Tag: UEFA Champions League

Simone Inzaghi – Inter Milan – Tactical Analysis (2022-23)

Featured by Rhys Desmond, posted in Coach Education, Coaching, Managers, Masterclasses, Serie A, Team Analysis

While it's true that one of Inter Milan's main goals will be to win Serie A again, there's no denying that this has been a phenomenal season for the Italian giants. They've flourished under Simone Inzaghi thanks to a clear identity and several succinct principles of play, much of which have remained in place since the days of Antonio Conte. I Nerazzurri now prepare for the crowning moment in the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Champions League Final, serving as the perfect time to break down Simone Inzaghi's incredible Inter Milan. Here is our tactical analysis of the Black and Blues in 2022-23.

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Stephen Eustáquio – Player Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Central Midfield, Coach Education, Masterclasses, Most Recent, Player Analysis, World Cup 2022

On March 27, 2022, Canada qualified for the World Cup, for the first time since 1986. The likes of Jonathan David and Alphonso Davies evidently played their part, but perhaps no man was more key to Canada's success in the lead-up to World Cup Qualification than the beating heart in Herdman's midfield - Stephen Eustáquio. Now an FC Porto regular playing week in and week out in the Champions League, the 25-year-old will be integral to Canada's success at the upcoming tournament. Here is our analysis of Stephen Eustáquio, and why he's prepared to play a pivotal role for Canada at the 2022 World Cup.

Potter’s first match at Chelsea – Tactical Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Managers, Match Analysis, Premier League, UEFA Champions League

In my entire existence on this website, I have never received so many questions about the same topic in a span of less than twenty-four hours. What, on earth, were Chelsea doing on Wednesday? What formation were they playing? What was Sterling? What was Cucurella? How did it all come together in such strange fashion? I'm paraphrasing, of course. But the point stands; and it's a question that arises once again from Potter's incessant desire to be very fun.

Dortmund 3-0 Copenhagen – Match Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in German Bundesliga, Match Analysis, Most Recent, UEFA Champions League

Edin Terzic has enjoyed a positive start to the season, even despite some of the kinks in the system clearly still being worked out. Dortmund have lost just one game since the start of the campaign, achieving six wins and one draw in the process. No clearer have their principles of play come to life under Terzic this season than against FC Copenhagen, where the Black & Yellows picked up three points in their first UEFA Champions League match of the season. Here is our analysis of Dortmund's big win.

Liverpool 0-1 Real Madrid – UEFA Champions League Final – Tactical Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Match Analysis, UEFA Champions League, World Football

Over the past few seasons, we've seen some legendary Champions League finals. This encounter between Liverpool and Real Madrid, in many ways, was more lethargic and leisurely. A chess battle as both teams patiently worked through the thirds and never fully pressed the gas, Liverpool couldn't quite ever get up to full speed in matching Real Madrid's assuredness and steady flow in possession. With Courtois supersonic-ifying his gloves beforehand, the match ended with Real Madrid coming out as winners, claiming an impressive double under the influence of Carlo Ancelotti, and one last hurrah for many of the decade-defining stars from the 2010s. Here is our tactical analysis of Real Madrid's narrow 1-0 win over Liverpool.

Manchester City 1-0 Atletico Madrid: Debunking the 5-5-0

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Formations, Match Analysis, Most Recent, UEFA Champions League, World Football

Knowing Pep Guardiola's level of footballing intelligence, we thoroughly trust his judgement. However, within the commentary surrounding what Atletico did on the day to achieve a result, as an undoubtedly all-out defensive approach, the 5-5-0 has become overstated - almost as a metric for evaluating Atletico's solidity. In actuality, the 5-5-0 rarely ever took centre stage.

UEFA Champions League Final -Manchester City 0-1 Chelsea – Tactical Analysis

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Match Analysis, UEFA Champions League, World Football

What a game. After beating Manchester City twice already this season, Chelsea entered the 2021 UEFA Champions League final with a slight psychological advantage. They absolutely delivered on that promise, winning the match by a score of 1-0. Thomas Tuchel became only the second manager since Jurgen Klopp to beat Pep Guardiola three times in a row, leading his Chelsea team to the Champions League trophy in his first six months in charge. Here is our tactical analysis of the final.

Why German teams struggle to dominate in Europe

by Rhys Desmond, posted in German Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League

The German Bundesliga, one of Europe’s big 3 professional football leagues, has been anything but collectively dominant in European competitions over the past decade. Although Bayern Munich won the UEFA Champions League in 2019-20, the days of Bayern and Dortmund squaring up in a European final as they did in 2013 appear to be over. This past year Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund were both knocked out of the UEFA Champions League in the quarter-finals, with Leipzig failing to make it past the Round of 16. So if Germany wants to get themselves onto the level of England and Spain, what needs to change?

Futbol Masterminds – Chelsea v. Man City, Juve’s Top Four Hopes, Ligue 1 and La Liga Title Races

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Podcast, UEFA Champions League, World Football

Russell is back(!!), and back in style to discuss all the top European leagues in episode #11 of the Futbol Masterminds show. The panel first delve into Chelsea vs. Man City, Timo Werner and panenkas, before moving to Serie A, discussing Juventus' top four hopes being dashed before their eyes. The panel then give their picks in the respective races for the La Liga and Ligue 1 title, before discussing the potential Ballon d'Or race between Lewandowski and Messi. Follow @futbolmasterminds on Instagram to see more of the show and subscribe via Itunes and Spotify!

2020-21: A year for Canadians in Europe to remember

by Rhys Desmond, posted in German Bundesliga, UEFA Champions League, World Football

As the major European football leagues draw to a close on the men’s side, this year will be a year for Canadian soccer fans to remember. In ways never seen before, Canadian footballers have been right up there with some of the world's best, even playing key roles in top European title races.

UCL / UEL second legs – what we learned this week

by Rhys Desmond, posted in Match Analysis, UEFA Champions League, World Football

In a week that saw Manchester City humble PSG, Chelsea teach Real Madrid a lesson, Manchester United and Roma involved in a 5-goal thriller and Villareal tame Arsenal, we look back at some of the talking points from the second leg semifinals of the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.