"Everybody has a plan until Erling Haaland charges at them. Familiarity, perhaps, has dulled in Premier League minds just what a terrifying prospect he is, nearly 90kg of Norwegian muscle capable of moving at ferocious speeds yet blessed as well with a deft touch and a range of finishes. Manchester United couldn't stop him, and neither could Napoli. Even when Haaland isn't scoring he is spreading terror."
"Giovanni Di Lorenzo is an experienced defender. He is the Napoli captain. He has won half a century of caps for Italy. But when Phil Foden the signs of rejuvenation he showed on Sunday happily maintained against Napoli slipped an angled pass through the back four after 21 minutes, Di Lorenzo, presumably aware of the presence of Haaland and worried about the unstoppable force he represents when he gets going, stepped across his line."
"A coach, Antonio Conte has always said, is like a tailor; he must cut his cloth accordingly. For most of his career, he preferred a back three, pressed high and practised automisations set moves drilled over and over again until, even in the heat of battle, players can perform them instinctively. When he arrived at Napoli, though, he inherited via a series of missteps that saw Rudi Garcia, Walter Mazzarri and Francesco Calzona a"
Erling Haaland combines near-90kg strength with ferocious speed, deft touch and diverse finishing, creating intense fear that opponents struggle to contain. Manchester United failed to stop him, and Napoli also could not. Phil Foden slipped an angled pass through the back four after 21 minutes, prompting Giovanni Di Lorenzo to step across his line and, misjudging the ball, lunge and catch Haaland's shin; VAR confirmed no toe on the ball and sent Di Lorenzo off. Before the dismissal City had 69% possession; after it became attack against defence and City held 77%. Antonio Conte favors a tailored tactical approach and has preferred a back three and rehearsed set moves.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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