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By Ken Gaunt of The Irish Examiner
BARCELONA legend Johan Cruyff taunted Man Utd last night by insisting his former side can pull Alex Ferguson’s side apart by keeping possession when the teams meet next week in the Champions League semi-final.
Cruyff, who now acts as an official adviser to club president Joan Laporta, denies there is any reason to be pessimistic, however, and believes Ferguson’s men have as much to fear as anyone.
He said: “They run a lot. Their style of football, and that of all the English teams, gives the false sensation that they run more than anyone. That’s because despite having a majority of foreigners in their squads they maintain the philosophy of long-ball football and sprinting 60 yards. That is how they exploit spaces in front of the midfield. If they played in the other team’s half more often those spaces wouldn’t exist.
“Despite recognising their effort, you can disarm an English side that presses and looks for the long ball by keeping possession and moving the ball around quickly.
“And if you know they will expend all their energy on closing down and chasing long balls, then you know where to beat them: by playing the ball horizontally.”
- You must be kidding me! He must be talking about English football from the 80s. I can remember one or two goals being scored as a result of a long ball, but to call Man Utd a team that plays long ball tactics is absolute rubbish.
If he is really still advising Jan Laporta, I hope he can pass along some advice to Rijkaard too!!
Maybe daddy Cruyff is still upset about his son being such a crap footballer for us!
BARCELONA legend Johan Cruyff taunted Man Utd last night by insisting his former side can pull Alex Ferguson’s side apart by keeping possession when the teams meet next week in the Champions League semi-final.
Cruyff, who now acts as an official adviser to club president Joan Laporta, denies there is any reason to be pessimistic, however, and believes Ferguson’s men have as much to fear as anyone.
He said: “They run a lot. Their style of football, and that of all the English teams, gives the false sensation that they run more than anyone. That’s because despite having a majority of foreigners in their squads they maintain the philosophy of long-ball football and sprinting 60 yards. That is how they exploit spaces in front of the midfield. If they played in the other team’s half more often those spaces wouldn’t exist.
“Despite recognising their effort, you can disarm an English side that presses and looks for the long ball by keeping possession and moving the ball around quickly.
“And if you know they will expend all their energy on closing down and chasing long balls, then you know where to beat them: by playing the ball horizontally.”
- You must be kidding me! He must be talking about English football from the 80s. I can remember one or two goals being scored as a result of a long ball, but to call Man Utd a team that plays long ball tactics is absolute rubbish.
If he is really still advising Jan Laporta, I hope he can pass along some advice to Rijkaard too!!
Maybe daddy Cruyff is still upset about his son being such a crap footballer for us!