Chapter 461: Chapter 461

Pellegrini is a very traditional coach.

This tradition mainly lies in the fact that he will establish a set tactic at the beginning of the season and then implement it throughout the entire season.

He fills in his current best players, the ones most suited to this tactic, as if filling letters, to execute his tactical system.

This is choosing players based on tactics!

This approach is also commonly used by many professional coaches in Europe.

This method has an advantage in that it creates a unified mindset within the team.

For example, if Pellegrini wants Manchester City to play possession football, then from the first team to the U15 team, everyone enforces the same possession tactic system.

If a key player is injured, I will replace him with a substitute;

The substitute comes in and still follows the set tactic, filling the gap left by the key player.

The whole team operates like a machine, running according to the programmed setting.

If today’s Manchester City were compared to a car, it would be a low-profile sports car skilled at cornering!

Even when faced with complex road conditions, it can still run effortlessly relying on precise chassis tuning, zero-delay engine response, and the perfect combination of brakes and tires.

Due to the absence of three key players, this sports car encountered problems, and several precise components needed replacing.

Pellegrini would replace these components of the car.

But can these replacement parts function as well as the original ones?

Or, after replacing with alternative parts, can the car still precisely maneuver through corners?

Pellegrini doesn’t consider these.

In other words, he doesn’t have the ability to consider these things!

Because his coaching level is considered top tier in Europe, but far from being the best.

A true top-level tactical master like Ancelotti can adjust tactics to suit the available players, instead of rigidly implementing a set tactic from the start of the season.

I will play whatever tactic suits the available players, dynamically adjusting the tactic as the 38-round league progresses based on player injuries and form!

If the speed players are in good form, then I play more directly;

If the possession players are all on play, then I keep the ball at our feet.

Such adjustments are not only reflected in pre-match deployment but also in on-the-spot game adjustments.

Pellegrini is not on the level of Ancelotti.

Since he took charge of Manchester City, he has always implemented a possession-based tactical approach.

As for the high pressing and long balls that assistant coach Rein tentatively mentioned, the old Chilean coach never even considered them!

In his coaching history, none of the teams he has managed has played this way.

So he unhesitatingly denied the proposal of Rein. Content originally comes from NoveIＦire.net

"Rein, the possession tactic is what we decided at the beginning of the season. We won the Premier League two years ago with this tactic. This shows that Manchester City can thrive with possession football in the Premier League!"

"But boss, we also need to make arrangements based on the current squad. Silva is out, Agüero is out, and even the key defender Ranocchia is out, making possession difficult, especially when advancing from defense to midfield..."

"Rein! You’ve been with me for so many years, why haven’t you made any progress? Your will isn’t strong enough. Just because of a little setback, you’re letting go of our foundation. Is Manchester City still Manchester City if it doesn’t play possession? Neither the management nor the fans will accept this, and neither will I!"

"Uh... Alright boss, I support you."

Every time they argued, Rein ultimately was forced to unconditionally support his superior.

He knows, as Pellegrini gets older, his football thinking becomes more rigid, and changing him in a short period is as difficult as reaching the skies!

After working with Pellegrini for so many years, Rein knows his personality.

Rein is just an assistant coach. He has to go along with the core of the coaching team, Pellegrini, to make a living.

Even if Pellegrini got fired by Manchester City and went somewhere else, as long as he takes Rein with him, Rein will never be unemployed, so from this viewpoint, Rein doesn’t need to be stubbornly opposed to his boss.

However, looking at Pellegrini setting up the starting lineup in front of him, Rein couldn’t help but mutter to himself.

"Otamendi playing as the ball-playing center-back, does he have that ability?"

"Uh? Putting Iheanacho on the wing, is Pellegrini determined not to use Nasri?"

"Bony starting as center forward is fine, but if he only has Tang to support him, with no pulling on the flanks, there may not be many opportunities."

"There’s no need to start Caballero in this scenario, Joe Hart has a greater range of control and stronger destructive force within the penalty area, alright, fine..."

"We can only hope Tang and Sterling perform well. I never worry about Tang, and Sterling... at least he played well last match, come on!"

Rein’s pre-match concerns were realized.

Even though Pellegrini replaced the necessary parts for Manchester City’s damaged sports car.

But replacement parts just aren’t as effective as the originals!

In the 13th round of the Premier League, Manchester City went away to challenge Swansea.

Though Swansea is a Premier League team, the city they are based in is located in Wales.

Although the wave of possession football from continental Europe has created quite a stir in England, teams in Wales and Scotland seem less affected.