Juventus was a great team and now they want to be the best team in the world. So, Sarri came to the team and still, he is trying to develop Juventus’ game. He wants the ball and he is struggling to change team’s defensive mind.
Of course this change and difference can’t happen suddenly. In this article, I try to explain Juventus’ some problems that Sarri couldn’t find a solution and how he can solve some problems with Ramsey and Matuidi.
Sarri uses 4-1-2-1-2 or 4-3-3 line up. And in the centre midfielder position he uses three of these Pjanic, Matuidi, Bentancur and Rabiot. Only Matuidi’s physical level is good. This situation causes many problems.
If they want to make game in the set attack, they can’t increase tempo because Rabiot and Bentancur haven’t great movement. Pjanic is a great regista and he can make game very well but in the opponent’s half side they need to increase tempo.
In the set attack, Sarri’s one full back stays in the defense line and the other full back supports to attack. So, right and left centre midfielders should have great communication with wingers (or 2 centre forwards) because sometimes they should support attack like a full back.
When wingers (or 2 centre forwards) are close to midfielders to take the ball or create space for teammates right and left centre midfielders should use these spaces. If they can’t use these spaces they can’t make game because game is jam.
For use these spaces, right and left centre midfielders should can play in the box-to-box role and have a high tempo. If they can’t have a high tempo they can’t use free spaces on time and let’s say they can use, they can’t come back to defense quickly when they lost the ball and opponent can find enough space to create goal chances in the counter attacks.
Bentancur is a talented footballer and Sarri uses him in the right centre midfielder position. He can use free spaces greatly but he hasn’t high tempo, so he can’t come back to defense line quickly. If Ramsey plays, he can support attack better because of his high tempo and run to the penalty box and use free spaces between lines abilities. Also, he can comeback to defense quickly.
In the transition defence to attack, they have a problem too. Forwards need to support and midfielders should provide this but as I said, only Matuidi has high tempo, so midfielders can’t come to support forwards on time and they lose counter attack opportunities.
In the counter attacks, teammates supports are very important because opponent’s defense line focus on to forward line. Because they know they are the most dangerous players. If any support comes from back, opponent’s defense line’s mind can be confused because if they choose to cover forward players, supporter can have too much free space. If they choose to cover supporter, forward players can have more space. In this case, the point is to confuse opponent’s mind and enforce to choose one of them.
In the set defense, if they play with 4-3-3, usually Ronaldo comes to centre forward’s beside and team transforms to 4-4-2. So, they can protect the team with Ronaldo’s defensive weaknesses. If they play with 4-1-2-1-2, anyone who plays at position number 10 shifts to the right wing. Matuidi or Rabiot (whichever is playing) shifts to the left wing.
If Matuidi plays, they haven’t problem in the left wing’s defense but if Rabiot plays, they have problem because Rabiot can’t cover left wing quickly like Matuidi.
Bentancur becomes a centre midfielder in the set defense and he hasn’t any problem about this issue. He can support right winger in the set defense but in the transition attack to defense they have a problem.
In the set defense, right winger or who plays at position number 10 shifts to the right wing but in the transition attack to defence right wing’s defense remains to only right back. Because they were in the set attack and number 10 (or right winger) remains in the opponent’s half side.
So right centre midfielder should come back to help right back to cover right wing quickly. Bentancur hasn’t high tempo, so he can’t come back quickly and opponent can use team’s right wing for attack.
If Ramsey plays, they can solve this problem as much as possible. He can come back to cover right wing quickly.
Pjanic is a regista, so he is closer to our defense line than other midfielders but his physical abilities are bad and he can’t stop opponent’s counter attacks.
If Sarri uses Ramsey for centre midfield and If Matuidi and Ramsey can play in the same time, they can reduce other midfielder’s defensive and physical weaknesses.
As a result, this season is Sarri’s first year and in time he can develop his team but in the modern football, tempo is very important and he needs Ramsey and Matuidi in his XI because he hasn’t enough high tempo midfielders in the team. Normally, Ramsey’s position is number 10 but also, I think he can play in the centre midfielder position.