May, 2017 – Kunle Fayiga's Blog

The Dilemma of Thomas Tuchel

10 Comments / Contributors, Football, Trending / Guest Writer

When Thomas Tuchel was appointed as Borussia Dortmund manager in the summer of 2015, many hailed him as a worthy replacement for Jurgen Klopp – the legendary eccentric and charismatic German who thrust BVB into the fore of German football, going head to head with established power Bayern Munich. Tuchel did admirably well, first at Ausburg II between 2007 and 2011 and then at Klopp’s former side Mainz from 2011 to 2014. Upon his arrival at Signal Iduna Park, Tuchel took over a side that fell off a cliff the previous season. Dortmund were in the relegation zone during the winter break but came into form and finished seventh. That in itself spoke volumes about the problems raging through the new club he was to take charge of. Tuchel’s two seasons in North Rhine-Westphalia are explored. 2015/2016 With such a disappointing season the year before, a lot of managers in Thomas Tuchel’s shoes would have been clamoring for an overhaul of the squad, but the 43-year old only added three new players into the fold in Julian Weigl, Roman Burki and Gonzalo Castro. These signings proved to be awkward as they were not really big names and performed below par. The season turned out to be a successful one though, as Die Borussen finished second in the Bundesliga with 78 points, a record for that position. Dortmund’s Europa League campaign however ended on a disappointing note as they exited at the quarterfinal stage, losing 4-3 to Klopp’s Liverpool at Anfield. It was a game the men in yellow and black should have wrapped up having been up three goals to one away from home. However poor game management by Tuchel and mental weakness from the players led to their collapse. The DFB Pokal final was another disaster as Dortmund couldn’t overcome the Bayern hurdle, losing 4-3 on penalties, having been thumped 5-1 at the Alianz arena in the league, their biggest loss of the season. There were positives to take from this season for Dortmund though. They were the fifth healthiest team in the Bundesliga despite having the largest workload among the teams. They also scored a bumper 82 league goals (a club record). Dortmund tightened the ship at the back too, conceding just 11 goals in the second half of the season after allowing 23 goals in the first half. All these however folded at the highest stages and for all their improvements, those losses left a bitter taste in the mouth of the fans. 2016/2017 This season was even more difficult to decipher because of the departures the club had to deal with, the major ones being Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Matts Hummels. Add Ilkay Gundogan and you have a recipe for disaster. In Hummels Dortmund lost their team captain, in Mkhitaryan they lost arguably their most creative player and in Gundogan they lost the poise and technical ability to translate defense into attack. Perhaps seeing that he didn’t make enough acquisitions in 2015, Tuchel responded by signing eight new players. The summer saw the return of the prodigal son Mario Gotze from Bayern Munich. Also coming in were Marc Bartra, Osman Dembele, Emre Mor, Mikel Merino, Sebastian Rode and Andre Schurrle, thus making Dortmund the “undisputed kings of the transfer market,” as per Squakwa. Thomas Tuchel’s troops started the season sluggish and lethargic. As there were too many new faces, there wasn’t any cohesion and this dip in form continued throughout the season. Despite scoring 72 league goals – in which 31 were scored by hotshot Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Dortmund struggled to create chances. It was difficult to watch at times and the gulf in class was apparent as they were ripped apart by AS Monaco in the Champions League quarters, losing 5-3 on aggregate. It was an underwhelming performance throughout the course of the season from BVB and even winning the DFB Pokal last weekend 2-1 against Eintracht Frankfurt, after three consecutive finals loses, could not paper over the cracks. The Borussia Dortmund management has been decisive and they have laid the boot to Tuchel, ending his reign at the Signal Iduna Park after just two years in charge. He sort of deserves the sack because Dortmund didn’t even put up any sort of challenge in the Bundesliga this season. Bayern only got their tittle run from newly promoted RB Leipzig which is outright embarrassing. Looking back, Thomas Tuchel did the best he could in the situations in which he found himself but football sadly doesn’t reward effort, it rewards results and that he didn’t get enough of. Photo source: Zimbio.com

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Why Chris Smalling Must Stay at Manchester United

4 Comments / Contributors, Football, Trending / Dayo Sanni

The just concluded Premier League season did not do much good for Manchester United defender Chris Smalling, as he failed to be a regular starter in Jose Mourinho’s lineup, thanks to injuries. He only made 18 league appearances, starting 13 times and coming off the bench on five occasions. He fared better in the Europa League, playing 10 times from a possible 15 games as the Red Devils lifted the title in Stockholm against Ajax Amsterdam. Questions however have been raised about his abilities and whether he deserves to still have a future at Old Trafford, with United boss Mourinho repeatedly questioning his mentality. Smalling for a start is not a terrible defender as many Red Devils faithful and football neutrals have asserted. Asides from the options and depth he brings to the team, Smalling is a talented defender and he’s got accolades and appraisals to prove that. The 27-year old was in contention for the award of best defender during the 2015/2016 Premier League season amongst highly rated defenders such as Arsenal’s Laurent Koscielny, Tottenham Hotspur’s Toby Alderweireld as well as Wes Morgan and Robert Huth of then champions Leicester City. The Telegraph rated Smalling as the third best defender for the 2015/2016 league season only behind Huth and Alderweireld whose teams ended first and third on the log respectively. The former Fulham defender’s team kept 18 clean sheets and conceded a total of 35 goals, the least for the 2015/2016 season alongside Tottenham. It is worth noting that Smalling made 35 league appearances in 2015/2016, all of them starts. It is rather unfortunate that Manchester United finished fifth during the above mentioned season but Chris Smalling gave strikers run for their money, making almost 80 interceptions and 158 clearances. The Greenwich native ended up being voted as the players’ Player of the Year ahead of top performers like Anthony Martial, David De Gea and Antonio Valencia. Chris Smalling’s performance during the 2015/2016 Premier League season was a confirmation of what he can do. Even during the 2014/2015 season, he was named in the WhoScored.com Premier League Team of the Season. He was thereafter named assistant captain for his leadership qualities as recognised by the then manager Louis van Gaal. Chris was also included in the 10 most improved Premier League players of the 2015/2016 season by FourFourTwo Magazine, ranking third. Smalling’s exploits during the 2015/2016 season earned him plaudits from legends of the game. Former Red Devils defeder Gary Pallister called Smalling “a proper defender”. Pallister also asserted: “If you are looking for consistency in judging the best player in the Premier League in his position, Chris ticks all the boxes”. Pallister further made mention of the fact that being injury-free and the leadership role given to Smalling by Van Gaal helped him justify his purchase by Sir Alex Ferguson for £10 million from Fulham in 2010. Smalling’s undoubtable individual characteristics were identified as the reasons behind his success. The arrival of Eric Bailly during the just concluded season and the resurgence of Marcos Rojo did not make it too easy for Chris Smalling to get his place back easily. When he came back from injury, the aforementioned duo were already a formidable pairing for the whole of the 2016/2017 Premier League season. However with Bailly suspended and Rojo injured, Smalling showed in the Europa league final against Ajax Amsterdam what is to be expected of him next season. He bossed the whole game in the United half and also in the opponent’s box. He made eight clearances on the night, which was the highest of any player on the pitch. His knockdown provided Henrikh Mkhitaryan the ball to finish off Ajax for a comprehensive 2-0 win. Fans may have been upset at some errors he’s made overtime, but even the great defenders of this world have all made grave mistakes at one point or the other, hence Chris can be forgiven. It is important to recognize that Chris Smalling’s injuries in the just concluded season made it so difficult for him to deliver, but his qualities are not in doubt. Jose Mourinho should therefore not add Smalling to the list of potential summer departures but rather keep the Englishman and work his magic on him just as he did with the likes of Marouane Fellaini, Matteo Darmian and Rojo. Smalling would then dazzle once again should he have fewer spells on the treatment table. Photo source: Zimbio.com

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Wenger should resign in the wake of FA Cup triumph

Leave a Comment / Football, Trending / Kunle Fayiga

If one asserted that Arsenal was one of the least ambitious among Europe’s top guns, such might not be far from the truth. Is Arsenal even a top gun to begin with? The Gunners standards have gradually fallen over the years from one of the most feared teams on the planet to a side that has become a laughing stock. Such fall from grace should have seen the manager long gone but letting go of Arsene Wenger has arguably been the biggest obstacle to Arsenal’s progress. Gunners faithful have over the years shown their displeasure over the direction the club has been going but they always seemed to be carried away by the fine string of results the team pulls at the very last moment, which is enough to finish in the top four, the major objective of the club, season after season. However, the North London giants finished fifth this time around, the first time they’ve failed to qualify for the Uefa Champions League in Wenger’s 20 year stint. Europa League football awaits them as a result. The fans had a stronger tone in telling Wenger to leave the club for good this season, with the press consistently asking him if he would do so as his contract expires this summer, but he has kept quiet on the matter. The FA Cup final against newly crowned Premier League champions Chelsea was an opportunity for Wenger to have one last shot at winning silverware this season but the men in blue were naturally the stronger side hence favourites. Wenger’s 3-4-3, a system introduced by Antonio Conte, had started bringing results towards the season’s run-in and it did here again as the Gunners secured a 2-1 win for a record 13th FA Cup and seventh for Wenger. Arsenal fans were relatively happy with this as it’s the best consolation they could get for missing out on Champions League football. This might make Wenger extend his stay at the Emirates but the 67-year old Frenchman needs to call it a day already. The Premier League is now intense and Arsenal finishing fifth could be a sign that Wenger can’t keep up with the pack. Gone are the days when it was a three-horse race for the title which has now grown to six. The likes of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Liverpool and Manchester City have managers in Conte, Mauricio Pochettino, Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola, yet to reach their 50s with burgeoning reputation. They are the ones ruling the game now and it might be difficult for a veteran like Wenger to match their dynamism and creativity. Wenger can take a cue from his old foe in former Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, who retired from the game in 2013. United’s cross-town rivals Man City had won the Premier League the previous year on goal difference thanks to a late Sergio Aguero goal in a 3-2 victory over Queen Park Rangers. It was a bitter pill for Fergie to swallow and knowing the title race was now intense with City joining the party, the legendary Scot decided to have one last try and he got the league the following year before calling it quit. The club record 13th FA Cup and individual seventh for Wenger should be the perfect moment for him to sign off because he might not see such chance again with the intensity in the English top-flight set to further heat up. Also his refusal to go for quality players in the transfer market means he will be squarely beaten by his rivals. It would not be nice if Arsene Wenger left in the midst of a terrible defeat. At least Alex Ferguson didn’t. This triumph in the world’s oldest knockout competition thus gives the legendary Frenchman the chance to walk out with his hands held high. Besides he’s been in North London for 20 years, something not many of the current managers can boast of. The ball is therefore in the court of the 67-year old to determine the decision he takes or direction he goes from here. Photo source: Zimbio.com and Givemesport.com

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Europa League win shows Pogba not a waste at Manchester United

2 Comments / Football, Trending / Kunle Fayiga

When Paul Pogba moved to Manchester United from Juventus for a world record fee of £89.3 million last summer, the football world went berserk. How would a mere midfielder cost so much? Also considering he was a United academy graduate that left for Turin for free in 2012 only to come back with an exorbitant price tag made the deal all the more staggering. Once the football season had kicked off, the world’s most expensive man was struggling to fit into the picture. The 24-year old was used in multiple positions both offensively and defensively but nothing seemed to click. Pogba’s poor start on his return to Manchester was not what an £89.3 million man should be delivering but that was the reality and it was costing the Red Devils results. Pogba became the subject of excessive banters and rants on social media so much it affected his confidence on the field of play. It was as though the £89.3 million transfer fee had gone down the drain and United’s season would only get worse. However, it was only a matter of time before things would get better. By the time Jose Mourinho got the right blend and balance in the squad, Pogba began to flourish and the results started coming in. Pogba was playing alongside either Ander Herrera or Michael Carrick and the presence of the two talented holding midfielders gave him room and space to charge forward, connect with the frontmen and also create goal scoring chances. Paul Pogba became a renewed man and key figure in how United where playing. He forged a superb partnership with talisman Zlatan Ibrahimovic and was spraying superb passes for his team mates which led to many goal scoring opportunities. At this point, life without Pogba was incomplete. After losing 4-0 to Mourinho’s former employers Chelsea in October, the Red Devils went on a 25 game unbeaten run in the league. Though much of this spell saw more draws than wins, United became more assertive especially in the middle of the park and Pogba was at the heart of it. Pogba completed a total of 2,178 passes in the Premier League which was the fourth highest behind Cesar Azpilicueta, Granit Xhaka and Fernandinho. He was leading the pack as at when United defeated Chelsea 2-0 back in April but missing a few games towards the season’s run-in meant he was overtaken. At 75%, Pogba had a better tackle success rate than the league’s best defensive midfielder in N’Golo Kante which stood at 65%. Also, the 24-year old’s average of 72.60 passes per game was the highest of any player this season. Since finishing in the top four was proving to be a herculean task for Mourinho, it became imperative that focus be made on winning the Europa League which guaranteed automatic qualification into the Champions League. They achieved that by beating Ajax Amsterdam 2-0 in the final in Stockholm, with Pogba getting the opening goal, his third of the competition and his ninth overall for the season. With 863 complete passes and average passing accuracy of 83%, no midfielder dazzled in Europe’s second tier tourney than the 44-time capped French international. Paul Pogba’s return to Manchester United at the end of the day wasn’t a failure. The team might not have reached the heights this season, with a poor sixth place finish in the Premier League. That however doesn’t change the fact that the former Juventus man was instrumental to the team’s success. The earlier banters on social media would probably be eating their words now because Pogba has proven everyone wrong. All that is simply needed is to pair Pogba with players that give him the creativity and freedom to express himself on the pitch, the way Andrea Pirlo and Claudio Marchisio did during the Frenchman’s days at Juventus. With the glimpse of what Pogba has shown this season and at just 24 years of age, we could be seeing someone worth the £89.3 million fee bringing unprecedented success back to Old Trafford and probably turning out to be one of the finest midfielders ever to grace the beautiful game. Photo source: Zimbio.com

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From Mourinho’s flops to Conte’s Champions, Chelsea are top dogs again

Leave a Comment / Contributors, Football, Trending / Seye Omidiora

“I hope there is a small flame flickering that can eventually grow into a blazing inferno.” Those were Antonio Conte’s words at his first press conference as Chelsea manager. The Italian had just resumed after guiding a stout Italy side to the Quarter-Finals of the European Championships in France. The passionate Italian was expected to get the best out of a Chelsea side that finished the previous season in 10th place, after an embarrassing title defense. The season commenced with a couple of unconvincing displays in August, with the win over Burnley the only noteworthy showing. In September though, came the moments that were to change the whole landscape of things, shake the foundations of the league and change the narrative. The meek displays against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge and particularly the abject showing against Arsenal at the Emirates were to prove a catalyst for what was to come. “We are only a good team on paper” – was Conte’s damning verdict after the 3-0 loss. He had seen enough and decided to do things his way. He introduced a three-man-backline away at Hull City and Chelsea never looked back. 13 straight league wins followed – a club record – and some of the performances were nothing short of breathtaking. The 4-0 hammering of Manchester United led by former manager, Jose Mourinho, the exhilarating 5-0 win against Everton and the 3-1 victory at Manchester City, are just some of the many results that spiked the confidence of the Chelsea players and brought joy to Abramovich once again. Conte’s hard work, passion and intense style were clearly evident to see, and the plaudits predictably started pouring in. The bond he built with the fans and the players was noticeable as well. Hugs for each player after every win, with the fans chanting “Antonio… Antonio” became a recurring theme all season. The blip away at Tottenham Hotspur – the end to their 13 game winning run – threatened to derail their onslaught, but it was just that, a blip. The Diego Costa tantrum-throwing episode was also well handled by the former Italy manager. The switch of tactic to the 3-4-3 was a catalyst to this title success, and every player played a part in the win. Thibaut Courtois went from much maligned shot-stopper to being top class when called upon. Cesar Azpilicueta was an epitome of consistency. David Luiz was transformed from the weakling “controlled by a 10-year-old in the crowd on a PlayStation”, to a vital cog in the back three. Gary Cahill silenced his critics by showing some solid displays and leadership skills at the left side of the back-line. Victor Moses went from perennial loanee to archetypal wing-back, playing so well in a position previously unknown to him. Marcos Alonso made his doubters eat humble pie with his oft-consistent displays, even turning up with some rear goals. The duo of Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante were the perfect shield for the defence. The Frenchman was a majestic presence in midfield and his athleticism helped in covering every blade of grass as he churned out performances right out of the top drawer. Being voted PFA Player of the Year and FWA Player of the Year was proof of the former Leicester City player’s consistency. The triumvirate of Pedro, Hazard and Costa were absolutely terrific. Pedro was back to his best following a difficult first season in England. Eden Hazard returned to being top class again, consistently slaloming his way through players with unerring ease and the buccaneering brawny Diego Costa returned to his imperious best also – bar his dip around the winter. The importance of Cesc Fabregas and Willian in the title charge shouldn’t be understated. The former was an epitome of class throughout and delivered when called upon while the latter overcame personal grief to better his goals return in the league from the previous season. Also not leaving John Terry out. The departing captain wasn’t always on the pitch, but was a supportive presence off it and his teammates winning the league is a perfect send forth. Many point to a few flaws in Conte’s system, and whilst those claims may be genuine, they needn’t worry about that in the present. Now is the time to feel ten feet tall. Chelsea have been unstoppable throughout the campaign, and even when the losses to Crystal Palace and Manchester United threatened to throw a spanner in the works to their title bid, they never chocked under pressure but ultimately showed enough consistency to see off the competition, the greatest hallmark of champions. Having been crowned champions with the 1-0 victory at West Bromwich Albion, Chelsea are on course to accruing 93 points – the highest of any champion in this decade – should they win their final two games against Watford and Sunderland. They could yet claim the prized double – by winning the FA Cup against Arsenal – to cap off a truly remarkable season. Antonio Conte – the first manager to win the Premier League using a back three – deserves credit for being brave with his tactical switch, the players too, for buying into his ideas. The affable Italian, in just his first season in English football has guided the club back to where it wants to be. Blue, is undoubtedly and emphatically the colour! photo source: Zimbio.com

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It’s the Europa League or nothing for Jose Mourinho

Leave a Comment / Football, Trending / Kunle Fayiga

There were high expectations when Jose Mourinho was appointed as Manchester United manager last summer. With his pedigree, it’s not difficult to understand why. The normal objective would be to win the Premier League and why not when you’ve got Eric Bailly, Paul Pogba, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Zlatan Ibrahimovic along with other top quality players. However, that’s not the case. United have failed to live up to the heights of the Sir Alex Ferguson era. Third place was the worst league finish under the legendary Scot but Mourinho’s class might not guarantee that let alone a top four finish. Indeed the Red Devils 2-0 loss to Arsenal on Sunday was a big blow and with the Gunners claiming maximum points in their outstanding game at Southampton on Wednesday, United are back to sixth – a position they have spent the bulk of their campaign. Definitely that’s not where a Mourinho-led team should be. Since finishing in the top four is going to be difficult – something Mourinho has openly acknowledged, he has switched attention to winning the Europa League which guarantees an automatic slot in the Champions League. With this kind of reward, the Portuguese tactician has fielded strong squads for the competition and the results have been coming. Mourinho has reshuffled the pack in league games that preceded Thursday night football. Some have brought desired results like the 2-0 win against Chelsea on Easter Sunday while others like Sunday’s defeat at the Emirates didn’t but Mourinho doesn’t care as long as his team make it into Europe’s premier competition next season. As it currently stands, Manchester United have one foot in the Europa League final thanks to a narrow 1-0 away lead against Celta Vigo in the first leg of the semis. It is expected that they progress to face Ajax Amsterdam who currently lead Olympique Lyon 4-1 in the other semi, but we’ve seen too many times in football that the unexpected can happen. At this stage of the league campaign where United have just three tough games left to play away at Tottenham Hotspur, Southampton and finally at home to Crystal Palace, it is a must they win the Europa League. It will be really damning if after all the energy and exertion – part of which saw talisman Ibrahimovic injured, the Red Devils don’t lift Europe’s second tier tournament. The Europa League isn’t an easy competition to win especially for the continent’s top guns, who find themselves there when they shouldn’t be. Should Manchester United fail to achieve this, it would raise questions about where England’s most successful team stands, as things aren’t going according to the once-upon-a-time greatness. If struggling for the top four and participating in the Europa League is the norm even after investing heavily in acquiring players, we could probably conclude that the era of a mega team’s greatness is over and there’s very little any manager, regardless of calibre can do to resurrect it, except time is reversed to relive the glory days. Photo source: Zimbio.com

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Cristiano Ronaldo: Always saving the best for the right moment!

Leave a Comment / Contributors, Football, Trending / Seye Omidiora

There’s nothing more pleasing than proving a few doubters wrong, making them eat their words after putting you down for so long, and that’s exactly how Cristiano Ronaldo has responded in recent weeks. After all, the narrative was he was “done” and “finished” at this level and no longer at the peak of his physical powers. Surely the only way for Real Madrid’s all-time top scorer was down and he was meant to come to terms with no longer being in his prime. Except the Portuguese doesn’t do normal and he’s been exemplary in the last few weeks of what has been an “average” season by his standards. To put things in context, the former Manchester United man has hit 35 goals in all competitions this season. Average? Maybe by his standards, but it’s a phenomenal return for someone his age, and a tally most forwards will envy. Atletico Madrid and Diego Simeone will be sick of the sight of him and Real Madrid’s, as their rivals have constantly thrown a spanner in the works to their attempts to claim the most prestigious cup tournament at club level. In the last four years in Europe Los Colchoneros have been stopped in their tracks by Los Blancos, with Ronaldo a protagonist in most – if not all – of the meetings. Last night’s 3-0 win in the first leg of the Uefa Champions League semi-finals at Bernabeu, was Ronaldo’s second hat-trick against Atleti this season; with the one in the league silencing a large section of the Vincente Calderon crowd. A constant thorn in their side, they just can’t live with him. On a night when Diego Simeone’s men didn’t get a sniff, Zinedine Zidane still needed a brilliant performance by his forwards in the attacking third, and Cristiano stepped up. A man for the big occasions? Absolutely. After only two strikes in the group stage of this year’s edition – going six goalless months in the process – the Portuguese maestro has risen above the rest in the last two knockout rounds, scoring a brace and two hat-tricks in the last three games. 103 goals in the Champions league – with 88 of those strikes coming in 86 games for the Madrid giants – is truly staggering. He’s also the first player to score consecutive hat-tricks in the knockout stages of the competition, with both coming against two really good sides in Bayern Munich and Atletico. Sometimes, words may not do justice to how brilliant Ronaldo is, but he truly is extraordinary. Zidane deserves credit for properly managing him as well; choosing to rest him in some games to keep him fit and fresh for the business end of the campaign, and that in itself, is proving to be a masterstroke. The Frenchman has also created an army of warriors behind him, players who have the intelligence to know he may not be involved in the general build-up play but are constantly in tune to his movements off the ball at every moment. Ronaldo may not be at the peak of his powers – physically, of course – but his predatory instincts are still as good as ever, if not better. Barring any monumental collapse, the Madrid giants are surely in another Champions League final – which would be their third in four years – and while they may or may not win it, with the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo in their ranks, one thing’s certain, he will give as good as he’s got! Stop doubting him too… because you run the risk of being constantly fed a large dose of humble pie as he keeps defying logic! Photo source: Zimbio.com

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May 2017

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