Jonathan Wilson
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The ability to stop counterattacks separates Europes best teams from the rest. Manchester Citys failure to stop their opponents breaking forward is costing them dearlyPause the video of Romas goal against Manchester City just as the ball reached Radja Nainggolan and Citys problem is clear. Theres the back four in classic saucer shape, the full-backs slightly advanced of the centre-backs and there, where one of the central defenders should be, is a huge hole into which Francesco Totti is beginning to run. Vincent Kompany is perhaps 10 yards advanced of Martín Demichelis, looking to close Nainggolan down and never getting close enough to him.
It is easy to criticise Kompany in such a situation and there is a growing suspicion that he has a tendency to overcommit, going for balls he has no chance of reaching but in this instance, perhaps, his movement was understandable. After all, Nainggolan played the pass instantly; had he taken a touch, Kompany would probably have got to him and been able to pressure him into returning the ball to his midfield. The question, rather, is why Kompany was pulled forwards, why Nainggolan was left untended in what Ottmar Hitzfeld terms the red zone, that central area 10-30 yards outside the box from which so many goals stem. And to answer that you have to look at the two central midfielders, Fernandinho and Yaya Touré, both of whom were at least 10 yards upfield of Nainggolan.
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It is easy to criticise Kompany in such a situation and there is a growing suspicion that he has a tendency to overcommit, going for balls he has no chance of reaching but in this instance, perhaps, his movement was understandable. After all, Nainggolan played the pass instantly; had he taken a touch, Kompany would probably have got to him and been able to pressure him into returning the ball to his midfield. The question, rather, is why Kompany was pulled forwards, why Nainggolan was left untended in what Ottmar Hitzfeld terms the red zone, that central area 10-30 yards outside the box from which so many goals stem. And to answer that you have to look at the two central midfielders, Fernandinho and Yaya Touré, both of whom were at least 10 yards upfield of Nainggolan.
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