By Okoeguale Adolor
April 24, 2024
Jose Mourinho, the former manager of Chelsea and Manchester United, has issued a warning to Mikel Arteta regarding Arsenal’s defensive tactics.
Mourinho emphasized that relying solely on defensive strategies, as seen in Arsenal’s recent draw against Manchester City, does not guarantee success.
In the match against the reigning Premier League champions, Arsenal adopted a defensive formation and secured a goalless draw despite having only 28 percent possession at the Etihad Stadium last month.
While Arteta received praise for limiting City to just one shot on target, Mourinho remains skeptical about solely crediting the Arsenal manager for the outcome.
Renowned for his defensive tactics during his time in the Premier League, Mourinho played down the significance of Arteta’s approach. He stated, “During my tenure, defensive strategies were not considered magical.
“I achieved victories at Manchester City on several occasions, but it wasn’t due to an extraordinary strategy.
“It involved defensive play, including ‘parking the bus’ or even ‘parking the double bus.’ It represented a different perspective.”
Mourinho further criticized Arsenal’s defensive approach by pointing out their frequent deployment of central defenders, suggesting that defensive stability is a primary focus in their game plan.
How many central defenders do they have in the team? Sometimes they have six. As a matter of principle. Then they play in other positions. They play right-back, left-back, they play midfield.
“But they play with five or six central defenders on the pitch. They feel the need for defensive stability and a defensive compactness, Mourinho added.
Despite Mourinho’s somewhat critical assessment, Arteta expressed contentment with his team’s defensive display, commending their resilience in achieving a crucial clean sheet.
Defensively, I think we were outstanding. We had to go and put them under pressure higher up the pitch, Arteta remarked, acknowledging the challenges posed by Citys attacking prowess.
Although the defensive efforts were notable, Arteta recognized the necessity for enhancement in Arsenal’s attacking prowess, underscoring the significance of composure and effectiveness in front of goal.
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