilizing his speed to break beyond the defence in a three-man attack.

The midfield duo consisting of N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic is built around dynamism and quickly regaining possession, thus providing the Blues with the solid base they’ve lacked in recent years. Meanwhile, Diego Costa’s rediscovered the goal-scoring form that widely regards the Spanish international as one of the best strikers in the sport.

“Diego is a very good player,” Conte said. “It’s important for me, for his teammates, to see that in every game, Diego works a lot with the ball and without the ball. He’s an example for all. And I want to continue this way.

“If he continues to score, I’ll be very happy. But I’ll be happier to see this commitment, this work-rate during training and in games, to work with the team with and without the ball. If all the players are able to think in this way, it’s fantastic and we’ll be a good team, a very tough team to play.

But possibly the most fascinating aspect of Conte’s shift is their current run of clean sheets. Once proving to be a pair prone to mistakes, Luiz and Gary Cahill have been near flawless, and Cesar Azpilicueta has adapted superbly to an exterior centre-back role. Elsewhere, Alonso and Moses offer proper balance at wing-back: Moses is a tricky dribbler, while Alonso’s crosses from the left are consistently dangerous.

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Modern day Premier League teams predominantly utilize three-man defences as a reactive system to the opposition, but Conte’s Chelsea are currently bucking the trend. Coincidentally, this week’s MLS East final showcased the potential risk in wide areas when playing a back-three, yet even in this respect, Luiz and Azpilicueta’s recovery runs negate this threat. But similar to the last time Chelsea were defeated in the league, upcoming fixtures against Spurs and Manchester City will provide proper tests.

Evidently, Chelsea improved in every area subsequent to the formation switch, but their performances are equally reminiscent of a genuine title contender. Conte’s men have comfortably dispatched of Everton, Leicester, and Manchester United at home, whereas their away wins at Hull, Southampton and Middlesborough were professional and tidy, thoroughly displayed defensively solidity and togetherness.

In particular, this weekend’s derby with the former should be cagey following Chelsea’s late recovery which put an end to Spurs’ title run at the conclusion of last season. Mauricio Pochettino’s men can match Chelsea’s strength in midfield with Moussa Dembele and Victor Wanyama, congest the box with Vincent Janssen’s presence, or even rely on the intricate passing and vertical threat of Son Heung-min, Dele Alli and Christian Eriksen. Still, it will be interesting to see how the Spurs manager attempts to halt the Blues’ fine form.

“It’s a good challenge for us to go and play them at the moment,” said Pochettino. “They are in very good form. They have a great manager that I know very well and they have great players too,”

“It’s an advantage not being involved in European competition or the cups now. They have time to train and develop their philosophy. They are, not only in England but in Europe, the team most in form today.”

Spurs haven’t been overly-impressive domestically, but still remain the sole unbeaten side in the league, aiming to disrupt the sharp passing Chelsea displayed in recent weeks. Still, injury woes at the back, the suspension of Danny Rose, and favourable battles in Spurs’ third suggests the Blues are favourites t build on their flawless streak. Similar to in-game substitutions or the appointment of a new manager, teams tend to improve following change, further justifying the fascination involving Chelsea’s form.

The culture shift at Stamford Bridge is well underway, and though non-involvement in European competitions is valuable, Conte’s intensity and meticulous defensive regime could see Chelsea utilize 3-4-2-1 as their optimum shape until additional recruits join the club. Nevertheless, Conte’s bold decision signifies a new era at Stamford Bridge, as he is one of many foreign managers reviving the tactical proficiency English football recently lacked.

 

Mauricio Pochettino’s Spurs must rediscover attacking mojo at Arsenal

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The North London derby is now regarded a prominent fixture in what many are classifying as the most compelling title race of the Premier League era. Historically speaking, Arsenal tend to always finish above Spurs, and though that also occurred last season, it’s worth noting that they were both runners-up to Leicester City.

If this were any other year, it would be a brief catastrophic failure for Spurs, but considering they were in the title race within the final weeks of the season, and finished within the top four, Mauricio Pochettino’s side were a product of optimism and growth. But following Manchester City’s recent dip in form throughout October, the two North London sides can still be considered in the title hunt.

Over the last decade, both teams have been renowned for challenging for the final Champions League spot, but now, they’re making a genuine stake at being annual title contenders for contrasting reasons. Arsenal represent a stable side that’s welcomed two world-class players in recent years, whilst avoiding regression unlike Manchester United and Chelsea.

On the other hand, Pochettino’s formed a youthful cohesive team built around organized pressing, quickly regaining possession, and the meteoric rise of Harry Kane. Spurs are one of the few Premier League sides that epitomize the definition of unit, and burnout was the of the few factors in their eventual collapse towards the conclusion of last season.

“It was the first time our players had ever experienced this type of situation and it was very difficult,” said Pochettino. “When you lose your objective, like we did when we lost the chance to win the league at Chelsea, it was tough for them to manage the situation.”

Likewise, an early exit in the Europa League and the ability to name a fairly unchanged side for majority of last year’s campaign was integral to their title challenge. This season, injuries to first-team players, along with the additional midweek Champions League fixtures have disrupted Spurs’ attempt of replicating their aforementioned success.

Coincidentally, the contrast between Spurs and Arsenal extends to the current campaign as well, with the latter enjoying a great run of form since their opening day loss to Liverpool, whereas Spurs have scored a solitary goal from open play in six matches. Although Pochettino’s men remain unbeaten domestically, there’s a clear issue regarding their attacking philosophy.

On paper, though, it’s quite straightforward: the full-backs stay close to the touch-line beyond half, and the centre-backs split into half-spaces as the holding midfielder drops deeper to ensure Spurs play out the back. Kane could come short or spin-off his marker into the channels, while the attacking midfield trio cleverly combine intricate passes in the final third.

Yet, Spurs generally spurn several chances around the box, and remain at their utmost best when they win possession in midfield and quickly facilitate the ball towards goal. Kane’s finishing and link-up play has been missed – the England international has scored 36 per-cent of Spurs league goals in the past two seasons – but more importantly, Tottenham’s passing has been sloppy and laboured.

The Gunners, however, are scoring goals for fun with key players Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, and the returning Olivier Giroud showing signs of ruthless efficiency. It’s believed that form weighs no significance on the eventual outcome of a derby, and that may play a factor here, as well, but it provides an interesting element to this anticipated rivalry.

Stylistically, though, the match favours Spurs, who equally produced their best performance of the season against a Manchester City side obsessed with possession.

“The performance was nearly perfect. To play a great team like Manchester City, you need to do a fantastic job. For that, I’m very proud of our players; work,” Pochettino said afterwards.

“Today, collectively, we worked very hard — all the players were fantastic. It was a real exciting game. Both teams played in an exciting way. We share a similar philosophy.

Spurs’ display could prove to be one of the standout performances of the season as they never allowed Pep Guardiola’s men time to settle, despite succumbing to fatigue and conceding a handful of legitimate goal-scoring opportunities in the second half. Likewise, even when Tottenham flustered City with their energetic man-to-man pressing in midfield, they continuously wasted opportunities in the final third. It was a clear indicator that even at their best, Pochettino’s men could improve their productivity in the final third to overshadow their inability to build play from the back

And while Pochettino was heavily credited for Spurs’ fitness levels last season, his star performers have now endured a severe dip in form since Euro 2016. Christian Eriksen’s creativity has been non-existent in terms of breaking down deep defensive lines, Eric Dier’s moved to a centre-back role and doesn’t appear required in midfield with Victor Wanyama in most situations, whereas Dele Alli has yet to convert quality chances into goals – the partnership developed with Kane could also be a factor in the Spurs youngster’s stagnation.

Interestingly enough, the pressing Spurs have been renowned for could be a decisive tactic against an Arsenal side that also monopolizes possession. Still, the Gunners are equally devastating on the counter, and possess the personnel that can harm Spurs’ high-line if they push men forward.

The team with the best defence and offence generally wins the Premier League, and though they still remain defensively solid in terms of shape and structure, conceding a league best five goals, Arsenal arguably possess the best attack in the division on current form.

Wenger’s fluid attack will test Spurs’ resolve, though, and it’s likely Pochettino will effectively instruct his side to man-mark in midfield given the evident threat of Ozil and Sanchez between the lines. The latter may revert back to his preferred position on the left, but similar to Ozil, he prefers to buzz around space between the lines and through the channels before running towards goal. Ultimately, Spurs lack players of this mould: a creative dynamo capable of placing his teammates in goal-scoring positions, and dynamic, yet diligent dribbler that offers a goal-threat anywhere in the final third.

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Victor Wanyama has been a revelation in the centre of the pitch, and with Moussa Dembele unlikely to start, the Kenyan may be encouraged to solely monitor Ozil’s movement in these zones. Dier’s presence would be helpful, here, but Pochettino’s use of a 4-1-4-1 would enable Alli and Eriksen the role of pressing the Arsenal double-pivot to effectively negate their threat in central areas, and quickly break forward when possession is regained.

This is the other reason why Olivier Giroud’s return and instant goal-scoring form could trouble Spurs’ back-line. Unlike City’s Claudio Bravo, Petr Cech isn’t renowned for constantly setting the tempo of the match with his distribution. Laurent Koscielny and Shkodran Mustafi’s passing under pressure presented issues in the past, which could lead to balls punted into Giroud to bypass Spurs pressing in midfield and encourage runners forward.

Elsewhere, Spurs simply haven’t scored enough goals following Kane’s injury, and are hopeful the 23-year-old will make his return to action this Sunday. Son Heung-Min form peaked upfront during the early stages of the season, but the South Korean international is more of a threat on the counter-attack where he is provided ample space to dribble towards defenders. The other option upfront in Vincent Janssen offers link-up play, and prefers to peg centre-backs towards their goal, but the Dutch international doesn’t possess Kane’s all-round ability and struggles to create his own chances.

More so, given the case Spurs are unable to utilize their pressing to create goal-scoring opportunities, the reliance on pushing the full-backs forward would be their alternative attacking route. Toby Alderweireld’s diagonal balls from centre-back were always a useful outlet in terms of shifting play, but Danny Rose and Kyle Walker’s influence in advance wide positions will be vital.

Walker and Moussa Sissoko failed to spark a reliable partnership midweek against Bayer Leverkusen, and Pochettino will hope Eric Lamela is fit to start, here. Arsenal’s wide players, though, have diligently provided support for their full-backs this season, and it’s unlikely, Rose, in particular, will receive the space that Riyad Mahrez provided last week against Leicester.

Although Arsenal still possess defensive issues in certain areas, the side’s overall structure has improved over the past year. It also helps that Wenger can utilize various options in midfield. He can turn to power in Elneny and Francis Coquelin, all-round personnel in Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey, or rely on the diminutive passer in Santi Cazorla.

With that being said, the evolution of both sides remains intriguing, nonetheless: by Premier League standards, Wenger’s group of experienced players are now living up to expectations led by their adapted world-class stars, albeit still prone to defensive lapses. In contrast, Pochettino’s youthful cohesive unit must prove they can find other routes to victory if they’re unable to sustain their dynamic pressing throughout the season.

Last season’s incredible overachievement was overshadowed by their wilting post-April results, and although Spurs’ current form is inconsistent, Pochettino’s influence still appears sustainable. However, another shortcoming against Wenger’s Arsenal would put Pochettino’s philosophy under potential scrutiny.

Coming so close to Premier League glory last season suggests the main goal is to go one step further, but history shows they must buck the trend and finish above Arsenal. With several London derbies approaching subsequent to the international break and Champions League group stage qualification on the cusp, Pochettino’s margin for error is slim.

Similar to their last pre-international break fixture, a win at the Emirates could uplift Spurs’ quest to ignite their title bid.

 

Klopp and Pochettino need to solve their pressing warriors’ attacking dilemmas

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The current tactical resurgence surfacing throughout the traditional Premier League top sides was expected following the arrival of some of the world’s best football managers.

Antonio Conte and Pep Guardiola have already injected key elements that contributed to their respected sides’ underachievement last year. However, the stylistic shift currently taking place in England’s top division gained prominence last season.

Prior to Leicester City’s triumph, the past three title winners Chelsea, Manchester City, and Manchester United were generally powerful sides that dominated possession, and were equally solid maintaining a deep defensive block when required. While that may not apply to Manchester City from a defensive perspective – a key reason as to why City was unable to sustain their success – they did possess the power to overwhelm inferior opposition.

This weekend’s lunchtime kickoff between Liverpool and Spurs welcomes a different brand of football that’s replicated across the continent. Jurgen Klopp and Mauricio Pochettino enjoyed success at previous clubs outside of the Premier League, and their footballing philosophy is ground-breaking to a league that’s been criticized for losing its tactical nous.

Klopp began his Liverpool career at White Hart Lane with a vision of bringing the Reds back amongst the elite sides in England, but on his return to North London the German’s philosophy has provided doubt amongst supporters. Liverpool’s growth was displayed in spurts last season, often producing their best performances when forced to play reactive, whilst receiving space to exploit in the opposition’s half.

Klopp has often referred to ‘gegenpressing’ as the best play-maker: the defensive method where Liverpool swarm the ball in packs once they lose possession. It’s very successful when executed cohesively, often flustering opponents into mistakes, and enabling Klopp’s side to retain possession.

“The best moment to win the ball is immediately after your team just lost it,” Klopp has said. “The opponent is still looking for orientation where to pass the ball. He will have taken his eyes off the game to make his tackle or interception and he will have expended energy. Both make him vulnerable.”

Liverpool’s 4-1 demolition of then-champions, Manchester City, appeared to be a turning point in the club’s season: Klopp finally had his players on the same wavelength in regards to his philosophy and they were such demands with devastating efficiency. Although it didn’t drive Liverpool into the top four or prevent a second half collapse in the Europa League final, the breathtaking performance at the Etihad provided optimism.

Likewise, Spurs press in a different manner, as their intent to win the ball close to the opposition’s box is vivid. More importantly, they clog spaces to limit passing lanes, and the defensive high-line remains high to compress space. Essentially, Liverpool’s pressing is better suited to negate counter-attacks, but both approaches can equally go wrong if it’s not a joint-effort.

“It is a different style of pressing,” said Pochettino ahead of Klopp’s Liverpool debut last season. “If you analyze Dortmund, it’s not similar to how we played at Southampton. Our pressing was to the opposing goalkeeper, whereas Dortmund played with a medium block. You can’t compare Klopp’s style with my style, we are different. I’m not saying one is better than the other, just that we are different.

“It depends on your ideas, your culture, how you see the philosophy, your football,” continued Pochettino. “I prefer to press high and we believe we can press the keeper. Another manager believes it is better to stay with a medium block or play deep and go on the counterattack. This is how you feel and believe, and how you develop your style.”

Therefore, the one glaring issue that can unfold when two teams adopt similar defensive schemes is the possibility of cancelling each other out. Spurs’ buildup play is generally decent, but Liverpool’s first half display at the Emirates suggests they may encounter some issues. More so, while both sides are competent out of possession, their early season attacking deficiencies are concerning.

Pochettino was partially guilty for overexerting his players throughout last season’s campaign, and it’s uncertain as to whether they’ve fully recovered – this specifically applies to Harry Kane and Dele Alli, however, Kane generally takes a few games before he identifies his goal-scoring rhythm. But while Spurs have evolved into a slick passing proactive side, this season, they’ve found it challenging to create chances within the final third.

At Everton, they were simply out-worked and out-pressed during the first half: Kane was staved for service, while the attacking players were clearly shunted out by Gareth Barry and Idrissa Gueye. However, Vincent Janssen’s arrival tilted the match in Spurs favour, as they quickly switched to a 4-4-2 and equalized through Erik Lamela’s header from a Kyle Walker cross.

Janssen was rewarded with a start in last weekend’s win over Crystal Palace, pushing Kane into a withdrawn role, but once again, from an attacking sense, Spurs were dull. Nevertheless, majority of their best moves were created in wide areas, and Victor Wanyama’s winner stemmed from a clever Lamela corner, that saw Kane direct his near post header to the Kenyan.

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Spurs’ attack evidently lacks width, and it’s odd that they aren’t pushing the full-backs forward with two defensive-minded holders sitting in midfield. They play clever intricate passes in central zones, but against two organized sides that adopted deep, narrow shapes – Everton and Palace – majority of their attacks were cut out.

The other concern with Spurs’ attack rests in the pairing of Wanyama and Dier. Both men are powerful specimens capable of breaking up play and possess adequate distribution skills, but they simply lack the dynamism and penetrating forward runs Moussa Dembele offers from deep.

Spurs can afford to field one holding midfielder against sides that prefer to adopt a low defensive block, and although Wanyama nicked the winner against Palace, the Kenyan’s attacking threat from open play is sporadic. While it’s nearly certain Dembele will return to the starting XI when match-fit, the Wanyama – Dier partnership is better suited for the Champions League and against top opposition, which is why they may strive against Liverpool’s tricky attackers.

On the other hand, Klopp’s issue is more complex: Christian Benteke has been sold, and neither Divock Origi, nor Daniel Sturridge have impressed in a central role – the latter started from the right at Burnley and offered little. Klopp has often trusted Roberto Firmino in a central role, where he drops deep to invite forward runs, and makes outward runs into half-spaces to combine with teammates in tight spaces. Nevertheless, the contrast between Liverpool’s two league matches summarizes last year’s problems.

When the Reds are offered space in midfield and behind the back-line they can press, bully, and out-play nearly every team in the league – Arsenal’s makeshift XI frustrated Klopp’s men in the opening half, but when they tired, Liverpool were dominant over a 20-minute period and scored four goals. Arsenal pushed men forwards in the final 20-minutes with attempts of inspiring a comeback, and though Liverpool broke into key positions in transitions, they still conceded two goals in that span, thus enduring a nervy conclusion to the match.

Meanwhile, last week’s trip to Turf Moor, showcased a dull Reds attack that failed to unlock an organized Burnley side. Firmino was forced to drop into deeper positions, Georginio Wijnaldum and Adam Lallana couldn’t locate space to make penetrative runs into the box, Philippe Coutinho was forced into taking several ambitious shots from distance due to his poor passing around the final third, whereas Jordan Henderson was unable to breakup Burnley’s quick transitions that led to both goals.

Klopp has reiterated his gripe with luring players to Anfield, but with a full pre-season under his belt a certain level of consistency is expected. The intricate passing combinations, fluid movement, and Coutinho wonder-goals are brilliant when Liverpool’s gegenpressing is effective, but converting territorial dominance into goal-scoring chances is preventing the Reds from moving forward as a club.

Klopp and Pochettino have bucked the trend of defending in the Premier League, yet oddly, their main issue to start the season is a lack balance in the final third. With players still to return from injury and pre-season, perhaps this is a minor blip, but Saturday’s clash at White Hart Lane presents the ideal opportunity to build confidence in open play.

Neither side is expected to sit deep, as it’s illogical to expect 90 minutes of full-octane pressing, and given the progress displayed by both clubs over the past few months this match is expected to represent the tactical shift within the league. But where Spurs narrow play requires width to stretch the opposition, Klopp must identify the ideal balance to accommodate his new signings in a fairly direct 4-3-3.

In a league that’s most recently been criticized for a lack of organization and defensive structure, a match featuring some of the best young talent in the league may rest on whether they can maximize their creativity and goal-scoring threat around the box.

 

Liverpool’s Philippe Coutinho architects second half goal-fest at the Emirates

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Arsenal’s lack of personnel in defence may have been a concern prior to kickoff, but Arsene Wenger’s men were rarely tested for large portions of the first half.

Without Laurent Koscielny, Gabriel, and Per Mertesacker, Arsenal were forced to field a partnership between new signing Rob Holding and Calum Chambers. This could explain why Wenger opted for a defensive-minded midfield pairing of Mohamed Elneny and Francis Coquelin to protect the make-shift back four, rather than handing Granit Xhaka his Gunners debut.

The duo ensured Liverpool’s attacking trio and Georginio Wijnaldum were forced to receive passes in tight areas, which ultimately constrained the away side’s attack. In return, Arsenal’s buildup play suffered as they lacked the creativity and passing range from deep that they would receive had Xhaka or Santi Cazorla operated in that zone. Still, Liverpool’s sole attacking threat in the opening half stemmed through Sadio Mane’s pace in transition and capitalizing on poor Arsenal passes out the back, opposed to exploiting space between the lines.

Klopp’s men were constantly harried in possession, meanwhile without the ball, they didn’t display the dynamic pressing they’ve become renowned for during the Liverpool manager’s reign. Therefore, Wenger’s men enjoyed the better spell of possession, despite experiencing a similar issue circulating the ball towards the attacking players.

Apart from a brief spell where Theo Walcott exploited Liverpool’s main weakness – Alberto Moreno’s positional intelligence – Arsenal’s buildup play was equally subdued. Aaron Ramsey drifted into pockets of space to link play, but the hosts lacked Giroud’s presence upfront and genuine passers in midfield.

Despite the sloppy play from both sides which should be expected in the opening weeks, the pattern of the match wasn’t surprising. Ramsey was able to float into space as Liverpool didn’t field a natural holding midfielder, while the narrow positioning from Klopp’s attacking players was negated due to Wenger’s decision to deploy two destroyers ahead of his make-shift back four.

 

Ultimately the defining feat of the match involved Philippe Coutinho – a popular Brazilian player that is highly rated based on the goals he scores rather than his overall performances. Here, however, Coutinho’s performance merited the plaudits he often receives, leaving Arsenal shell-shocked in the process.

“It looked like after half an hour with 1-0 for Arsenal — it’s very warm and it’s the first game — that it’s not a Liverpool day. But then we strike back and that’s very, very important,” Klopp said.

“It showed we can score goals. We can always score goals, and we can defend much better — that’s what we have to do.

Coutinho’s downfall in around the final third is his inability to make the right decisions or complete incisive passes around the box, but his efficiency at the Emirates was fairly promising. The late first half stoppage time equalizer was a sensational free-kick that provided a lifeline for the Reds who failed to test Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech in the opening half.

Arsenal’s energy levels declined significantly in the second half, which allowed Liverpool time to retain possession and constantly combine in the hosts’ half. First it was Coutinho’s no-look flick pass that enabled Wijnaldum to charge into half space to locate Lallana’s onrushing surge into the box to put Liverpool ahead. Minutes later, a lengthy Liverpool passing move saw Coutinho make a clever dart into the box to direct Nathaniel Clyne’s cross past Cech.

The simplicity in Liverpool’s move was down to improved interchanging movement along with Arsenal failing to replicate the work-rate showcased in the first half to close down ball carriers. An exceptional individual goal from new signing Mane appeared to put the game out of reach, but Wenger’s substitutions nearly ignited a three-goal comeback.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain provided improved dynamism and direct running, which equally resulted in an individual slalom similar to Mane’s that decreased Liverpool’s lead. Then, Cazorla replaced the injured Ramsey and delivered a pacy curling free-kick with 15 minutes remaining to identify an equalizer.

Xhaka’s brief cameo displayed his passing range from deep, but Arsenal were still vulnerable in transition as they pushed men forward in search of a late goal. The worry for Klopp, however, was the near late collapse of a three-goal lead. You expect Liverpool’s pressing and energy levels to improve throughout the season, and though they finally exploited Arsenal’s unconvincing make-shift back four, Klopp’s men must sustain their defensive work-rate and mental discipline throughout 90 minutes.

Even when Liverpool haven’t played well over the past few years, the Reds could still rely on a Coutinho wonder-goal. However, Liverpool’s win at the Emirates was the complete performance that saw the Brazilian score twice and create another. If Coutinho can consistently replicate performances of this nature on a weekly basis, it would not only merit his current status, but present Liverpool with a legitimate chance in challenging for a top-four spot this season.

 

Manchester United 0-0 Chelsea: Both sides display signs of underachievement at Old Trafford

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 28: Eden Hazard of Chelsea in action during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on December 28, 2015 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Manchester United and Chelsea battled to a score-less draw at Old Trafford.

Louis van Gaal recalled Wayne Rooney to lead the line, and changed his midfield duo with the inclusion of Morgan Schneiderlin and Bastian Schweinsteiger. Mateo Darmian also returned from injury to start at left-back, pushing Daley Blind to centre-back, whereas Ashley Young featured on the right.

Guus Hiddink was forced into changes as well due to the suspension of Diego Costa, while Gary Cahill, Cesc Fabregas, Loic Remy and Radamel Falcao were also unavailable for selection. Therefore, Eden Hazard started upfront, John Obi Mikel protected the defence alongside Nemanja Matic, while Kurt Zouma provided mobility in a centre-back partnership with John Terry.

Chelsea approach

There were no surprises in regards to the overall pattern of the match prior to kick off. United lead the league in possession stats this season, whereas Chelsea were always likely to play on the counter especially without Costa leading the line.

With that being said, it was interesting to see how Chelsea would approach the match out of possession. Willian and Pedro were forced deeper to prevent Young and Darmian from creating overloads, whereas Oscar aided Hazard in pressing. At times, Oscar moved upfront to lead the line to give Hazard a rest – on the other hand, the United midfield received more time on the ball – whereas Oscar and Willian occasionally swapped positions to maintain energy levels.

United countered Oscar’s pressing by having both Schneiderlin and Schweinsteiger drop behind the halfway line to receive possession before attempting to play long diagonals towards the flanks. Likewise, Mikel and Matic sat in front of a narrow back four, which inevitably left space for Juan Mata and Herrera to drift into when Oscar and Hazard were pressing in United’s half.

Chelsea were fortunate not to concede in the opening 20 minutes, but their overall approach – despite its structural flaws – was rarely tested because of United’s limited penetration in the final third.

Clumsy possession out the back

Interestingly, Chelsea constantly found themselves in trouble when they attempted to play out the back. Perhaps this was Hiddink’s ploy to build attacks without Costa, but here, Chelsea were simply sloppy in possession.

Oscar was forced into a last-ditch tackle on Herrera after being dispossessed in his own half. Then, Mata intercepted Courtois’ attempt to find Cesar Azpilicueta, but the Spaniard’s cross to an unmarked Rooney was cleared by Zouma. Also in the second half, there was a sequence that witnessed Mikel fail to control a simple five-yard Zouma pass, thus resulting in a United corner kick.

United’s possession dominance led to a few nervy moments for the Blues, but they were equally placing United in key goal-scoring positions with their sloppy passing around the box.

United attack down the left

One of the main issues preventing United from enjoying a successful campaign thus far is their productivity in the final third. The lack of penetration through incisive passing and direct running resulted in a tedious attack that was aided by their determination to operate down the left.

United constantly aimed to take advantage of Branislav Ivanovic down the left, which was logical considering Martial operated in this zone. Though United’s initial chance stemmed from the right – Mata’s shot off the cross bar – Pedro and Azpilicueta adequately closed down Young’s crossing, whereas Mata drifted centrally throughout.

On paper, Martial against Ivanovic favoured the Frenchman, but the United youngster struggled to impose himself against the Serbian. Chelsea appeared susceptible down this flank in the opening stages with Darmian surging forward, and Martial hitting the post, but the Serbian fared well in 1v1 battles with the Frenchman.

Nevertheless, intelligent movement and positive combinations still witnessed United create their best chances down the left in the second half. Darmian moving infield provided Martial enough space to storm past Pedro to present Herrera with a golden opportunity that Courtois miraculously saved. While, substitute, Cameron Borthwick-Jackson’s cross in the latter stages of the second half should’ve resulted in a Rooney winner.

Martial didn’t thrive in his individual battle with Ivanovic, but United still exploited Chelsea’s frailty down this flank, creating their best goal-scoring opportunities.

Hazard

However, Hiddink’s major decision involved Hazard playing upfront. The unavailability of the natural centre-forwards meant the Dutchman had to tinker in this area, and with United fielding two attack-minded full-backs, combined with Hazard’s past defensive issues on the flanks, it was logical to start the Belgian upfront.

Frankly, both Oscar or Pedro have experience playing in this role – the former operated as natural no.9 at the Emirates last year, whereas the latter charged behind opposing defences during his time at Barcelona. Hazard performed superbly at White Hart Lane earlier in the year, receiving the ball in various areas, but the issue behind his role upfront was that Chelsea were deprived a penalty box presence. The same applied here, as the Belgian was outmuscled off the ball by Chris Smalling and Daley Blind when he received the ball with his back to goal.

Still, the Belgian influenced an apathetic Chelsea midfield when he moved into deeper positions, however, suffering the most fouls throughout – the Belgian and Matic glided through challenges throughout to evade several challenges.

One move at the beginning of the second half epitomized his threat from deep – Hazard easily rolled Herrera and bypassed Schweinsteiger before playing in Pedro at the edge of the box, but De Gea made two outstanding saves to keep match goal-less. From open play, Chelsea’s attacking threat was scarce, but they were most dangerous when Hazard received the ball in the midfield zone.

Chelsea counters

Ultimately, Chelsea’s deep positioning and poor passing when they retained possession placed significant precedence on their counter-attacks. It was the evident attacking ploy for the Blues, but without any substantial build-up play, and sporadic set-pieces in dangerous areas, it appeared to be the away side’s sole goal source.

But where Chelsea usually countered with devastating efficiency under Mourinho, here, their counters appeared improvised. In the opening 20 minutes, both United centre-backs committed mistakes that enabled Hazard and Oscar to break towards the box, but both plays concluded with the former and Willian failing to provide Pedro with a final ball.

Essentially, the lack of a natural forward thwarted Chelsea’s counter-attacks. The likes of Pedro and Hazard are used to having forward offer diagonal runs for a final pass or to create space, but here, it led to poor decision-making from both men and the potential ball receiver. The duo was actually involved in a 2v2 break following the Belgian turning Schneiderlin near the half way line, but the entire play was halted as neither player made the correct run or pass.

As players tired, Chelsea’s threat on the counter decreased significantly, but they still squandered possibly the best chance of the game via this method of attack. Pedro was once again involved, as he swiftly stormed into United’s half – subsequent to a United corner – before playing in an unmarked Matic who motored into the box but fired his shot over the net.

Second half

The match followed a relatively similar pattern in the second half, however, Chelsea retreated deeper, their pressing decreased, and United received more time and space to turn possession dominance into goal scoring opportunities. Yet, apart from the two spurned aforementioned chances that stemmed from the left flank, United rarely tested the fatigued away side.

Perhaps a lack of rotation affected Chelsea here, as Ashley Young grew in prominence down the right with Pedro struggling to close the United full-back down, whereas Oscar and Hazard’s threat on the counter perished in the final 20 minutes. Herrera continued to charge into space space in the channels behind Mikel, and deserved a penalty on the opposite side of the box following a late last-ditch Azpilicueta tackle, while Blind received more time on the ball to play forward penetrative passes.

Chelsea’s shape was shockingly disjointed with Matic protecting Terry, and Mikel unaware of Herrera’s movement behind him. But with Rooney coming forward to link play, and not enough players in the box to attack the full-backs’ crosses, United’s attack remained blunt.

Substitutions

Oddly, Hiddink refrained from using all his substitutions despite fielding more than half of his XI against Watford two days prior. Ramires replaced Willian on the right, but where Pedro, Oscar and Hazard were evidently exhausted in the final 20 minutes, Hiddink was reluctant to summon his youngsters.

Van Gaal quickly reacted to Ramires’ introduction by introducing Borthwick-Jackson, and replacing Blind for Phil Jones. This saw Smalling push forward in the final 10 minutes, but the change was likely due to Blind’s fitness levels rather than a tactical shift, considering Chelsea’s threat was non-existent during these stages.

The United manager’s attempt to rescue the match saw Memphis Depay replace Mata, pushing Martial to the right. Nonetheless, the change proved futile, as Memphis rarely touched the ball, whereas Martial offered no threat on the right. It was peculiar to see Fellaini remain on the bench with United delivering multiple crosses into the box, along the Dutchman preferring not to utilize Martial’s pace against a nervy Chelsea back-line.

Conclusion

As expected, one day’s rest provided a cautious battle between two underachieving Premier League sides, in which goal-keeping heroics and poor finishing proved decisive.

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 28: Anthony Martial of Manchester United battles for the ball with Kurt Zouma of Chelsea during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Chelsea at Old Trafford on December 28, 2015 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

Chelsea were far from impressive, but with limited time on the training ground for Hiddink to employ his philosophy, combined with several first-team players unavailable, the interim Chelsea manager may be pleased with the result.

United, on the other hand, displayed improved dynamism and commitment in attacking areas, but the hosts’ susceptibility to counter-attacks, along with their limited penetration showcased one of the few issues under Van Gaal. A place in the top four remains attainable, but United must improve in both phases if they intend on achieving their target.

 

Premier League Preview: Chelsea

Courtesy of Flickr/In Mou We Trust

Many questioned Jose Mourinho’s vocal dismissal of Chelsea’s title hopes following their impressive 1-0 triumph over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium last February. 

“The title race is between two horses and a little horse that needs milk and needs to learn how to jump,” Mourinho said. 

“Maybe next season we can race.”

The Portuguese manager was aware that his side could grasp the title from the self-proclaimed two-horses, but he also knew that his striker profligacy, along with the vast inexperience throughout his squad wouldn’t suffice.

In recent years, Chelsea’s involvement in continental competitions has been successful, but they were irrelevant in their domestic title races, falling behind both Manchester clubs. Roman Abramovich invested well in young talents such as Eden Hazard and Oscar, but there were significant holes throughout the squad that were exposed on a weekly basis.

Mourinho rightly claimed that his side was in transition, utilizing last season as a primitive guideline both psychologically and physically on what it takes to be an elite side in Europe. In that time he had to stray away from the flashy football that Chelsea’s creative players and supporters enjoyed in the opening months of last season, along with offloading fan favourites Juan Mata and David Luiz.

It was part of the evolution.

The combination of entertaining football and results didn’t mesh at Stamford Bridge, thus forcing Mourinho to revert back to his meticulous counter-attacking approach.

“We are going in one direction and the right direction, but it is quite frustrating. Football is about getting results and it’s quite frustrating, as we may have to take a step back in order to be more consistent at the back,” Mourinho stated following a loss to Stoke City.

“It’s something I don’t want to do, to play more counter-attacking, but I’m giving it serious thought. If I want to win 1-0 I think I can as I think it is one of the easiest things in football. It is not so difficult, as you don’t give players the chance to express themselves.”

Chelsea conceded nine goals in the 23 league matches subsequent to those comments, comfortably defeating every team in the top seven. In the end, the lack of a top-class striker proved costly, as they failed to break down inferior opposition, losing games in the latter stages of the season against Aston Villa, Sunderland, and Crystal Palace.

Chelsea finished four points behind champions Manchester City, and crashed out of the Champions League at the semi-final stage, but Mourinho was pleased with the progress upon his return.

Mourinho’s Chelsea, though, enters this season as the bookies favourite, and history makes it difficult to bet against the Blues. 

The Portuguese manager’s sides tend to peak during his second season, as his players become accustomed to his philosophy, thus allowing them to carry out his instructions with precipitous efficiency. During Mourinho’s career, Porto won the European Cup, Chelsea retained their Premier League crown, Inter Milan won the treble, and Real Madrid broke records as they dethroned Barcelona.

The Chelsea board’s proactive nature in the transfer market steers Mourinho in pole position to achieve his second season success.

Sales of Romelu Lukaku, Demba Ba, and Kevin De Bruyne, along with the departures of club legends Frank Lampard and Ashley Cole have paved the way for Mourinho to introduce world-class players in Cesc Fabregas, Filipe Luis, and Diego Costa. Didier Drogba will also make an emphatic return to Stamford Bridge, while Thibaut Courtois’ successful loan spell at Atlético Madrid provides Petr Cech with legitimate competition for a starting role.

Stylistically, there isn’t much variation in Chelsea’s system. The Blues may occasionally lack ideas when they dominate possession, but they’re extremely organized without the ball, terrorizing teams in transition with swift counter-attacks.

Chelsea will alter from a 4-2-3-1 to a 4-3-3 throughout the season, and play a three-man defence when they desperately need a goal. Deploying Fernando Torres out wide has been the significant tactical change — similar to Samuel Eto’o’s role at Inter — with Torres sporadically varying his movement into central areas. While Torres playing on the flanks may not be one of Mourinho’s preferred moves, it’s an option the Portuguese manager can utilize.

Chelsea’s strength lies in the attacking midfield department, as they now possess two players in each position.

This desperately helps Oscar, as his form dwindled towards the end of last season due to exhaustion. Equally, while Eden Hazard enjoyed his best campaign at the club, scoring 14 league goals, the arrival of Costa and Fabregas should decrease the massive attacking load placed on his shoulders last season. Mourinho will hope both men will take the next step and discover a level of consistency, with Hazard in particular scoring more goals, as the duo enters their third season in the Premier League.

Equally, the likes of Mohamed Salah, Andre Schurrle and Willian are expected to have adapted to Mourinho’s philosophy and the rigorous strains of the Premier League. Salah and Willian’s work ethic and pace down the flanks offer balance, while World Cup winner Schurrle will be eager to add more goals to his resume and cement a place in the starting XI.

Ultimately, Mourinho targeted the areas that required improvement, and acquired world-class personnel to fill them. Gary Cahill and John Terry formed the best centre-back partnership last year, as the Blues carried the best defensive record, conceding 27 league goals.

Luis, arguably the best left-back in Spain last season, offers Mourinho leeway at the full-back position, and ensures that Branislav Ivanovic can step in for Terry when required and Cesar Azpilicueta can play in his preferred right-back position. Courtois, on the other hand, is arguably the best goalkeeper in the world at the tender age of 22, which immediately improves Chelsea’s sturdy back-line.

With Nemanja Matic and Cesc Fabregas favored to form Chelsea’s double-pivot, what appeared to be a weak point in the Blues starting XI since their last title triumph, now looks quite frightening. 

Matic arrived in January last season, providing the strength, passing, and reliability at the base of a feeble midfield to impede the opposition’s attacks. Likewise, Fabregas’ familiarity with the league should see him settle quickly, and his direct style of play should create and tally goals.

The Spaniard’s passing range also ensures Chelsea can control games in midfield, along with orchestrating attacks from deeper positions. Chelsea can also rely on reliable midfielders in Ramires and John Obi Mikel as adequate cover, while 21-year-old Marco van Ginkel has returned to full fitness — after enduring a season ending knee ligament injury — producing positive preseason performances alongside Matic and Fabregas.

Costa, however, has been the big positive in preseason, scoring two quality goals and displaying through his work ethic and individual ability why Mourinho was keen on luring the 25-year-old to Stamford Bridge. Although Costa has only endured one prolific season at the highest-level scoring 36 goals in 44 appearances, it’s key to note that he’s yet to enter his peak years and Mourinho is more than capable of maximizing the striker’s talents.

The main worries around Costa is his tendency to drift out of games when teams sit deeper, and many fear that he may not be the man to solve Chelsea’s issues against inferior opposition as his aerial threat isn’t established. Blues supporters also fear the possibility of Costa sustaining a long-term injury, as only 36-year-old Drogba and Torres serve as replacements. With weeks remaining in the transfer window, Mourinho may be poised to make one final move for a striker, as Marko Marin and Victor Moses are likely to be deemed surplus to requirements.

Still, Costa doesn’t need to score 30 goals a season to push this Chelsea side over the hump, and his ability to link play with the midfield and charge powerfully into the channels is one of the various reasons why he’s the ideal counter-attacking striker.

In truth, Chelsea’s summer activity, along with their rivals’ failure to significantly improve their starting XI or squad, merits the Blues as title favourites.

They bolstered their imperious defence with a fine left back and one of the best goalies in the game, the young creative midfielders’ evolution combined with Fabregas’ world-class talent should form a stellar midfield, and they now possess a legitimate goalscorer.

It’s taken Chelsea nearly five years to assemble a squad capable of challenging on both domestic and European fronts, and with the depth the Blues possess, they should be in the hunt for all four trophies available.

The squad at Mourinho’s disposal is built to keep his second season folklore alive.

 

Premier League Preview: Manchester City

Courtesy of WikiCommons/Soccer.ru

Manchester City never does it the easy way.

Despite being the best side in the league during their two Premier League triumphs this decade, the boys from the Etihad have stumbled across the finishing line opposed to cruising to silverware like the great teams before them.

During Roberto Mancini’s tenure, City benefitted from United’s slip-ups against Wigan and Everton, before Edin Dzeko and Sergio Aguero scored stoppage time goals to defeat relegation battling QPR to win the Premier League in the most controversial manner.

Then in the latter stages of last season –– despite only being top of the league for 14 days of the season –– after a crushing defeat at Anfield against Liverpool, Chelsea and Crystal Palace subsequently took points off the Reds that led to another late revival in May.

However, lodged between City’s narrow title triumphs was a disappointing season that saw a considerably frail Manchester United side top their rivals by 11 points to reclaim the league title. City’s attempt to build a dynasty failed miserably, and their poor activity in the transfer market played a significant factor.

Mancini didn’t get the required pieces –– Javi Martinez, Robin van Persie, Daniele De Rossi and Eden Hazard –– and was handed Jack Rodwell, Scott Sinclair, Javi Garcia, Maicon and Matija Nastasic, with only the latter featuring regularly in the starting XI. City had only won the league on goal difference, which explains why the signing of a legitimate world-class striker in van Persie catapulted United back to glory, while City’s development stagnated.

The arrival of Manuel Pellegrini saw City recruit experienced players around the continent –– Jesus Navas, Alvaro Negredo, Fernandinho and Stevan Jovetic –– to fill the voids within their squad, but winning the title on the final day of the season against rivals that were in transitional periods calls for improvement.

However, City’s transfer activity this summer has been limited due to their Financial Fair Play irregularities. While Diego Costa, Ander Herrera, and Alexis Sanchez have joined their title rivals, City has introduced Fernando, Willy Caballero, Bacary Sagna and Frank Lampard on-loan, with Porto centre-back Eliaquim Mangala expected to join the reigning champions.

Pellegrini’s squad doesn’t need major changes, but increased quality would not only separate City from those attempting to make a title push, but increase their chances of competing against Europe’s elite in the Champions League.

Sagna and Caballero provide adequate cover and increase competition for Pablo Zabaleta and Joe Hart, while Lampard’s arrival is merely a wise ploy to keep him fit ahead of New York City FC’s inaugural season and meet the required five home-grown player quota in the Champions League.

This leaves £12m Fernando as City’s sole significant purchase, with the champions finally replacing the tenacious Nigel de Jong. Fernando is a quality footballer that can sit at the base of the midfield and break up play with his physicality and positional intelligence, while Fernandinho and Yaya Toure offer attacking impetus in central areas. His signing also offers Pellegrini flexibility to stray away from his preferred 4-4-2 and potentially dabble with a 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 in big games.

Fernando’s arrival is significant because with Yaya Toure turning 31-years-old last May, Pellegrini will be eager to deploy the Ivorian higher up the pitch and decrease his defensive duties. City’s midfield remains their strong point with a veteran core of players, led by the impeccable David Silva. Toure’s 20 goals received plaudits last year, but Silva was their best player.

Look no further than Silva’s standout performances against the best sides in the Premier League last season. Silva constantly found spaces between the lines to provide delicate through-balls to his teammates, while his willingness to drift laterally from flank-to-flank to create overloads played a significant role in City’s dominance on the left side of the pitch. Silva’s goal or assist tally don’t represent his overall excellence, as he’s usually the catalyst in City’s best moves, averaging a league high 3.6 key passes and 0.6 accurate through-balls per game.

Pellegrini’s midfield should suffice for another season, but the main worry for City lies both in defence and attack.

The fullback positions appear to be solidified, but it’s the centre-back area that looks particularly feeble. Vincent Kompany has declined significantly since City’s first title triumph, and like partner Martin Demichelis –– who will turn 34 next season –– is extremely vulnerable when positioned higher up the pitch. City has desperately required a top-class defender alongside Kompany over the past few seasons, and while Mangala has the potential to become an elite European centre-back, his arrival doesn’t guarantee immediate defensive solidity.

The one positive Pellegrini can take from preseason –– along with no injuries sustained or issues within the locker room –– is the form of Jovetic. City operated in a 4-4-2 throughout their USA tour, with Jovetic forming an imperious strike force with Dzeko. Jovetic scored five goals at the Guinness International Champions Cup, but more impressive was his overall linkup play. Jovetic operated behind the main striker and dropped deep to link play with the midfield, his various strike partners, and created space for runners to exploit.

Nonetheless, there was never an issue regarding the quality of City’s attacking quartet. Pellegrini’s main concern was in regards to their fitness levels. With Alvaro Negredo sidelined for approximately two months with a broken foot, along with Sergio Aguero and Jovetic’s recurring injuries, only Dzeko serves as a reliable option.

Aguero, in particular, was stellar last season scoring 32 goals in 36 appearances in all competitions, despite suffering numerous injuries. Aguero scored against every side in the top seven excluding Liverpool –– he was sidelined for the home fixture, and played a bit part role in the return showdown at Anfield after returning from injury –– further exemplifying his importance to City’s title challenge.

When available, Aguero is undoubtedly the best striker in the league, and his fitness plays a significant factor in City’s title hopes.

While no club has retained the Premier League since the turn of the decade, City is equipped to be the first.

But with Chelsea adding the missing pieces to their squad, the fitness of City’s strikers and the arrival of a top-class centre-back will play a vital role in whether Pellegrini’s side becomes the third team to retain the Premier League title.

City is definitely a more complete side in their second title defence of the decade, but shades of their 2012-2013 season hovers around the Etihad.

 

Emmanuel Adebayor holds the key to Spurs’ Champions League dream

Courtesy of Flickr/All rights reserved by willis104

Andre Villas-Boas’ unforgettable tenure in England highlights the various components required to succeed at the highest level. In a country where the media and football fans are quick to criticize, coping with pressure and negativity is a necessity.

Winning the treble with a remarkable Porto side transformed Villas-Boas into one of the games most coveted managers in 2011, and with the Chelsea job vacant, the Portuguese manager couldn’t resist. Villas-Boas’ return to Stamford Bridge – he was previously a video analyst for the club – presented an opportunity to replicate Jose Mourinho’s career path and succeed in England.

But apart from their nationality, time as work colleagues, and the fact that neither man played professional football, the two managers have very little in common – and Villas-Boas’ spell in the Premier League displayed that. The 36-year-old is a young, vibrant manager that strives on producing attacking football. However, Villas-Boas’ man-management skills were poor, while his obstinacy and tactical naivety led to his downfall.

The Portuguese manager’s attempt to play ‘vertical football’ – attacking football that pegs the opposition into their half, while quickly circulating the ball, and maintaining a high defensive line – at Chelsea didn’t fit the players’ identity, nor did his eagerness to phase out the old guard bode well with management, the dressing room, or the supporters. Villas-Boas was sacked within seven months, and it appeared that his experiment in the Premier League was over.

Nonetheless, Harry Redknapp’s dismissal at Spurs provided Villas-Boas the platform to prove his critics wrong, as the North London side pushed for Champions League football. This time, Villas-Boas completed the season with Spurs, guiding them to their highest Premier League point total, but they still finished a few points out of the top-four.

Besides all the problems regarding the Portuguese manager and the Spurs hierarchy, the one issue Spurs encountered was scoring goals. Gareth Bale’s breakthrough season was pivotal towards Spurs’ success in his final season at White Hart Lane, but with the Welshman pushing for a move to Real Madrid, Spurs required another scoring outlet.

A mixture of poor performances, lack of goals, and new signings needing time to gel played a factor in Villas-Boas’ dismissal, but turning against the fans, along with his naïve tactics that resulted in blowouts against Manchester City and Liverpool solidified his fate. The drive was no longer visible, the exuberant celebrations were halted, and his methodical approach was constrained – Villas-Boas wanted out.

Spurs were at an all-time low, and the atmosphere around White Hart Lane became toxic. Yet two months later, the appointment of Tim Sherwood has proved to be successful, as Spurs sit a mere three points behind Liverpool for the final Champions League spot. Sherwood contradicts Villas-Boas’ style, as his team selections are pragmatic, his sides sit deeper without the ball, and Emmanuel Adebayor, opposed to Roberto Soldado, has led Spurs to success.

Villas-Boas attempted to sell Adebayor in the summer, but the striker was determined to stay put and fight for his position. The Togolese striker’s poor relationship with Villas-Boas increased when he questioned the Portuguese manager’s tactics during training, thus resulting in his exclusion from the first-team.

Adebayor’s behavioural issues have held him back in the past, but the Togolese striker doesn’t take his profession for granted, and is fortunate to play the sport he loves. The 29-year-old striker spent four years of his life unable to walk, in which his mother travelled across Africa with hopes of curing Adebayor.

Adebayor spent most of his time in church during tribulation, due to his religious background – yet, despite numerous prayers, a footballing miracle changed Adebayor’s life forever. “I was in the church laying down and, around nine or ten o’clock on the Sunday morning, I could hear children playing outside. Suddenly somebody kicked a ball into the church. And the first person to stand up and run was me, because I wanted to get that ball,” Adebayor told the Telegraph.

“My mum was afraid because she had never even seen me walking and suddenly I was running after a ball. And all the people in the church who had been praying for me told my mum, ‘your son is walking because of football. It must mean the boy has football in his blood.’

Adebayor’s opportunistic personality enables him to thrive when managers instill belief in the Togolese striker, but Spurs’ summer spending spree highlighted that the club was headed in another direction.

Over £100m worth of talent arrived at White Hart Lane, including Spanish striker Roberto Soldado. On paper, the Spaniard represented a striker well suited for Villas-Boas’ system – a diminutive, mobile poacher that could punish the opposition if presented an opportunity around the 18-yard box. The 28-year-old striker plays on the shoulder of the last defender, constantly aiming to make darting runs in behind the opponents back-line in search of goals.

Soldado’s £26m price tag merited him a start in Villas-Boas’ 4-2-3-1, but the Spaniard has only recorded five Premier League goals since his big move from Valencia – four from the penalty spot. Due to Villas-Boas’ lack of a no.10 capable of providing weighted through-balls, Soldado lacked the service to thrive at White Hart Lane. The 28-year-old spent most of his time under Villas-Boas isolated upfront, and with the Portuguese manager reluctant on playing 4-4-2, or using Emmanuel Adebayor, and Jermain Defoe, Spurs’ chances of achieving Champions League’s qualification was in jeopardy.

Nevertheless, Adebayor’s return to prominence has been beneficial to Spurs, as the Togolese striker’s recorded nine goals since Sherwood’s appointment. Adebayor provides Spurs with a reference point, which not only adds variety to their attack, but also makes up their lack of a legitimate through-ball specialist when Christian Eriksen is unavailable.

In Spurs’ victory over United at Old Trafford, Adebayor constantly dropped deep to link play, while Soldado stuck tight to the last defender, thus giving Spurs the attacking options they lacked under Villas-Boas. Adebayor received the ball in pockets of space and tormented Moyes’ back-line when he ran into United’s third. His opening goal signified the attacking dimension he offers Spurs – Adebayor linked play with Soldado in midfield, and ran towards the back post, out jumping Chris Smalling to perfectly nod Aaron Lennon’s cross past David De Gea.

Sherwood believes that Adebayor’s experience and desire to play are vital towards Spurs’ success. “He is in the mood already, he wants to enjoy his football and I’m giving him license to go on the pitch and express himself,” Sherwood said.

“He is a great example to the rest of the boys. He has been there and done it. He has done it on a regular basis and is one the players are looking up to. He’s been magnificent from the moment I took over, both on the pitch and off the pitch.”

And even when Spurs haven’t played their best football under Sherwood, the Togolese striker has kept them within touching distance of fourth place as a lone striker. Everton single-handedly outplayed Spurs when they visited White Hart Lane a few weeks ago, but poor finishing and Adebayor’s wonderful strike ensured Spurs obtained maximum points. Despite being isolated for majority of the match, a lofted Kyle Walker free-kick saw Adebayor wonderfully control the ball, shrug off Seamus Coleman, and fire a venomous shot past Tim Howard.

Perhaps, Sherwood still needs to incorporate a holding midfielder in his starting lineup, and find a way to limit the opposition from penetrating space between the lines, but his pragmatism states that he’s quickly learning from his mistakes.

There’s always room for defensive improvement, though, but Adebayor’s goals can be the key towards Spurs’ Champions League return, opposed to another disappointing season.

 

Three Things: Arsenal 0-2 Bayern Munich

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Sanogo?

Arsene Wenger’s decision to hand 21-year-old Yaya Sanogo a place in the starting lineup was the main talking point when the team-sheets came out. Prior to kick-off, Sanogo had only played 127 minutes for the Gunners, with this being his second start for the club. Wenger’s reluctance to sign a striker in January left many Arsenal fans frustrated, and with Olivier Giroud requiring rest, Sanogo was the best option available.

The French striker led the line against Liverpool over the weekend, and played a key role in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s opener when he wonderfully controlled Mesut Ozil’s cross, in which his blocked shot fell into the path of the Arsenal winger. Sanogo constantly made runs into the channels, while flustering Daniel Agger and Martin Skrtel with his physical presence and dynamism.

Bayern Munich, however, is not Liverpool, they’re the best team in Europe and this presented a new challenge for the Arsenal striker. But Wenger’s inclusion of Sanogo was logical: here, he wanted to utilize his pace and great movement off the ball to attack the space behind Bayern Munich’s high-line.

Santi Cazorla’s long ball over the top of the Bayern back-line signified the approach, as the Frenchman broke free, but the ball rolled out of play. Afterwards, his strength in the area led to a scramble, which resulted in Manuel Neuer making a wonderful save to keep the score levelled and prevent Sanogo from scoring his first-goal as a Gunner.

Sanogo offers the mobility and pace that Giroud lacks, and with Bayern playing a high-line, and Theo Walcott unavailable, Giroud’s threat would be minimal. The 21-year-old displayed his work-rate in the first-half when he dropped deep to dispossess Javi Martinez, and then played a great ball into the right channel for Oxlade-Chamberlain, who nearly forced David Alaba into a horrendous error.

Sanogo’s impact on the match decreased once Wojciech Szczesny was sent off, but Wenger’s decision to include the Frenchman in the starting XI was logical.

Penalties, Penalties, Penalties

The main talking point surrounding the first half was the controversy in the penalty box. Arsenal pressed and harried the European champions in the opening 15 minutes, and Wenger’s men created the better chances.

The Gunners were rewarded for their positive start when Jerome Boateng made a clumsy tackle on Mesut Ozil, thus resulting in a penalty. Similar to his spot-kick against Marseille earlier this season, the German’s languid run-up led to Neuer comfortably batting away Ozil’s poor penalty.

Subsequently, the momentum shifted and Bayern began to connect their passes and dictate the tempo of the match. Despite lacking penetration, and struggling to shift the Arsenal back-line out of position, Wenger’s men dropped deeper towards their box.

It took a scintillating ball from Toni Kroos to Arjen Robben to carve open Arsenal’s defence, and it forced Szczesny to commit a reckless challenge on the Dutch winger. The Polish goalkeeper received a red card, which forced Lukasz Fabianski to enter the fray, while Santi Cazorla was sacrificed.

Alaba stepped to the spot, but was forced to patiently wait for Arsenal to make their changes, and during that time he witnessed a wall of Gunners supporters heckle and jeer him. It took approximately two minutes for Fabianski to enter the goal, and Alaba’s mind was clustered. The Austrian left-back sent the Polish goalkeeper the wrong way, but his shot hit the post.

Both sides received the opportunity to take the lead through well-deserved spot-kicks, but neither shooter coped with the pressure – however, Bayern’s man advantage gave Guardiola’s side the onus to push for an away goal.

Kroos Control

For all the depth Bayern Munich possesses throughout their squad, the one player that doesn’t receive the credit he deserves is Toni Kroos. Kroos has been the heartbeat of Bayern’s creative play, and the 24-year-old midfielder saved his best performances for the European stage.

Last season at the Emirates, Kroos’ remarkable goal ignited a Bayern onslaught, but this time Szczesny saved his fantastic strike in the second minute. Yet, while Bayern struggled to cope with Arsenal’s energetic start, Kroos calmly settled Bayern into the match. He wandered around midfield looking for spaces to pick up the ball, and his precise passing helped his teammates come to grips with the frenetic pace.

Kroos’ passing was magnificent, and his ability to retain possession was also pivotal towards Bayern’s dominance. The German dynamo was at his best in the second half as Bayern picked up their tempo. Phillip Lahm cleverly created an angle for Kroos to fire an unstoppable shot into the top corner, to secure an important away goal.

The German was imperious in midfield and his long diagonal ball to Arjen Robben, followed by a well-weighed pass into Rafinha highlighted his creativity, but both wide players failed to provide an accurate final ball to increase Bayern’s lead. Kroos received an opportunity to kill the tie with seconds to spare, but his well-placed, low-driven shot ricocheted off the post.

It’s been nearly two years since Kroos’ master-class against Madrid , and his long-term injury forced him to miss last year’s road to Wembley. The German, however, is eager to display to the world that he’s Bayern’s key man, and arguably the best no.10 in the world, by guiding the Bavarians to their second consecutive Champions League triumph.