Opinion – PVC: Teams in possession of the ball, in Brazil, have difficulty opening defensive systems

São Paulo played poorly against Santo André, Campinense, Inter de Limeira and Ituano and was convincing in the victories against Santos and Corinthians. Precisely, the only matches in which he had less possession than his rivals.

Vítor Pereira was introduced to the first difficulty at Corinthians. Your team’s ability to circulate the ball is inversely proportional to its ability to score goals.

“São Paulo became more comfortable, with the possibility of defending in a low line”, admitted the Portuguese coach.

Pereira has already understood that his most talented players are also the most experienced and that the greatest quality is having the ball. But most teams in possession of the ball, in Brazil, have difficulty opening defensive systems.

There are two reasons for this: 1. the stars are in Europe; 2. Teams don’t have practice time to increase the speed of passing exchanges and offensive combinations.

“There’s a lot we have to work on,” said the Portuguese coach, explaining that he needs to train what he calls opposite movements, inversions on the side of the play.

It is necessary to let Pereira work, as well as Rogério Ceni. In the press conference held after the 0-0 draw against Inter de Limeira, the São Paulo coach dealt with the stages of work, the need to increase speed, rotation, turnarounds from right to left – or the reverse.

It’s easier to defend and counterattack. More comfortable, as defined by Vítor Pereira.

This also applies to Palmeiras. After sixteen months of Abel Ferreira, it is still difficult to break through tough defenses, but the game variations are more constant. Against Athletico, the team returned to attack in a 3-2-5. Play five men in the opponent’s last defensive, as Liverpool did against West Ham, on Saturday (5).

The winning goal play had Salah, Henderson, Mané, Robertson and Luis Díaz against four defenders of the London rival.

For five years at the club, Jurgen Klopp has managed to have the same players fulfill different roles. Alexander Arnold is a right back, but plays point guard. Henderson is a midfielder, he plays on the wing, sometimes in the right midfielder. Robertson was in the midfield when the goal was played, but he builds on the line of the three midfielders and at other times occupies the left wing.

Today, Abel Ferreira manages to select Raphael Veiga as a right midfielder or false striker, which happened against Santo André and Athletico, in Curitiba. Rony was a striker in the Recopa and Hudson Odoi’s scorer in the World Cup, against Chelsea. Marcos Rocha makes the departure of three, with the defenders, a function that can also be done by Piquerez, with Rocha on the right wing.

Players can only perform different functions competently, due to the maturity of the work. Even so, opening a tight defense is difficult, whether for Palmeiras in the 2 x 0 over Athletico, or for Liverpool in the 1 x 0 against West Ham, or for Manchester City, who lost 3 x 2 to Tottenham, with 19 shots and 67% ball possession.

It is more difficult for São Paulo and Corinthians, because the work is just beginning. Rogério is praised when he wins, without having the ball. Ceni wants to win and push the opponent back. Takes time.

YOUTH

São Paulo selected five players under the age of 22 in the derby against Corinthians. Vitality helps a lot. Rodrigo Nestor, the best on the field, stuck with Renato Augusto and took the chance to play well from the Corinthians midfielder. Gabriel Sara scored Du Queiroz until the end.

EXPERIENCE

Vítor Pereira has already used the word experience a few times. There are seven talented veterans selected together: Cássio, Fágner, Gil, Paulinho, Renato Augusto, Giuliano and Willian are over 31 years old. It’s one of the reasons to have a passing team, not a tackle team.