Emre Belözoğlu's Greenwood Formula: What Matters Is Not the Dribble, but the Right Position

Commentator Semih Sezerli assessed what Emre Belözoğlu expects from Greenwood and how he is using him on the pitch. According to Sezerli, Belözoğlu does not give a player with high dribbling ability the instruction 'go past your man'. Instead, he makes sure the player receives the ball in areas close to goal, where he can face the opposing full-back and centre-backs one-on-one. Greenwood is no longer asked for the same intensive defensive help as before.

Sezerli said that a similar approach applies to İsmail Yüksek and Guendouzi. The two were asked to shadow İrfan Can defensively and stay in close support. The aim is to make İrfan Can more comfortable in possession and to create shooting chances from crosses. Sezerli stressed that this approach is paying off.

Reminding that Belözoğlu often talks about 'positional rotations', Sezerli noted that Oğuz Aydın and Greenwood are not confined to a specific zone, but are given freedom of movement when entering the 3rd zone. He pointed out that both players have scored goals with diagonal runs from different areas.

Sezerli described Belözoğlu as 'a pragmatic coach'. He also pointed to problems in the team, including a lack of morale and motivation, a squad that is too stretched, distances between players that are too large, the need for positional rotation, and defensive positioning issues in situations arising from crosses and set-piece deliveries. Sezerli said that the progress made in these areas will become clearer after the international break.