Luis Enrique’s mouth closing operation is going rather well. Champion of France since this weekend, qualified for the final of the Coupe de France and, above all, for the semi-finals of the Champions League, the Spanish coach sees his method ultimately praised even by the most refractory, including a certain DR
The Spanish coach succeeded well. Finally, his shots. Well, we still don’t understand much about it, but we’re doing our best, I promise. The proof, before the semi-final first leg against Borussia Dortmund this Wednesday, we offer you a (fictitious) dive into the head of this tactical madman who leaves nothing to chance, through a few situations taken from the return quarter against Barca. From our point of view anyway, it should look something like this.
The offensive transition
What we see: Not a bad situation if Vitinha plays well but it falls back well on the Barça side, it may not lead to anything.
What Luis Enrique sees: “A somewhat precarious offensive transition, Achraf attacks the half-space too much, his call should be a little more eccentric on the right side. But there is a 4 against 4 to exploit if we apply verticality with a pass which breaks the first opposing defensive line, knowing that Dembélé is ideally positioned in nine and three quarters in the rectangle identified n°73 26 meters from the goal. It’s worked on in training, obviously. »
The unexpected loss of the ball
What we see: It’s the mieeeeeeerda. Well, all in on Marquinhos.
What Luis Enrique sees: “A phase of complete imbalance after a duel lost in the forbidden zone (the p**** madre Lucas you’re fired), but we worked with Marqui on the emotional management of a recovery phase aborted by a normally unexpected element he’s not going to run off to the locker room and curl up under the table. Then you will notice that Lewandowski turns his hip to the left, in 97% of cases he ends this type of action with a blocked strike, I have never been afraid. »
The praise of patience
What we see: It’s clogged everywhere like the ring road at 6 p.m.
What Luis Enrique sees: “The start of a possession phase during which the team will slide from the basic 4-3-3 organization to a 3-4-3 to take the numerical advantage at the halfway line and dislocate little by little the opposing defensive structure, before accelerating vertically when a flaw has been identified after the third, fourth or fifth of playing time. We are in no hurry. »
The corner with Lucho sauce
What we see: A corner which has just been played between Dembélé and Hakimi, Achraf who will cross into the area and the Barça defense which calmly clears.
What Luis Enrique sees: “The great classic of the two-man corner revisited. Our five video analysts from the “corners and efficiency of the micro-nap on D + 3” division have prepared this special combination with two players who approach the shooter to dedensify the surface and open a gap for a fourth man waiting on the 25 meters. Afterwards, I didn’t think they would be fooled like chicks. They thought it was Verratti in striking position maybe? “.
The Bermuda triangles
What we see: A moderately well-taken raise, finally if ever Hakimi manages to directly hit Lee in his chair in the central circle it could hurt.
What Luis Enrique sees: “The Lucho salsa ball release, my little equi-isosceles-rectangle triangles. Three players involved at the base and the others who position themselves across the entire width to open passing circuits and so that the carrier only ever has one solution. We install the block little by little and the imbalance is caused by movements and changes in zone. Our offensive players switch to occupy the defenders before attacking the depth or asking for a throw-in. Brrrr, I’m getting chills. »
The little bonus
What we see: A waste, mostly.
What Luis Enrique sees: “Kylian on the bench is the conditioning of a group which will lose its compass next season and which will have to find keys on the ground to get by other than by swinging deep when things go badly. And hey, I’ve already watched Messi, Neymar and Totti, football may have changed but not me, my little guy. »