Source: TheGuardian
Vulnerable channels and 20 zones: the tactics behind Guardiola’s title win
Manchester City have exploited the area between the opposition centre-back and full-back and the roles of Fernandinho and Ederson have been crucial tooOttmar Hitzfeld, the former Borussia Dortmund and Bayern Munich manager, used to speak of the red zone, a central area of the pitch just outside the penalty box. Control that, he believed, and you controlled the game. If in your half you denied the opposition the ball in that space, they were forced wide and while crosses can be dangerous they are a low percentage route to goal.At the other end a player with time on the ball in that zone was a major threat, able to shoot or slide balls through the defence. As teams have become increasingly adept at plugging the red zone – often with the use of two holding midfielders – the danger area has shifted. Manchester City, notably, target the area on the edge of the Hitzfeld red zone, the space between the central defender and the full-back.The role of Fernandinho in protecting the back four is crucial, particularly when both full-backs have licence to attack Related: Manchester United in the 60s weren’t as good as this City side Related: What Pep Guardiola must do to make Manchester City even better Continue reading......read full article
