Wolverhampton Wanderers overcame going a goal down against Norwich City to beat the weekend’s opponents 2-1. Though their upcoming run of games is tough and if they are to beat Manchester City on Boxing day, Nuno Espirito Santo’s side will have to adapt their tactical set-up. To overcome the champions, sides have to carefully tread the balance of dropping off against them and pressing the Sky Blues.
Coming at Manchester City and pressing can be an incredibly dangerous game. Overcommitting bodies to harry any of Pep Guardiola’s players in possession runs the risk of the champions negating the press with their supreme passing ability, leaving Manchester City in dangerous scenarios with an abundance of space. Yet equally, dropping off and sitting back runs the risk of them picking passes through the lines of midfield and defence to leave them with the inevitable tap in at the back post.
It is a fine line to tread but balancing dropping off and pressing in the right situations is the only way to truly hurt Manchester City. Leicester City found out at the weekend that sitting too far back and allowing them to play though you can bring devastating results.
To ensure defensive stability, Santo would be wise to keep using Matt Doherty at right-back, with Adama Traore in front of him, as he did against Norwich City. The Irishman can still get forward when required, but his opportunities may be at a premium against the defending Premier League champions. Meanwhile Spanish sensation Traore can offer a counter-attacking threat to relieve pressure and hurt City where they are weakest, just as Jamie Vardy was for Leicester City. Wolves must not be solely reliant on their pacey wide man though as the Foxes were, due to other players struggling to keep up with him.
In possession, it is vital Wolves can hold on to the ball for enough time that they can bring Raul Jimenez and Diego Jota into the game. The pair have scored ten and six goals respectively this campaign, meaning they have been responsible for 61.5 per cent of their sides Premier League goals this season. If Santo can get his squad to stay compact at the back, press at appropriate times and give the forwards opportunities, then they have a chance of dethroning the champions.
