© getty
Ilkay Gündogan: No system for the captain?
A possible switch to a 4-3-3 would not actually work, because then Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz would have to come more from the wings, because Maximilian Mittelstädt and Joshua Kimmich are simply not such offensive full-backs. It would also affect the balance in midfield.
In the proposed 4-2-2-2 basic structure or in a classic 4-2-3-1, Toni Kroos has a hard-working number six next to him who blocks the spaces in counter-pressing and also forces important defensive duels in front of the defense. Kroos must not be pushed into an eight position under any circumstances because he is supposed to drive the game from the deep half-space. As he has generally done over the past ten years.
However, Gündogan recently said that he sees himself as a kind of steady hand between Musiala and Wirtz. “They can do anything with the ball, but maybe don’t look around them so much against the ball,” he told SID. “That needs to be sorted out and the boys need to be given the right things to do.” Gündogan has sometimes filled this role in the past, consciously covering Musiala’s back, for example.
© tacticalpad.com
However, that was still in Hansi Flick’s system, which was less vertically oriented. Nagelsmann wants to see vertical triggering and staff the front lines accordingly. Musiala and Wirtz are intended for the spaces in between, Gündogan as support both there and one row further forward. However, it seems that the 33-year-old is not going to play as an eight again and provide deeper cover; Robert Andrich or Pascal Groß are available for that.
2024-06-07 07:31:00
#Ilkay #Gündogan #remains #biggest #mystery #national #coach #Julian #Nagelsmann
