I always thought there was something off about the way we play compared to the top dogs in Europe, but thinking about it more it begins to make sense.
Basically, in big games, Allegri instructs his forwards to press the opponent's defenders, but our defense doesn't push up higher in the same way that Real Madrid's does (for example). This basically means that if the opponent gets past our first wave of pressing, our double pivot midfield is left very isolated. Pjanic and Khedira/Matuidi are up against 3 or sometimes even 4 opponents.
Allegri is stuck in two minds. He wants to play attacking football and he wants our forwards to press their defenders, but at the same time, he's too cautious to allow our defense to play a high line. What we are left with is a brand of football where our forwards spend more far more time chasing the ball than playing with it, and where we have absolutely no control in midfield. Then when we do get the ball, our forwards are too tired to counter.
We have to decide whether we want to play like Real Madrid or Atletico. This 4-2-3-1 is fools gold that will get found out by any organized top team. Real Madrid and Barcelona have both battered us by a 3 goal margin in our last 3 European games because it's too easy to play against a team that leaves a double pivot midfield so isolated.
Basically, in big games, Allegri instructs his forwards to press the opponent's defenders, but our defense doesn't push up higher in the same way that Real Madrid's does (for example). This basically means that if the opponent gets past our first wave of pressing, our double pivot midfield is left very isolated. Pjanic and Khedira/Matuidi are up against 3 or sometimes even 4 opponents.
Allegri is stuck in two minds. He wants to play attacking football and he wants our forwards to press their defenders, but at the same time, he's too cautious to allow our defense to play a high line. What we are left with is a brand of football where our forwards spend more far more time chasing the ball than playing with it, and where we have absolutely no control in midfield. Then when we do get the ball, our forwards are too tired to counter.
We have to decide whether we want to play like Real Madrid or Atletico. This 4-2-3-1 is fools gold that will get found out by any organized top team. Real Madrid and Barcelona have both battered us by a 3 goal margin in our last 3 European games because it's too easy to play against a team that leaves a double pivot midfield so isolated.
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