The quarter-finals of this season’s European football matches will live long in the memory. Roma, Red Bull Salzburg and Marseille all progressed when almost everyone thought their chances were over. Juventus nearly joined them, before Cristiano Ronaldo’s late penalty dashed the Old Lady’s dreams.
The four ties involving these teams saw 34 goals scored over the two legs. This highlights two major trends. Firstly, away goals are more crucial than ever and shows the folly of Jose Mourinho’s negative tactics when Manchester United faced Sevilla. Secondly, the art of defending appears to have disappeared. One suspects that the teams likely to come out on top in the continental competitions this year are those with the most miserly defences. This should give Roma renewed confidence against Liverpool as they have already prevented Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa scoring in the tournament. Conversely, Arsenal will have to prove the doubters wrong if they are to overcome a disciplined Atletico Madrid side in the Europa League.
Looking further ahead, the willingness of managers to adopt attacking football gives fans hope of seeing a feast of goals at the World Cup this summer. England manager Gareth Southgate was already aware of the national team’s defensive weakness and will seek to nullify the threat of the opposition by playing five defenders in most matches.
In the transfer window, clubs can be expected to spend heavily on defenders, in recognition of the paucity of high class performers currently operating at an elite level.
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