Head coach of the senior national team of Nigeria Eric Chelle says the best tactics doesn’t necessarily mean you will games all the time, OwnGoalNigeria.com reports.
Chelle who will be back in the hot seat in September, when the Super Eagles play in the world cup qualifiers against Rwanda and South Africa respectively made this known in an interview with Onzemondial.
He explained that some coaches vary their system in relation to the opponents, and used the system of the duo of Pep Guardiola and Jose Mourinho to properly explain his point.
“Some coaches adapt their tactics in relation to the opponent, they seek to counter the opponent. A bit like what the great coach that was Mourinho did. So his ideal was to find the opponent’s weaknesses and counter the opponent. And then, you have Guardiola-type coaches who want to impose their style of play. And you have others, the new teams that resemble those of the Red Bull project, based on a transition game, with a very high pressing to put opponents in difficulty.
” I position myself between Guardiola and the Red Bull project in transition. I don’t want to counter the opponent, I want to impose my game and my philosophy”, he said.
Speaking further, he explained why the best tactics doesn’t necessarily win games all the time, citing the game between Manchester United and Lyon in the Europa League as a case study.
“No, not necessarily. In recent weeks, we have seen many games on TV, and we realize that the games are not played on tactics. The games are played mentally and especially the big games. For example, the match between Manchester United and Lyon, we go from 2-0 to 2-2 and then 2-4. And finally, it’s no longer tactical, it’s mental, it’s small details, it’s one meter away from placement.
“The pure Italian-style tactics of 20 or 30 years ago no longer exist. Today, football is going very, very fast. And it is no longer played at two meters. Today, it is played at one meter, or even 50 centimeters. The mind makes the difference. During big matches, this is what you will propose in terms of movement, game project, performance, mental preparation and interactions between players that will lead you to have results.
“Tactics are an eternal restart. Before, the 4-4-2 was the preferred scheme, then there was the 3-5-2, then the 4-3-3. It totally changes, then it comes back. We’ve already seen everything”.
