"De Zerbi is usually praised for how his sides build from the back, but Spurs' defensive work stood out most against Villa on Sunday. Unai Emery's team have opted to build short and centrally before speeding up play when space opens higher up the pitch this season - not too dissimilar from the principles De Zerbi tends to opt for in possession."
"To counter this, De Zerbi asked Spurs to press aggressively while blocking the middle of the pitch. Richarlison was key to the plan, positioning himself partly to block the pass into Villa's right centre midfielder Lamare Bogarde, while angling his body to discourage Emiliano Martinez from playing down Villa's right."
"At times, Richarlison pressed Martinez with Rodrigo Bentancur then stepping up from midfield to take responsibility for Bogarde. The Spurs trio in this way ensured Villa's central midfielders were unable to receive the ball unmarked."
"Kolo Muani often positioned himself between Tyrone Mings and Ian Maatsen. If Martinez played to left centre-back Mings, Kolo Muani pressed intensely while angling his run to block the pass into Maatsen."
Spurs achieved a 2-1 victory against Aston Villa, marking their second consecutive win under Roberto de Zerbi. Despite having three different managers this season, the team is beginning to gel. De Zerbi's tactical approach has simplified decision-making for players, leading to renewed confidence. The team's defensive strategy was particularly effective against Villa, with aggressive pressing and blocking key passing lanes. Richarlison and Conor Gallagher played crucial roles in disrupting Villa's midfield, showcasing the effectiveness of De Zerbi's setup.
Read at www.bbc.com
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