By
Laleye Joseph
Both Pep Guardiola a Spaniard and De Zerbi the Italian are disciples of positional play and their style of approach favors the attacking style of football beautiful to behold, but their interpretations of the game differs.
De Zerbi has turned brighton and Hove Albion Team to a very formidable Team within a year of joining them with a bold system of play with little budget, while Pep Guardiola is a house hold name and the best Coach in the World at the moment with his renowned tiki taka style of football.
Guardiola’s emphasis on controlled progression and optimal positioning that embodies a chess-like strategic approach. In contrast, De Zerbi’s employ a vertical and swift triumvirate combinations that mirrors a high-paced, thrilling game of checkers. These distinct interpretations not only highlight the versatility of the positional play philosophy but also underscore the beautiful intricacies that make football a perpetual tactical spectacle.
GUARDIOLA: CONTROLLED PROGRESSION AND OPTIMAL POSITIONING
- Precision and Patience
Guardiola’s teams, while at Barcelona, Bayern Munich, and currently at Manchester City, have showcased an uncanny ability to progress up the pitch with methodical precision. The progression is not rushed; instead, it’s a meticulous and steady build-up where each pass have a purpose.
2. Strategic Positioning
For Pep Guardiola, the positioning of his players is paramount. He believes in creating “superiorities” in different zones – be it numerical, positional, or qualitative. This ensures that his team always has a safe passing option and can progress the ball without being overwhelmed.
3. Stretching the Opponent
Guardiola often employs wingers who hug the touchlines, with great pace and trickery thus stretching the opposition’s defense. This creates spaces in between the lines, allowing midfielders or false forwards to exploit these pockets of space.
4. Control as a Defense Mechanism
For Guardiola, ball possession is not just an offensive style of play but a defensive strategy. By controlling the ball, his team dictates the game’s tempo, thereby limiting the opponent’s opportunities to attack and frustrating the opponent to chase shadows.
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DE ZERBI: VERTICALITY AND TRIUMVIRATE COMBINATIONS
- Embracing the Vertical
While Guardiola values a controlled horizontal progression, De Zerbi often seeks the more direct style, vertical route. His teams are drilled to identify and exploit spaces behind the lines with great intensity and urgency.
2. Triumvirate Principle
Central to De Zerbi’s approach is the triumvirate combination. It works as such: the first player draws in opposition players, lays it off to a second player, who instantly releases a third player in space, bypassing the press or defensive line. This approach, though riskier, can quickly disorient defenses and create clear-cut chances.
3. Fluid Forward Movements
De Zerbi’s attacking players are given the license to interchange positions frequently. This fluidity makes it difficult for the opposition team to mark players or predict their movements.
4. Risk as a Strategy
While Guardiola leans towards assuredness, De Zerbi is willing to take calculated risks. His teams might attempt more vertical and intricate passes in tight and difficult spaces to break lines. This approach can be a double-edged sword, leading to potential turnovers, but when executed well, it can dismantle well-organized defenses.
Laleye Joseph is BrandiQ’s Senior Sport Correspondent.
