In the middle of the week, PSG and Bayern, in the Champions League semi-finals, played an unforgettable, fascinating game, with nine goals, a lot of intensity, pressure to win the ball back, bold and courageous. In the other semi-final, Atlético de Madrid and Arsenal played, on the contrary, a prudent, balanced match with few risks.
In Brazil, for Libertadores, Boca Juniors and Cruzeiro, in Mineirão, there was no football. Boca came to disrupt. Cruzeiro, to show that it has the “spirit of Libertadores”, entered the fight against the Argentine team. Matheus Pereira saved the game at the end of the match with a precise, millimetric pass, which gave Cruzeiro the victory.
Flamengo and Estudiantes, in Argentina, was also a very violent game, provoked by the Argentines. They say it is the root football of South America, which many try to glamorize.
These are the contrasts in football. PSG and Bayern, in a clean game, scored through pressure throughout the half. This pressure on the player who will receive the ball should not be confused with the individual marking, often used in the past, of chasing the same opponent across the entire field. The defender enters the match knowing who he is going to mark.
In the 70 World Cup final, we knew that Italy was marking individually all over the field, even if the player changed position. There were four defenders for four opponents, as well as a defender to cover the four. We agreed that I would position myself in front of the defender, between him and the other four. For Brazil’s fourth goal, Jairzinho moved from the right wing to the center, followed by the marker, and full-back Carlos Alberto occupied this free space to receive the ball from Pelé and finish.
As I played in front of the defender, I barely got the ball. After the game, coach Zagallo hugged me and thanked me for my work.
PSG and Bayern nullify several clichés, commonplaces and concepts widely used in Brazil. The two center forwards, Dembelê, for PSG, and Kane, for Bayern, are attackers who move throughout the attack, retreat, exchange passes and score many goals. They are true center forwards. In Brazil they would be called false 9.
Midfielders Vitinha, from PSG, and Kimmich, from Bayern, called midfielders in Brazil, score, build and advance. Vitinha, with his skill and mobility, slides across the lawn, from one area to another. Kimmich stands out most for his precise passes and throws.
The two full-backs from both teams, especially the excellent Rakimi and Nuno Mendes, both from PSG, advance at the same time, contradicting the concept that when one full-back attacks, the other should behave like a third defender.
Many coaches, analysts and fans think that pressing as a group, as PSG, Bayern and other teams do, is not worth the great risks of not recovering the ball and leaving huge spaces in the defense. On the other hand, Brazilian teams usually play with defenders glued to the penalty area. When the midfield advances, there are many spaces between the two sectors for the opponent to receive the ball. There will always be risks.
Matches like those between PSG and Bayern are hope against the aridity, sameness and violence in football.
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