Cruyff: United ‘The best’ but Barca can exploit them.
By: Rob | April 15th, 2008
When Johan Cruyff speaks you listen. The best footballer of all time in my book, and a manager who won the Spanish league and of course the Champions League itself, with Barcelona back in 1992.In an advisor role at Barca he cast his eye of the upcoming semi final between his former club and Manchester United; and suggested ways the Catalan club can overcome them.
Cruyff spots the counter-attacks of United as thier strong point
“That is how they exploit spaces in front of the midfield. If they played in the other team’s half more often those spaces wouldn’t exist.
Despite recognising their effort, you can disarm an English side that presses and looks for the long ball by keeping possession and moving the ball around quickly.
And if you know they will expend all their energy on closing down and chasing long balls, then you know where to beat them: by playing the ball horizontally”
He goes on to comment that even if things at Barca are dysfunctional, he would still see them as being – on paper – the favourites. Something that is difficult to disagree with in principle.
“However badly Barca is doing we have at least the same chance of progressing to the final as United.
They are very good, that’s true. Of the three English teams in the semis, for me Manchester is the best.
But I’m absolutely convinced that they’re thinking exactly the same about Barca. That of all the semi-finalists, the Blaugranes are the strongest.”
So Johan has said his bit. I make no secret of my respect for the fella (my profile on him is here) and though I know his worldview isn’t for everyone, I find myself agreeing a hell of alot with what he says – and of course his sucsess as a player and a coach speaks for itself.
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Tags: Barcelona, Champions League, Johan Cruyff, Knockout Rounds, Manchester United, Other News from Europe, Semi-Finals, What He SaidSubscribe
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Comments
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It’s a scintillating post, Rob, about the Dutchman with strong views.
By no means are Man Utd getting a bye. It’s a delicious pairing, with both teams poised to relish the atmospheres generated at both houses.
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United States
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You bet he’s right. It’s going to be a killer pairing, and the real final, unless both sides just beat the crap out of each other. That side that showed for a half against Celtic or Betis is the best side on the planet. But they do come and go now, don’t they?
So much depends on Abidal. If he can run with Ronaldo (look what the pace of Eboue/Toure did), it’s a different deal. If he goes on walkabout, we’re doomed. And I know that Rooney is used to poncing about through the middle, but he hasn’t met Mr. Yaya yet.
If Adebayor isn’t such a crap finisher, the Premiership title is still in the balance. Eto’o is NOT a crap finisher. Arsenal laid Man U open as a blueprint for beating them, just as Betis laid open a blueprint for beating us. I’m a lot more confident with Deco back, too.
Man, I can’t wait. On paper, it’s scintillating. Hope it works out that way in reality.
Posted from
United States -
But, that’s what Spanish teams do anyway (albeit higher up the pitch than Cruijff is suggesting): Barca will have to put away the few chances they are going to get playing like that (whilst also gaining the benefit of restricting United’s attack). As far as I see it (and here’s where all my professional experience of nothing comes to the fore), Rijkaard/Cruijff/Pep/Laudrup will have to come up with a brilliant tactical idea, because something that simple (that’s right, Cruijff, sit down and listen to the master) wont work. Some points for Barca as a United fan:
1) Brown is (obviously) the defensive weak link; but more than that, if you give United space on the right, you can pull him out of position easier than Evra. The best way to score against United is, therefore, not to put pressure on them, or even deny them the ball because as a unit they are hard to break down, but to let them, up to a point, attack you (no risk there then!).
2) A hell of a lot of United goals come through the middle (at least, at the start of the attack). What Barca need to do is not so much mark Rooney and Ronaldo (at least not give them a lot of room), but to stop the balls from Carrick and Anderson.So, what I’d do is let United have the ball in the Barca half, but make sure that the front four don’t have space to run (Barca will have to be ultra organized at the back) and that, most importantly, Carrick and Anderson are never given an easy time; and then counter through the wings very early (still keeping an eye on Caanderson).
But then again, what do I know …
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