Which got me thinking…as I do love the game of football!
The mark of true champions should be how you pick yourself up and respond when you find yourself losing. The Manchester Utd players didn’t have a clue how to do this…indeed they had no inclination to do this! There was no real fight and determination shown. And in this kind of situation, a captain needs to step up…and lead! Bruno Fernandes did the opposite.
Liverpool, in contrast, played some pretty decent football and dished out a lesson in how to play the game. Manager Jurgen Klopp was spot on with his tactics. And although I’m not fond of either club, I think it’s a shame that today’s headlines will focus on the massive loss for Man Utd rather than the good football played by Liverpool.
Arsenal’s comeback in the match v Bournemouth, on Saturday, was a good example of a positive response, and a positive mental attitude. And it’s quite obvious that manager, Mikel Arteta, has worked hard with his players when it comes to mental agility…this is something that is vital for success and it doesn’t happen overnight!
I think that Ten Hag has a hard task on his hands as far as mental agility is concerned. With a team of what I see to be ‘individuals’, he might well have a group of physically strong, skilful players but does he have a group of players who gel, who can think on their feet and adapt quickly to changing situations? Players need to be smart, they need to be able to outwit and they need to have the right mindset.
When your captain ( who is supposed to lead by example) is feigning injury, diving, shoving officials and getting up to all sorts of antics, it proves to everyone that mental agility is sadly lacking!
So, it’s back to the drawing board for this dejected bunch…
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