Here Is a List of 3 Top Managers Ranked With The Most Frustrating Defensive Tactics
A wise coach once said in an interview that attack wins you games and defence wins you titles. The coach who made this statement was Sir Alex Ferguson, who ironically loves a high press attacking football.
20 years ago, football was all about looking for ways to get the win regardless of approach but these days, teams are trying to play what I refer to as ‘sexy football’, pleasing the eyes of spectators. Pep Guardiola, Marcelo Bielsa, Hansi Flick and Jürgen Klopp are just a few examples of the managers whose team’s play high press attacking football. But while the aforementioned manager adopts the attacking style of football, there are a few others who prioritize keeping things tight at the back first, before attacking.
These managers know the value of a clean sheet and love their team to keep one in any way possible. Sean Dyche, Maximiliano Allegri and Nuno Espirito Santos are just some of the few managers who fall into this bracket. But they are not the best when it comes to defensive-minded tactics. Below I will list the top 3 managers who play the most frustrating defensive tactics in world football. Yes, it’s frustrating playing against defensive-minded teams and these managers have mastered the dark arts of defensive tactics.
3. Jose Mourinho.
If ‘park the bus’ was a person, his ID card who have Mourinho’s picture. The phrase park the bus is used to describe a team whose tactics in a game is just to defend and Mourinho’s team do this very often. In the Premier League, Mourinho is known to instruct his players to sit back and defend with 10 at the back each time his team’s play against other big sides. At Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham, it’s always the defensive approach when Mourinho was in charge. The likes of Arsene Wenger who was once Arsenal’s manager have complained about Mourinho’s tactics in the past and how frustrating it was to play against a big team that prioritizes defending as if their lives depend on it.
2. Diego Simeone.
If you think it’s frustrating to play against a Jose Mourinho led team, then wait till you meet Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid. 5 at the back, 5 in midfield, that’s how Atletico Madrid defend against big teams. It’s the tactics Diego Simeone has been using for the past 10 years at Atletico and surprise, surprise, he’s gotten to 2 Champions League finals by using these tactics in the past. JurgenKlopp is one of the managers who have come out to criticize Diego Simeone’s approach but the Argentine manager does not care. So far his side is getting in the ‘wins’, then his approach is working.
1. Thomas Tuchel.
If defensive tactics were being studied as a course in the higher institutions, then Tuchel would have a PHD in it at this moment in time. A few years ago, Thomas Tuchel would not have been listed as a manager with defensive-minded tactics but these days, he’s adopted the tactics. Chelsea has always been known as a team with managers who loves defensive tactics and Tuchel is the latest coach to use it at the club.
One thing that sets Tuchel apart from another manager in this list is that his side is also excellent in attack as well as excellent in defence. They can sit back with 10 men, defending but when they see the opportunity to attack, they fly forward in their numbers leaving the opponents in their wake. The Blues have not conceded any goal from open play in all competitions this season and it’s a testament to their defensive excellence. Pep Guardiola, Jürgen Klopp and most of the top managers in England don’t like playing against Chelsea because of this. Earlier this season Tuchel taught Klopp a defensive lesson for 45 minutes in their League encounter at Anfield.
Chelsea, with a man down, kept Liverpool at bay for 45 minutes, a feat no other team, even Simeone’s Atletico have been able to do against the Reds this season.
Well, that’s the list of the 3 managers with the most frustrating defensive tactics in world football. It’s always fun when two attack-minded teams are playing against each other, but when it’s a defence Vs attack, then fancy these managers to frustrate their opponents till the end of the game.
Thanks for reading.
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