Star Player Freedom's Trade-Off Between Offense and Defense

Key Quotes

"Personally I strongly feel that a manager's tactical plan shouldn't be impossible for his best players to fit into. I understand sometimes there's a need to kind of overhaul the dressing room and I think sometimes when there's a clash with star players it's as much about power and authority and that kind of thing but I do slightly object sometimes to this idea that managers constantly need to bring in their own players. I think it should be possible for them to improve players and I think if you do have one outstanding player who requires a little bit of freedom from the system I think in general they should be accommodated."

Michael Cox argues that a manager's tactical plan should be adaptable to accommodate star players, suggesting that improving existing talent is often preferable to constant squad overhauls. Cox believes that outstanding players who require some freedom within the system should generally be accommodated, as other players are often willing to work to enable them to perform at their best.

"I think first and foremost that is the job. I think you've got to manage the group as a whole and I think in general you've got to have good relationships with individual players and get them on board and I mean I really like the tactical side of football it's what I spend most of my time writing about but yeah I think the more you the more you listen to players' experiences the more you realize that actually you do have to have a coach who can command respect and it doesn't come automatically."

Michael Bailey emphasizes that managing player egos and star power is a fundamental aspect of a coach's job, going beyond tactical implementation. Bailey suggests that building good relationships with individual players and gaining their buy-in is crucial, and that a coach must command respect, which is not automatically granted.

"You can see the numbers now I don't have to defend much the tactics are quite different I said as long as you rest me defensively I will provide offensively so I'm glad that I did so."

Mohamed Salah states that his offensive output is directly linked to being given defensive rest, implying a tactical shift that allows him to focus on attacking contributions. Salah's quote suggests that his performance is contingent on the team's tactical setup, specifically regarding his defensive responsibilities.

"I think the key point really is that the last four games Liverpool have played Mo Salah hasn't started Liverpool have won two and drawn two so it does seem to be working the change it has been Dominik Szoboszlai mainly playing in Salah's position so what does he offer Michael that maybe Salah doesn't or how has it improved the team as a collective?"

Michael Bailey highlights that Liverpool's recent positive results without Mohamed Salah starting suggest that a change in tactical approach, with Dominik Szoboszlai often occupying a similar position, is proving effective. Bailey questions what Szoboszlai offers that Salah does not, and how this collective improvement has manifested for the team.

"I think the best person in in that role over the past 20 plus years has been Carlo Ancelotti so especially it's in the context of of just how much Carlo Ancelotti was the ultimate man manager he gave them the freedom and I think it was after the Champions League final maybe after the semi final at Jude Bellingham was saying that like their biggest strength is that Ancelotti just lets them play with freedom he said that they're off the cuff which I don't know if in other clubs whether you'd sort of see that as a positive to think of teams off the cuff you think no we have a tactical plan and a tactical system in place such that whatever the opponent throws at us we know what to do."

Mark Carey identifies Carlo Ancelotti as a prime example of a successful manager who prioritizes man-management and player freedom over rigid tactical systems. Carey notes that Jude Bellingham described Real Madrid's strength under Ancelotti as their "off the cuff" play, contrasting this with the more structured approach favored by other clubs.