Mourinho's tactical dilemma
Source: Agencies |
April 20, 2011, Wednesday
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JOSE Mourinho must resolve a tactical dilemma when he attempts to land his first piece of silverware as Real Madrid coach in tonight's Copa Del Rey final against Barcelona at Valencia's Mestalla stadium.
The charismatic Portuguese coach went into Saturday's 1-1 La Liga draw against the same opposition with an ultra-cautious approach that was not to the liking of former Real great Alfredo Di Stefano.
The club's honorary president described Barcelona as a lion playing with a mouse and called for a different strategy in the Copa final, the second game in a four-match sequence of 'Clasico' confrontations to be played over 18 days.
"Saturday's game should give pause for thought on how to face up to the next because trying to play Barcelona on the break clearly isn't the most adequate," the 84-year-old Di Stefano wrote in the sports daily Marca. "Barcelona's football in the Bernabeu was simply brilliant. Its superiority was there for the whole planet to see. They treat the ball with respect, adoration, they almost pamper it. To watch this team in action is a delight."
Mourinho's side sat back at the Bernabeu on Saturday in the hope of stealing a goal on the break, frustrating Barca enough to prevent his opposite number Pep Guardiola making it six wins from six games against Real. It also avoided a re-run of the 0-5 thrashing Real suffered at the Nou Camp back in November.
Coming back from 0-1 down with 10 men had home fans proclaiming a "draw that tasted like a victory" even though it effectively ended its chances of catching the leader which maintained an eight-point advantage with six games left.
Destroyer
Mourinho's decision to convert Pepe from center-back into muscular midfield destroyer with two other holding midfielders was his major tactical change on Saturday and the player he sacrificed was Mesut Ozil. The stylish German, however, turned the game with his darting runs and clever passes when he came on as a late substitute and Mourinho is likely to include him tonight, perhaps at the expense of a recognized No. 9.
Defender Raul Albiol is suspended after his red card at the weekend which may mean Sergio Ramos moves across into the center alongside Ricardo Carvalho.
With the league now a long shot Real's remaining options for its first silverware since 2008 lies in the Copa, a trophy it last lifted in 1993, and the Champions League where it meets Barca again next week.
For all its domination of possession, which was around 72 percent on Saturday, Barca was unable to finish off its rival. Former Barca great Johan Cruyff said that should act as a warning to the team especially against a "titles specialist" like Mourinho.
"Guardiola's men have been advised," he wrote in the daily El Periodico. "Even if it remains loyal to its style it will have to improve."
The charismatic Portuguese coach went into Saturday's 1-1 La Liga draw against the same opposition with an ultra-cautious approach that was not to the liking of former Real great Alfredo Di Stefano.
The club's honorary president described Barcelona as a lion playing with a mouse and called for a different strategy in the Copa final, the second game in a four-match sequence of 'Clasico' confrontations to be played over 18 days.
"Saturday's game should give pause for thought on how to face up to the next because trying to play Barcelona on the break clearly isn't the most adequate," the 84-year-old Di Stefano wrote in the sports daily Marca. "Barcelona's football in the Bernabeu was simply brilliant. Its superiority was there for the whole planet to see. They treat the ball with respect, adoration, they almost pamper it. To watch this team in action is a delight."
Mourinho's side sat back at the Bernabeu on Saturday in the hope of stealing a goal on the break, frustrating Barca enough to prevent his opposite number Pep Guardiola making it six wins from six games against Real. It also avoided a re-run of the 0-5 thrashing Real suffered at the Nou Camp back in November.
Coming back from 0-1 down with 10 men had home fans proclaiming a "draw that tasted like a victory" even though it effectively ended its chances of catching the leader which maintained an eight-point advantage with six games left.
Destroyer
Mourinho's decision to convert Pepe from center-back into muscular midfield destroyer with two other holding midfielders was his major tactical change on Saturday and the player he sacrificed was Mesut Ozil. The stylish German, however, turned the game with his darting runs and clever passes when he came on as a late substitute and Mourinho is likely to include him tonight, perhaps at the expense of a recognized No. 9.
Defender Raul Albiol is suspended after his red card at the weekend which may mean Sergio Ramos moves across into the center alongside Ricardo Carvalho.
With the league now a long shot Real's remaining options for its first silverware since 2008 lies in the Copa, a trophy it last lifted in 1993, and the Champions League where it meets Barca again next week.
For all its domination of possession, which was around 72 percent on Saturday, Barca was unable to finish off its rival. Former Barca great Johan Cruyff said that should act as a warning to the team especially against a "titles specialist" like Mourinho.
"Guardiola's men have been advised," he wrote in the daily El Periodico. "Even if it remains loyal to its style it will have to improve."
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