Messi rarely scored from Xaviesta's assists.Back then Messi wasn’t as good at playmaking. Cut the supply line was half the battle
Messi rarely scored from Xaviesta's assists.Back then Messi wasn’t as good at playmaking. Cut the supply line was half the battle
Mourinho tried it in the series of four clásicos in 2011. Pepe as a holding mifielder was the responsible for nullify and often man-mark Xavi and Iniesta out of the game, leaving Busquets as the main responsible for the key passes. In the Copa del Rey final defeat to Real, Barcelona was very imprecisive and lacked their usual creativity in their passing because they were in a very uninspired day and Mourinho made the match as physical as he could and also instructing Real's players to press insanely and not hesitate to foul Barcelona. The game was a whole was extremely scrappy, start-stop, and Barcelona could not get in their passing rhythm. Instead, the game became a battle.It wasn’t just him, they man marked xavi and iniesta and follows them around the pitch the whole match. It worked as they just couldn’t get the passing rhythm going, and when they did they fouled.
It was a smart tactic I don’t know why people didn’t try it more often.
Daniel Alves is the player who has the highest number of assists for Lionel Messi's goals.Messi rarely scored from Xaviesta's assists.
Pep's Barcelona against Emery's Valencia matches were so good. Valencia had Diego Alves, Miguel, Alba, Banega, Fernandes, Mata, Aduriz, etcXavi, Iniesta, Messi and the whole team overall often suffered seriously against Valencia and Espanyol. They were always difficult fixtures.
It stopped their passing rhythm but Barca still had tremendous attackers upfront and Real offered nothing in attack. Most of the time if Barca scored first the game would be over.Mourinho tried it in the series of four clásicos in 2011. Pepe as a holding mifielder was the responsible for nullify and often man-mark Xavi and Iniesta out of the game, leaving Busquets as the main responsible for the key passes. In the Copa del Rey final defeat to Real, Barcelona was very imprecisive and lacked their usual creativity in their passing because they were in a very uninspired day and Mourinho made the match as physical as he could and also instructing Real's players to press insanely and not hesitate to foul Barcelona. The game was a whole was extremely scrappy, start-stop, and Barcelona could not get in their passing rhythm. Instead, the game became a battle.
Copa final we had a lot of chances actually, first half and extra time we were demolishing themIt stopped their passing rhythm but Barca still had tremendous attackers upfront and Real offered nothing in attack. Most of the time if Barca scored first the game would be over.
I remember the match behind extremely cagey and intense. Real played an excellent game of defense and counter-attacking but I dont think dominated is the word. Mou used the exact same tactic and formation in their next CL encounter and it was pretty ineffectual when the onus was on them get a goal at home. The tactic had 11 players in their own half for most parts of the game. Mou got lambasted for being anti-football shortly after.Copa final we had a lot of chances actually, first half and extra time we were demolishing them
Second half they controlled the game but had no real chances other than an offside goal
Xavi had consistently more passing skills than Iniesta and had more goals than Iniesta. and Iniesta played more forward than XaviLegend.
I still think Iniesta was better though. He could see and play the passes Xavi could but also had the goalscoring and elite dribbling to compliment it.
https://mobile.twitter.com/XaviTempo_/status/1026179797267959808Couldn't play on a dry or uneven pitch. In 11/12 i remember guardiola being forced to sub him out against valencia or athletic because banega and ander herrera were pressing him into submission and eating him alive
O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D
Lolz
Indeed. The average football fan doesnt realise that Xavi averaged more goals and assists than Ini, despite playing deeper. He simply has been the most influential central midfielder for both club and country that the world has ever seen. Incredible!!Xavi had consistently more passing skills than Iniesta and had more goals than Iniesta. and Iniesta played more forward than Xavi
Iniesta was a superb gifted player but was poor on goal (though scored 2 of the most important goals for Barcelona and Spain).Iniesta was ahead in individual talent, but Xavi was way ahead on collective intelligence. He was the core ans system, Iniesta was the perfect partner to go forward
In my opinion, someone like Iniesta scoring at Stamford Bridge '09 and the WC'10 final is one of the biggest ironies of (modern) football history. It should had been Messi and C.Fàbregas (with Iniesta assisting) but destiny said otherwise.Indeed. The average football fan doesnt realise that Xavi averaged more goals and assists than Ini, despite playing deeper. He simply has been the most influential central midfielder for both club and country that the world has ever seen. Incredible!!
They weren't. Very risky, and as likely to blow up in your face as succeed, but succeed they did, on occasionI imagine these high pressing hard work rate tactics that are popular now would have been useless against that Barcelona side.
When teams employed high pressing against that Barcelona, the result generally was a fantastic game with end-to-end football, but a Barcelona win at the end nevertheless. Barcelona was really quick in exploiting the high line of the adversary's defense. That Barcelona team pressed better than anyone else, their pressure without the ball could be really insane and fantastically well coordinated.I imagine these high pressing hard work rate tactics that are popular now would have been useless against that Barcelona side.
When teams employed high pressing against that Barcelona, the result generally was a fantastic game with end-to-end football, but a Barcelona win at the end nevertheless. Barcelona was really quick in exploiting the high line of the adversary's defense. That Barcelona team pressed better than anyone else, their pressure without the ball could be really insane and fantastically well coordinated.
One fantastic example of this is the Barcelona 5-1 victory away against Espanyol in December 2010. A marvelous football game with Espanyol, coached by Pocchetino, playing a very high line and suffocating pressing. Barcelona finished the first half with 58% of ball possession. Espanyol played some great football and had some great chances. But Barcelona was still brilliant throughout the game overall. In the end, Barcelona's high line and team overall were able to press even more than Espanyol and create far more chances.
Barcelona 3-1 Villarreal in November 2010 is also another fantastic example. Villarreal was great, pressed much, created great chances and was fearless against Barcelona, but in the end Barcelona was still clearly superior in all regards.
I also recommend looking for the first half of Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona in 2011, UCL's Round of 16, First leg. Arsenal started the game extremely well, pressing Barcelona very high and creating great chances. But after the first 10 minutes, Barcelona settled in the game and often made Arsenal chase the shadows throughout the rest of the first half, Arsenal hopelessly trying and pressing to take the ball from Barcelona to no avail, while Barcelona's own high line and insane pressing was taking the ball from Arsenal all the time.
To truly stifle that Barcelona team, the best option was always sitting very deep and look for speedy counter-attacks.
wow Thanks for that brilliant post, i'll check those games. I'll add that in our game against Barca in the final, the first one, we also did ok for 10 or so minutes we were on top, and then... We were all over them with aggression and pace but they weathered the storm well and once they scored there was no coming back.When teams employed high pressing against that Barcelona, the result generally was a fantastic game with end-to-end football, but a Barcelona win at the end nevertheless. Barcelona was really quick in exploiting the high line of the adversary's defense. That Barcelona team pressed better than anyone else, their pressure without the ball could be really insane and fantastically well coordinated.
One fantastic example of this is the Barcelona 5-1 victory away against Espanyol in December 2010. A marvelous football game with Espanyol, coached by Pocchetino, playing a very high line and suffocating pressing. Barcelona finished the first half with 58% of ball possession. Espanyol played some great football and had some great chances. But Barcelona was still brilliant throughout the game overall. In the end, Barcelona's high line and team overall were able to press even more than Espanyol and create far more chances.
Barcelona 3-1 Villarreal in November 2010 is also another fantastic example. Villarreal was great, pressed much, created great chances and was fearless against Barcelona, but in the end Barcelona was still clearly superior in all regards.
I also recommend looking for the first half of Arsenal 2-1 Barcelona in 2011, UCL's Round of 16, First leg. Arsenal started the game extremely well, pressing Barcelona very high and creating great chances. But after the first 10 minutes, Barcelona settled in the game and often made Arsenal chase the shadows throughout the rest of the first half, Arsenal hopelessly trying and pressing to take the ball from Barcelona to no avail, while Barcelona's own high line and insane pressing was taking the ball from Arsenal all the time.
To truly stifle that Barcelona team, the best option was always sitting very deep and look for speedy counter-attacks.