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Real Madrid: The self-compromise of hiring Mourinho

When signing José Mourinho, Real Madrid consigned themselves to the mentality of winning at all costs. Now they are learning the price.  The same night Frank De Bleeckere blew the final whistle and...

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Barça: The quest for reinvention

The signing of Neymar will boost Barça, but Tito Vilanova needs more than that. In his biography of Pep Guardiola, journalist Guillem Balague portrays a man constantly absorbed in deep thought. Ahead...

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Thiago’s role: A shift in thinking

The use of Thiago Alcântara as a defensive midfielder signals a further shift towards possession-based thinking.  Pep Guardiola has established a reputation as an innovator. On Saturday, in Bayern’s...

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Napoli tactics: The Italian Rafalution

What can we expect from Rafa Benítez’s side this season?  If Walter Mazzarri’s counter-attacking 3-5-2 system exuded boldness and innovation, Rafa Benítez’s arrival signals a return to more ordinary...

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Saying goodbye to Guardiola’s Barcelona

“Without the ball we are a disastrous team, a horrible team. So we need the ball.” ~ Pep Guardiola True idealists are rare in modern football. Perceived romantics – say, Arsène Wenger – also believe...

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Return of the king

Assessing the start of José Mourinho’s second spell at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea’s season has not seemed overwhelmingly impressive. The strikers are struggling; the midfield is unbalanced; few defenders...

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Lessons from the Clásico

Five thoughts on the 3-4 showdown at the Santiago Bernabéu. 1. Neymar’s positional switch On this evidence, the Brazilian’s deployment on the right is not to be repeated. The switch created new angles...

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Barça and the Sabella system

With Luis Suárez signed, Luis Enrique needs a system that can recreate the flair Barça have missed since Pep Guardiola’s departure. The model may be Argentina. When Pep Guardiola left Barcelona in...

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The game changer

Last season Chelsea’s adventurous style failed because they did not have a dynamic playmaker. With Cesc Fàbregas, that has changed. Certain roles are compulsory in a successful José Mourinho team....

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Recovering the balance

Carlo Ancelotti could attempt to solve Real Madrid’s midfield conundrum by using Gareth Bale in Ángel Di María’s old role. The move may be the lesser of two evils. The eleventh chapter of Carlo...

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Players of note

The parallels between football and classical music.  For all the tools devised by clubs to gain that competitive edge—Prozone, psychologists, scientific recovery procedures—a more old-fashioned element...

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The importance of Isco

How the elegant playmaker makes Real Madrid more fluent.  Just over six weeks ago Real Madrid were in chaos. They had lost 2-1 to Atlético Madrid in front of an unrestful Santiago Bernabéu; the...

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Remodelling a masterpiece

Barcelona’s direction under Luis Enrique. One would hope Pep Guardiola has not watched the first half of Barcelona’s 2-1 win at Almería last Saturday. Emotional health is important. If he has, he will...

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Mourinho stays true to form

In the last three seasons, José Mourinho’s teams have made the lowest number of interceptions in their leagues. What does that tell us? In his controversial 2014 book The Special One: The Secret World...

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