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Brighton tried to exploit the space vacated by Cancelo on Wednesday. It didn’t quite work but there were warning signs for this set up
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We again saw Cancelo pushed into midfield in possession and the back 3 split wide against Brighton.
Brighton set up with 2 wide attacker in Trossard and Sau
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Brighton set up with 2 wide attacker in Trossard and Sau
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It soon became obvious that Brighton were targeting the quick ball in behind when they won possession back.
Here White steps in to win possession. He’s immediately looking for the ball down the channel to the wide attacker 3/
Here White steps in to win possession. He’s immediately looking for the ball down the channel to the wide attacker 3/
He finds Trossard down the wing. Stones goes with his man and orders Cancelo to cover the centre back role in his absence - we could see a lot of this in this set up.
Trossard hits a wayward far post cross and Veltman puts it well over the bar from a very tight angle 4/
Trossard hits a wayward far post cross and Veltman puts it well over the bar from a very tight angle 4/
Again in the first half Brighton win it back. MacAllister immediately hits a pass through the City defence for Trossard, taking Cancelo out of the match 5/
Stones again asks Cancelo to cover him. But this time Trossard cuts inside Stones and fires just wide of the far post. He was able to isolate Stones and get his shot away 6/
In the 2nd half Webster makes the tackle on Foden 10 yards from his own goal. Despite being so deep he immediately looks over the top for Trossard who us again isolated with Stones. This time Stones heads away the danger but the plan is clear 7/
The final example comes from some nice play from Brighton initially beating the City press.
City have 7 players pressing, note Cancelo’s high position on the right flank 8/
City have 7 players pressing, note Cancelo’s high position on the right flank 8/
Brighton find a pass into Maupay who has dragged Dias out of the defence. He plays a clever backheel into White. White is a ahead of the midfield and Brighton are in on City’s defence 3 on 2 9/
On this occasion White’s touch takes him a bit wide and by the time he plays in Bernardo Stones is able to stand him up and see off the danger 10/
City haven’t been troubled much defensively by Cancelo’s move into midfield.
But Brighton certainly seemed to target the area he’s vacated on Wednesday and there were signs, if executed correctly, that this approach could cause City problems. Something to keep an eye on 11//
But Brighton certainly seemed to target the area he’s vacated on Wednesday and there were signs, if executed correctly, that this approach could cause City problems. Something to keep an eye on 11//
