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Just a few minutes into re-watching the game and City's press & structure look mighty impressive.
They used their front 3 to press the full width of Real Madrid's defense, isolated Casemiro, and had KDB & Gundogan closely mark and cover Modric & Kroos.
#MCIRMA
They used their front 3 to press the full width of Real Madrid's defense, isolated Casemiro, and had KDB & Gundogan closely mark and cover Modric & Kroos.
#MCIRMA
This meant that Foden had to balance between pressing the defense/GK & between covering Casemiro. The 'default option' was : Prioritize the latter, and it makes perfect sense (cont)
De Bruyne and Gundogan would mark & follow Modric & Kroos until they enter the negative space that is "the City cage" in Real Madrid's defensive there. Once they get there, City's midfielders would usually stop pursuing them (cont).
#MCIRMA
#MCIRMA
But perhaps the most impressive thing about City's press was how fluid & flexible it was. The players know how to adjust and prioritize according to in-game variables, as the play below shows.
Dashed line : Movement from original position (cont)
#MCIRMA
Dashed line : Movement from original position (cont)
#MCIRMA
One pass to the middle later, City players were quickly back to their original positions. What did this excellent press lead to ? The 1st goal.
This is exactly why singling out Varane like people makes absolutely no sense ! (cont)
#MCIRMA
This is exactly why singling out Varane like people makes absolutely no sense ! (cont)
#MCIRMA
One thing I must say could've definitely been done better is F.Mendy's positioning. I understand INITIALLY trying to provide a long-pass outlet, but when that pass is clearly not coming, he - in my opinion - should've stayed back and provided numerical support (cont)
#MCIRMA
#MCIRMA
I'm NOT saying that this would've solved it all. I just think that he'd provide at least a momentary outlet under immense pressure + drag more City players forward, making them more vulnerable.
Often leaving 3 at the back was playing right into City's hands (cont)
#MCIRMA
Often leaving 3 at the back was playing right into City's hands (cont)
#MCIRMA
In transition, City retained their excellent structure. The fact that their press depended on positioning rather than numbers meant they were never at a numerical disadvantage.
And again, their functional fluidity in pressing and defense showed (cont)
#MCIRMA
And again, their functional fluidity in pressing and defense showed (cont)
#MCIRMA
As you see above, they often let the 'long switch' option relatively free, using his potential marker to cover more crucial areas, knowing that players with enough vision &skill to make the switch pass were either absent (Ramos) or crowded or cut off in the middle.
#MCIRMA
#MCIRMA
On the other end, strangely enough, Zidane had KROOS as the highest presser alongside Benzema with Casemiro often behind them.
I'd be lying if I said that I fully understood it, but if I had to make a guess, there are two possibilities (cont)
#MCIRMA
I'd be lying if I said that I fully understood it, but if I had to make a guess, there are two possibilities (cont)
#MCIRMA
1- He wanted the skillful players to come charging from behind to receive a pass once the ball is won and capitalize on City's unsettled defense.
2- He simply wanted to have the pacier players stay back for attack-to-defense transitions.
It was a risk. Didn't pay off.
#MCIRMA
2- He simply wanted to have the pacier players stay back for attack-to-defense transitions.
It was a risk. Didn't pay off.
#MCIRMA
City's way of beating the press was very un-Pep-like : Long balls, especially from Ederson. The bet was "They're either accurate and we have bypassed the press. or inaccurate, but we win the 2nd ball (especially with Kroos and Modric pressing so high). It worked !!
#MCIRMA
#MCIRMA
Once they were fully in attack, City had Foden as a false 9, mainly used as a decoy and for counter-pressing, and KDB mainly occupying the right half space but having a good deal of freedom, to which Gundogan had to adapt.
#MCIRMA
#MCIRMA
Before moving on, I must emphasize this : De Bruyne is UNFAIR.
His workrate makes it look like he's a youngin trying to prove himself, and his skill makes it look like he'd break lines in his sleep and keep the ball while carrying a boulder.
True complete midfielder.
#MCIRMA
His workrate makes it look like he's a youngin trying to prove himself, and his skill makes it look like he'd break lines in his sleep and keep the ball while carrying a boulder.
True complete midfielder.
#MCIRMA
