Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, believes Chelsea’s success could damage football. He is worried that the recent trend of teams winning without maintaining possession must lead to a “rethink of the whole process”. These comments come on the back of Chelsea’s title winning season which was preceded by Leicester winning the league. Both teams played a counter-attacking style of football based on a sturdy defense.
Arsène Wenger’s words
Arsène Wenger at a press conference
Talking about the physicality and energy sapping schedule of the English game Wenger said “Over the last two season, teams who do not have big possession have won the league. And, as well, teams who were not involved in Europe, at all, won the league. Because the league is so physically difficult, maybe it is very difficult to cope with both. We will see how Chelsea respond next season.”
Regarding teams winning despite having lesser possession,Wenger added that “I still think sport has to encourage initiative and, if it rewards too much teams who don’t take initiative, then we have to rethink the whole process because people will not, forever, come to watch teams who do not want to take the initiative.” He further added “I am convinced you still need to have the ball to create goal chances and that you cannot encourage, as well, youth teams to say: ‘We do not want the ball’. You cannot buy big players and say: ‘We do not want the ball’. Big players want the ball.”
Reading between the lines
Arsène Wenger has always been a huge advocate of possession based football. Before his arrival, Arsenal were a typical 1-0 team. He changed the core the club to teach his possession based philosophy. In the recent seasons, Le Professor has seen the clubs like Arsenal and Manchester City, both of whom play possession based football lose the league to Leicester and Chelsea. Atlético is another team that has achieved success playing counter-attacking football.
Wenger was a pioneer of the game during late 90s and early 00s
Wenger’s words hold true in the sense that more and more teams are switching to this defensive style of play. This system does not necessarily require the team to have the ball. Therefore, it is perfect to mask the individual deficiencies. Possession based football does make for an entertaining game and there is no doubt that this phase of counter attacking game will pass to make way to more possession based football.
Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, believes Chelsea’s success could damage football. He is worried that the recent trend of teams winning without maintaining possession must lead to a “rethink of the whole process”. These comments come on the back of Chelsea’s title winning season which was preceded by Leicester winning the league. Both teams played a counter-attacking style of football based on a sturdy defense.
Arsène Wenger’s words
Arsène Wenger at a press conference
Talking about the physicality and energy sapping schedule of the English game Wenger said “Over the last two season, teams who do not have big possession have won the league. And, as well, teams who were not involved in Europe, at all, won the league. Because the league is so physically difficult, maybe it is very difficult to cope with both. We will see how Chelsea respond next season.”
Regarding teams winning despite having lesser possession,Wenger added that “I still think sport has to encourage initiative and, if it rewards too much teams who don’t take initiative, then we have to rethink the whole process because people will not, forever, come to watch teams who do not want to take the initiative.” He further added “I am convinced you still need to have the ball to create goal chances and that you cannot encourage, as well, youth teams to say: ‘We do not want the ball’. You cannot buy big players and say: ‘We do not want the ball’. Big players want the ball.”
Reading between the lines
Arsène Wenger has always been a huge advocate of possession based football. Before his arrival, Arsenal were a typical 1-0 team. He changed the core the club to teach his possession based philosophy. In the recent seasons, Le Professor has seen the clubs like Arsenal and Manchester City, both of whom play possession based football lose the league to Leicester and Chelsea. Atlético is another team that has achieved success playing counter-attacking football.
Wenger was a pioneer of the game during late 90s and early 00s
Wenger’s words hold true in the sense that more and more teams are switching to this defensive style of play. This system does not necessarily require the team to have the ball. Therefore, it is perfect to mask the individual deficiencies. Possession based football does make for an entertaining game and there is no doubt that this phase of counter attacking game will pass to make way to more possession based football.
Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, believes Chelsea’s success could damage football. He is worried that the recent trend of teams winning without maintaining possession must lead to a “rethink of the whole process”. These comments come on the back of Chelsea’s title winning season which was preceded by Leicester winning the league. Both teams played a counter-attacking style of football based on a sturdy defense.
Arsène Wenger’s words
Arsène Wenger at a press conference
Talking about the physicality and energy sapping schedule of the English game Wenger said “Over the last two season, teams who do not have big possession have won the league. And, as well, teams who were not involved in Europe, at all, won the league. Because the league is so physically difficult, maybe it is very difficult to cope with both. We will see how Chelsea respond next season.”
Regarding teams winning despite having lesser possession,Wenger added that “I still think sport has to encourage initiative and, if it rewards too much teams who don’t take initiative, then we have to rethink the whole process because people will not, forever, come to watch teams who do not want to take the initiative.” He further added “I am convinced you still need to have the ball to create goal chances and that you cannot encourage, as well, youth teams to say: ‘We do not want the ball’. You cannot buy big players and say: ‘We do not want the ball’. Big players want the ball.”
Reading between the lines
Arsène Wenger has always been a huge advocate of possession based football. Before his arrival, Arsenal were a typical 1-0 team. He changed the core the club to teach his possession based philosophy. In the recent seasons, Le Professor has seen the clubs like Arsenal and Manchester City, both of whom play possession based football lose the league to Leicester and Chelsea. Atlético is another team that has achieved success playing counter-attacking football.
Wenger was a pioneer of the game during late 90s and early 00s
Wenger’s words hold true in the sense that more and more teams are switching to this defensive style of play. This system does not necessarily require the team to have the ball. Therefore, it is perfect to mask the individual deficiencies. Possession based football does make for an entertaining game and there is no doubt that this phase of counter attacking game will pass to make way to more possession based football.
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