Not quite. Diniz Silva's Fluminense have been doing this (with quite a bit more style) for a while now. I actually like the idea of relational football, as opposed to strict positional football because relational play affords players a lot more freedom to express themselves. But if Alonso's team, as it is now, meets a positional team like the current Manchester City or Arsenal, they would struggle.
@@ojvic7297 I think they would. The most telling characteristic of this Leverkusen side under Alonso is how they overload the strong side of the pitch and then do a quick switch to the weak side where a winger (most likely Grimaldo) is waiting in acres of space. Against positional play sides like Arsenal and Man City, the weak side winger would not be open because their system requires a player (any player) to be on every space. It would be only be possible to exploit _half spaces_ if there weren't such overloads on either side. But that's theory. I've seen matches where the opposition refused to be baited into playing beehive football and kept their shape. In those cases Leverkusen were vulnerable to runs in behind and counterattacks. ManCity, for example, don't have real width, but they do have players like Bernardo Silva, Kevin De Bruyne and Phil Foden who will look to exploit open spaces. They also have a #9 in Earling Haaland who will look to play off the shoulder of the CBs (and take them off the build up) and will look for long passes into space from the goalkeeper. Bottom line, against sides who control the ball well, Leverkusen will be forced to play low and mid blocks, just like everybody else. And good luck then.
Spanish approach is contributing to modern football even shaping it. It turns out that three defenders with more middle fielders gives teams ball possession and dominating the game. I prefer Guardiola’s box system which in deed my faculty team adopted it and going well so far. 7 matches 6 win and 1 lose 😀
Alonso's style is not derived from the Spanish _juego de posición_ . It's more like what we're seeing in South America, particularly in Brazil, that is pointedly opposed to positional play. And it could be argued that positional play, for practical purposes, started with Arrigo Sacchi's Milan teams of the late 80s.
@@yangkai5206 xabi become leverkusen manager when half season in PREVIOUS SEASON. Then after 22/23 season ended, he build his team again. No difference.
Cos they play in tbe german league where theres only 4 competitive teams. Hardly a miraculous feat. U lot jus listen to the sky sports hype. They stuggle and have to come from behind in most games. Most overrated team in football right now
man city, liverpool, arsenal, barcelona and real madrid can easily beat this one season wonder team this leverkusen just like leichester city win PL one season wonder
That is why the current MU team failed miserably and factually; very little possession skills, incapable of moving flexibly when opposition are pressing and can't make beautiful passess. The MU back defenders are like the worst of worst, like stones, can't move swiftly, can't defend players who has possession, and incapable of running with the ball effectively to find space to provide good assist. Only a few good players are inside. Mainoo should move out, staying in MU will be detrimental to his career with clumsy defenders and lazy players. The current ignorant & egostical MU team can't learn humbly to build up unity passes and maintain possession, they pay hundreds of thousands of these clowns walking around aimlessly only to keep losing the ball. The current MU team with its current performance is disrespecting the legends of the past that have mastered the art of winning titles after titles. A totally disgrace. Now Xabi Alonso's tactical knowledge is pure genius and superior. He took a club that has not won titles for many decades and transformed it within a year to win the Bundesliga title. What a beautiful transformation. It shows ANY team with a good tactician, a strategist and an awesome manager like Xabi can transform the entire team effectively with hardwork, dedication, determination & patience. Look at the garbage MU players - getting paid in millions to walk and stroll around like lazy bums only to lose time after time. A total disgrace. Congrats to Xabi Alonso - the top-notch modern manager and the best of him is yet to come. This current team - Bayern Leverkusen - will move ahead very far with their style of play. Will watch this team very closely.
