Granit Xhaka
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In a recent Premier League clash, Sunderland suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Burnley at Turf Moor. The defeat was a stark reminder of the challenges that Sunderland faces in adapting to the Premier League, especially after their impressive 3-0 victory over West Ham on the opening day. The Black Cats struggled to capitalize on early opportunities, with Eliezer Mayenda and Chemsdine Talbi missing key chances, and managed just one shot inside the box after the 14th minute.
Thierry Henry said: “Yes, they went with that back four and last year they were very solid, we all know about that, but I like the way they scored that goal at the weekend. The way they were, as you can see here, the back four, you have the full-back being wide, giving the weight, player iron-wide, and you’re going to see here. Henry added on the opening goal: “Which troubled them a bit, as you’re going to see here, Xhaka here, with Anthony to stay with him because he’s going to end up man-marking Anthony and moving all over the place instead of moving with his team. But I like the fact that, you know, sometimes when you go to the right wing, to go to the left wing as they’re going to go here, at one point you need to go forward, all right, and Xhaka is going to now end up with Foster, Anthony stays inside, you can see that he’s man-marking, but this is what I like about the goal. Cullen sees that the ball is going to go to Anthony, he’s already on his back to make sure that he can be there and receive the ball. They created that triangle where the guy on the other side is going to receive the ball from the striker. Not him, as you see here, the second guy running inside. This is where I think Xhaka moved too much all over the place and couldn’t be in the right position, and what a finish from Cullen.”
Henry’s analysis on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football highlighted how Xhaka’s positioning was a key factor in Burnley’s opening goal. He noted that Xhaka was caught between pressing Anthony and covering space, which left Sunderland vulnerable and allowed Josh Cullen to capitalize with a clinical finish.
Jamie Carragher said: “What happens in the 69th minute, Scott Park actually changed, made a substitution and went to the back five. We saw this last week, 5-4-1, and as I said, they had some really good moments last week away at Tottenham. Carragher added on the late Parker tactical switch: “but they just couldn’t quite get that finish, so obviously 20 minutes to go in the game, 1-0, desperate to get that goal, the second goal to kill the game, and looking to find the counter-attack. But this is what they lacked last week, and as I said, it’s a role reversal in terms of Cullen as the provider, it’s Anthony going through, but they didn’t have that pass last week against Tottenham.”
Jamie Carragher also provided insights into Burnley’s tactical adjustments during the match. He highlighted a late tactical switch by Scott Parker in the 69th minute that saw Burnley shift to a back five. This change was pivotal in securing their second goal, which ultimately sealed the victory for Burnley.
The defeat serves as a learning opportunity for Sunderland, emphasizing the need for tactical discipline and adaptability in the Premier League. As they prepare for their upcoming fixtures, the Black Cats will aim to address these challenges and improve their performance on the pitch.
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