Direct, intense selfish? What are Barcelona getting in Anthony Gordon?

Mourinho embraced Anthony Gordon after a Champions League match and whispered four words: “You are too much.” Gordon had scored, created, and disrupted Mourinho’s defense in a 3-0 loss. Gordon described Mourinho as his childhood favorite manager and said the compliment meant a lot. Barcelona’s plan for Gordon under Hansi Flick centers on unpredictability rather than patient build-up. Gordon accelerates into space behind defenders, presses relentlessly from the front, and attacks with rare intensity. He often surges into anticipation of deliveries instead of slowing play or weaving intricate passing patterns. He can play across the frontline, including the left, and can interchange positions with Lamine Yamal to form a more formidable attacking trio.

"Once the final whistle blew, he made a beeline for Anthony Gordon and not only embraced the England winger but whispered four words in his ear. You are too much, was the message from Benfica's manager after his side lost a Champions League match 3-0 at Newcastle last October. Gordon had scored one goal, created another and terrorised Mourinho's defence in the course of the sort of performance that explains why Barcelona are paying 70m for his turbo-charged talent."

"It was a big compliment for me because, as a kid growing up, Jose Mourinho was my favourite manager in the whole world, said Gordon. I idolised him. Given the Portuguese's expected installation for a second stint in charge of Real Madrid, it may be prudent for Gordon to keep those memories private at the Camp Nou, where his arrival is intended as part of Hansi Flick's plan to keep Madrid firmly in their place."

"Rather like Mourinho off the pitch, Gordon will bring unpredictability to Barcelona. At first glance, a versatile right-footed forward arguably at his best on the left but capable of playing across the frontline is far from a classic Barca player. Aggressive and direct, he revels in accelerating into space behind defenders and pressing, relentlessly, from the front with rare intensity. The 25-year-old does not appear overly interested in attempting to slow games down or helping weave intricate passing patterns."

"Indeed he does not really do patient. Where other players demand that the ball be played to their feet, Gordon surges into space in anticipation of deliveries and charges at defenders in destabilising fashion. Markers do not know whether he will beat them with pace or dribbling, let alone opt to cross or keep on running. Flick may pitch him as a direct competitor for Raphinha on the left but Gordon is also capable of indulging in the positional interchanging that promises to make an attacking trio also containing Lamine Yamal extra formidable."

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