Defense is an art that the best coaches in the world consider more important than any other aspect of the game. Covering positions, making timely tackles and even jumping the offside trap well is the key to stopping teams from scoring. After all, anything good is a team that can not even defend a 2 or 3 goal lead.
It was the Italians who decided to undertake to make defense an art form and move away from the physical aspect by มิดฟิลด์ดาวรุ่ง in technical skill. Until the Italians brought finesse into the picture, the defense revolved around over-muscling the opposition and crushing tackles.
It was the ability to narrow down the space and restrict movement that led to the increase in Catenaccio's style of play.
HELENIO HERRERA
Not many may remember his name, but Helenio Herrera was a French-Argentine player and later manager who was one of the biggest names in football coaching in the mid-20th century. After playing for teams such as RC Casablanca and Stade Francais, Herrera retired from club football in 1945.
Herrera began coaching and moved to Spain, where he became team manager for Real Valladolid, Atletico Madrid, CD Malaga and even FC Barcelona. It was after his time at Barcelona in 1960 that Herrera moved to Inter Milan.
THE RISE OF CATENACCIO
It was during his stay at Inter Milan that Herrera decided to change the way his team defended. A switch to the right side resulted in a 5-3-2 alignment with the defensive line. Herrera was a believer in hard work and strong work ethic and was known as a pioneer in psychological motivational techniques, including team-pep talks.
Herrera also introduced policies for non-smokers and drinkers as well as controlling the diet of its players to make them true professionals. Herrera was also known for suspending a player for telling the media during a press conference, "We came to play in Rome" instead of "We came to win in Rome".
A tough man, Herrera was slightly defensive in his style of play, although his form of Catenaccio was not as defensive as some of the future mutations of the formation when used by Italian architects.
One of Herrera's full-backs, the great Giacinto Facchetti, was a testament to the attacking style of Herrera's Catenaccio, who won the Inter Milan team. The team was built around the defense, where the main role was to absorb pressure from the opposition before launching lightning-fast counter-attacks.
Using his wingbacks to overlap the midfield, Herrera transformed the way the world viewed attacking football. Not giving away too much at the back, the team became famous for squeezing out 1-0 wins, leading to the nickname Verrou meaning "Door Bolt".
HERRESAS ARV
Known as "Herrera's Inter", the team went on to win league titles in 1963, 65 and 66, the 1964 and 65 European Championships as well as the Intercontinental Cup in both of those seasons. Herrera also became the first coach to continue coaching three separate national teams, ending his career with a 48.57% winning record.
In his 908 matches as manager, which included teams such as Inter Milan, AS Roma, Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and CF Os Belenenses, Herrera lost just 241 games while drawing 226. In his 12-club coaching career, Herrera ended with a negative goal difference only three times - with Real Valladolid (-21), AS Roma (-1) and Rimini (-22). Each team was too weak at the time, though Herrera turned Roma into a championship-winning team and won the 1969 Italian Cup with a sub-standard line-up and his famous Catenaccio football style.
THE DOOR BOLT
Contrary to popular belief, the Catenaccio was not built to close the resistance. The whole concept of play was to let the opposition attack, relentlessly evenly, before suddenly attacking the counter. The team played with five at the back in a "V-shaped" formation with Libero or sweeper in the center. When the opponents entered the "V", their attacks would be narrowed and restrict movement and space.
When the ball changed possession, the defending team had a wingback on both sides, already in front of the advancing opponent's midfield. This meant that the team could now quickly push out by playing the ball out to these wingbacks, who would have plenty of room to utilize.
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