Might not be the thread for this, but this is a good video on the tactical rundown of the game:
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_06YSJzCdWQ
- on about 3.30 he mentions we made a tactical tweak, pushing our fullbacks up higher, and United's press couldn't adapt, as so:
But what's strange to me is, we always do this? This isn't a tweak at all, I could find you a millions stills from our games under Ange ball and our set up is identical; fullbacks pushed high up alongside the #10s, and we're in a sort of 2-1-3-4 in build up, with absolutely massive spacing between the CBs and fullbacks.
The narrative of this bit in the video is that United couldn't adjust to our "tactical tweak" with the high fullbacks, and as a result their press was all disjointed. But to me it seems more like United and Ten Hag simply didn't do their homework. Had they done they'd have known this is how we set up every game and adjusted their press accordingly.
- Then at 5.07 a bit on how good our high press was, with a particular shout out to Solanke who the guy claims is probably the best striker in the Prem at pressing the two centre backs, specifically the way he angle's his pressing to block out the ball to the other, as so:
- Where does De Ligt even pass it here? Our midfield are cutting out all the balls into the middle, everyone ready to pounce. Which leaves either a rushed long ball, or a pass to the right back which will immediately trigger Werner to press him and then you're talking about frantic passes back to Onana.
- I'm convinced Solanke is the glue that makes this all work. Not just his high pressing, which is immense, but Son is also an incredible presser in the #9 and we didn't often have games like this. Where Solanke is so much better than Son (or Richy) is all his back-to-goal play on the ball. He's simply the focal point all our possession revolves around. Brilliant signing.
- United really are shocking in build up as Liverpool showed a fortnight ago but that said, our high press has come on leaps and bounds and huge credit there has to go to Ange and his team; pressing is all about coaching, and the difference in this game arguably came down to one very good press versus one atrocious one.
- 9.40: "This is how you'd play against Spurs if you'd never seen Spurs before". As good as we were this United team played right into our hands.
