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Manchester United, Real Madrid, Bayern Munich all hail from contrasting societies and footballing cultures, they have striking similarities. For one, each of them has a history immense enough to make any fan proud.
They are still considered the most glamorous and instantly recognizable names of their respective leagues, not to forget the incredible comebacks they make time and again ( Cue: UCL Final 1999, La Liga Season Finale 2006/07, UCL Final 2001).
And of course, the fans resemble spoilt kids of rich parents who throw a tantrum when even one of their numerous toys (read trophies) is taken from them.
Yet, as the 2014/15 season draws to a close, these giants of football will only be partly satisfied with what they have achieved.
Old Trafford, which had become the Theatre of Nightmares last season, is presently heaving a sigh of relief at getting back into the top four, but the Red Devils are already wishing to return to the glory days of Sir Alex Ferguson.
Los Merengues, on the other hand, will consider this season to be a failure as it ends trophy-less a year after they completed the long-awaited La Decima. For the Allianz Arena faithful, meanwhile, it looks like more of the same - a Bundesliga title everyone expects them to win, a Champions League semi-final exit and – surprise, surprise – questions over where exactly Pep is taking FC Bayern: forwards, backwards or (much like their passing) sideways.
As it so happens, the cure of their maladies might be similar in more ways than one – whether it be first-team management, their short-term futures or in the general direction of the clubs in the coming years.
Defensive stability
Manchester United, since the heydays of Sir Alex, have been a counter-attacking team – a team that would absorb all the attack of the opposition, work hard together to win the ball back and on doing so, attack with deadly efficiency. Bayern Munich and Real Madrid had a similar approach and although Real relied more on individual skill rather than efficiency in attack, it acquired greater efficiency during Mourinho’s tenure.
Their game play at present, however, is markedly different. United under Dutch manager Louis van Gaal have become a possession-based team and have clocked possession upwards of 70% in some matches. Real Madrid too, have started to dominate matches by having a lion’s share of the ball, while Bayern’s manager is Pep Guardiola – enough said.
Such a style of play requires a different style of defending – one which is based more on defensive nous, skill, intelligence and quick decision-making rather than tireless running, brute force, bravery and flying tackles.
Furthermore, the defenders should be comfortable in possession and have an eye for a long ball, with a leader among them to organize them, keep them alert and direct them in dire situations when majority of the players are committed forward.
Manchester United have been found the most wanting in this respect. The possession culture seems alien to them (as it does to most of England) and nowhere was this more evident than in the beginning of the season when the United backline would panic each time they lost possession. The result- 5 points from the first 5 games, sterile possession dictated by the fear of conceding and unnecessary sending-offs for Tyler Blackett, Chris Smalling and Wayne Rooney.
As the season progressed, the United defence became more assured, both in and without possession, although Smalling’s ball-playing abilities and Jones’ composure (oh, not that face again!) left a lot to be desired.
More importantly, it showed United need a defensive leader- none of these two has shown either the desire or the aptitude for this role and Carrick, much as Red Devils would wish, won’t be around forever. From within the squad, Daley Blind may technically be a replacement at Carrick’s position, but whether he has the personality and the presence to fulfil his role remains to be seen.
Real Madrid, on the other hand, have practically fielded three no. 10s as a midfield trio for the majority of the season – Fiorentino Perez has, once again, succeeded in putting an extra layer of gold paint on the Bentley by selling the engine.
This meant more possession and more creativity but also led to slow transition from attack to defence and ineffective shielding of Sergio Ramos and Pepe, who although being accomplished and experienced footballers themselves, can only do so much.
The huge gaps between midfield and defence cost Real at various stages of the season against Real Sociedad, Valencia, Atletico Madrid and Juventus.
Bayern Munich, meanwhile, cannot complain about lack of personnel – a squad boasting the likes of Bastian Schweinsteiger, Philip Lahm, Xabi Alonso and Jerome Boateng has no right to be defensively vulnerable, yet the losses to Wolfsburg, Monchengladbach, Porto and Barcelona must worry Die Roten fans who, just 2 years ago, saw their team win a treble starting from the back.
Dante, the rock of that season, suddenly seems vulnerable to counter-attacks, Lahm and Schweinsteiger have not had the influence of yester-seasons through a combination of injuries and advanced midfield roles and Xabi Alonso is fast losing his legs, at least when it comes to running towards his own goal.
The return of Javi Martinez and Badstuber might help but Pep, suffice to say, he must be missing Puyol as much as, if not more than Messi.
Box-to-box midfielder
Manchester United’s association with any and every box-to-box midfielder since the transfer summer of 2013/14 is well-documented. It’s high time they finally get one this summer to add balance to the midfield, contribute in attack as well as defence, provide much-needed competition and cover to Ander Herrera and Marouane Fellaini and of course, to let Wayne Rooney play upfront.
Real Madrid too need a tireless midfielder who runs up and down the pitch and actually possesses defensive awareness, unlike Isco and James. The injury of Luka Modric exposed their shortcoming in this position and was a major factor in derailing their season.
A certain Paul Pogba showed them what they were missing in the UCL Semi-final, and although transfer rumours are unbecoming of any serious sports-writer, this one might just see the light of day.
Bayern Munich often fielded a midfield trio of Lahm, Alonso and Schweinsteiger in the latter half of the season – although highly gifted and experienced footballers, they are too similar and in a way, an anti-thesis of the present Real Madrid in that three defensive midfielders are playing together.
Although this move was dictated by injuries and the return of David Alaba will help speed up things, Pep might consider playing Muller in a more central role – a solution which, interestingly, is the opposite of what Real need in midfield.
Maybe the Toni Kroos – Xabi Alonso switch was not such a good idea after all, eh?
Role of key players
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal has praised Wayne Rooney’s captaincy, hailing the forward’s contribution in training and the dressing room as well as his versatility. Rooney’s role in the starting eleven, however, is still uncertain under ‘King Louis’.
Initially deployed in a central midfield role where he seemed ineffective and in a sulking mood in general, his eventual positioning as a centre-forward coincided with an upturn in Manchester United’s fortunes, but not necessarily his.
To compound problems, Angel di Maria, United’s new no. 7 who had initially instilled new hope of a mazy winger once again ruling Old Trafford, has fallen out of favour after a promising start. His deployment on the wings, in midfield, even as a second striker have all brought disappointing results and for LvG to mount a serious title challenge next season, the roles of Messrs 7 and 10 needs to be defined.
Real Madrid star Cristiano Ronaldo has come a long way during his time at Real – a smooth metamorphosis from tricky winger to lethal goalscorer, which had started at United but was completed at the Bernabeu, La Decima win for Los Merengues and 2 Fifa Ballon d’ors.
Notwithstanding his achievements, maybe the time has come to revisit his role, and position, in the team. Presently playing as a left winger in a 3 man forward line, CR7 has, in Arrigio Sacchi’s words “Not gone past a player for 3 months now”.
Although this is a harsh assessment of his contribution, a redefined role as a forward alongside Karim Benzema in a 2-striker formation, or even as a lone forward must be on the cards for whoever takes over from Carlo Ancelotti.
Gareth Bale, too, has been disappointing on the other side of the forward 3, showing little instinct or agility to running past defenders towards goal. Often, he has been forced to run along the sideline and cross with his weaker foot.
A far from prudent use of his strengths, which include his blistering pace and physical presence to beat defenders, a lethal left foot for crossing and shooting plus his contribution in defending the flanks, would greatly benefit Real.
After FC Bayern’s Champions League loss to Barcelona, several of the former’s past greats commented on the ills of their club; some blamed the transfer policy, others criticized the players’ attitude. Oliver Kahn, though had this to say – “Guardiola gives Gotze minutes when the game is already over,' he said to ZDF.
“They don't take advantage of his talent.
“[Thomas] Muller is playing in the wrong position as well. These problems, with two big players from Germany, must be resolved.”
Gotze’s earlier limited involvement could be explained by the lack of room for him in the playing 11; that excuse ended with Robben and Ribery both injured for large parts of the season.
Guardiola has been unsure regarding Gotze’s position – he has played on the left side of midfield, on the left wing as a forward, and occasionally as a false 9, with Muller and Lewandowski on either side – but knowing Guardiola, maybe he was just experimenting.
Whatever the case, the talent of Gotze is undisputed and the onus is on the manager to incorporate him into the first team, especially with “Robbery” on the wrong side of 30.
Muller’s case is more complicated, much like the player himself.
The Raumdeuter’s statistics for this year (20 goals, 18 assists) are close to last year (26 goals, 15 assists). Statistics, though, only tell half the story and tactically speaking, Muller has usually operated as a second striker with Lewandowski this season, as opposed to playing on the right wing the previous season: this has led to him playing with his back to the goal more often and setting up goals rather than scoring them by stealthily moving into dangerous positions from the right wing.
Putting Muller as a forward has resulted in him losing his element of surprise: it is easier for defenders to mark him in a central position as opposed to the right flank from where he operates so effectively, much like a hybrid striker of the 21st century. Removing him from the ‘limelight’ into a withdrawn position (either on the wings or in central midfield) from where he can ‘investigate space’ at will, might go a long way in maximizing his potential and achieving greater goal tallies for the season, which he is perfectly capable of.
2 years on, Pep still has his work cut out.
