When Guardiola compares De Zerbi to world-renowned Catalan chef Ferran Adria, there must be something behind. “Johan Cruyff and Ferran Adria, both are true geniuses. It doesn’t matter if you’re in the desert, they’ll come and build something and millions will follow. Good cooks. If you don’t try to be creative, if you don’t ask: ‘Why should we do it that way? Why can’t we do it another way?’, humanity did not exist in the way we know it today. These types of people are needed to make football better,” Pep said in an interview a few years ago.
Before the 1-1 draw with Brighton on May 25, Guardiola made a statement that surprised many people. “Pay attention to what I’m about to say,” he said. the way they (Brighton) play, it’s very unique. They absolutely deserve the accolades and success they’ve gathered, one of the teams I’ve tried to learn from. They’re unique, unique. In Catalonia there’s El Bulli with Ferran Adria, the best chefs for many years, and Brighton is playing with something special.”
Guardiola is sometimes called a “fake gentleman” about his compliments, because his Man City often beat opponents with ease. But to be fair, Man City won because Pep and his club were better. Therefore, it would be one-sided to judge Guardiola’s compliments without sincerity, and De Zerbi is indeed very talented. All was shown more clearly when Brighton held the mighty Man City in a match where “Seagull” played fair with the defending champion.
“Roberto’s team creates 20 or 25 chances per game, much better than most opponents. They monopolize the ball in a way I haven’t seen in a long time. Everyone is involved. The goalkeeper is like a player. Defensive midfielder. If you’re not playing at the highest level, he can do anything against you,” added Pep.
If you watch the match live, Brighton really created a lot of opportunities. Statistically, De Zerbi’s side created more chances in a half than any other club created before them all season. Man City had more possession in both halves, but there were times when Brighton monopolized possession of the ball. This development was almost predicted by Pep, when goalkeeper Jason Steele accurately passed the ball to central defender Levi Colwill, who then rose and moved to Enciso – the author of a beautiful long-range equalizer.
“Brighton is a master at passing the ball to a free player. They know when to pass to a free player. They move at the right time, they are the best in the world. They execute at the right tempo. to pass to a free player”. That’s largely why Guardiola feels De Zerbi is special. In fact, City have followed De Zerbi’s approach, with Ruben Dias confidently holding the ball in the center of defence, just as Lewis Dunk and others have done for Brighton.
This is not the first time Guardiola has borrowed ideas from De Zerbi. Last season and earlier this season, two Man City full-backs rose up alongside Rodri, forming a three-man midfield that shielded the central defender duo. De Zerbi, during his time in power in Shakhtar, adopted this tactic.
“I watched Roberto’s football with Sassuolo. I went to see his game against Napoli, Milan and I thought ‘Oh my God! Pep admires De Zerbi so much that he sometimes goes to see De Zerbi’s Sassuolo in person.
Not only good at tactics, De Zerbi is also very “cool” with the players. The Italian military leader has forged Alexis Mac Allister, Moises Caicedo, Enciso, Facundo Buonanotte into the stars of the club. Most importantly, he made them play with their own style, showing the mark of a top coach.
If one day Pep leaves Man City, De Zerbi deserves to be the name to follow in his footsteps at Etihad.
