Wenger, Guardiola & Their Sacchian Dichotomy

It's a sense of déjà vu for Arsenal tonight when they arrive at the Allianz Arena with the hope of overturning a two goal deficit against Bayern. Although the first leg received plaudits for how Arsenal approached the game it was inevitably the same old story for Arsenal and Wenger in terms of Champions League disappointment. After the red card, yet perhaps after Ozil’s penalty miss, the pendulum swung drastically away from Arsenal’s favour and Bayern simply dominated the game thereafter. The second leg looks to be a formality for Bayern.

Both coaches are remarkably similar in their approach, Guardiola has the greater side yet also has a more intelligent coaching acumen than his older foe. Both can be compared to what Arrigo Sacchi achieved in the game. 

For Arrigo Saachi, the ex-Milan and Italy coach who was the last coach to win back-to-back European Cups, football has not evolved since the early 1990’s. It is an interesting outlook by a coach seen as a revolutionary of the game; both as a tactician and in terms of a non-player coaching one of Europe’s best sides. His reputation therefore is legendary and iconic.

Now to say the game has not evolved is not necessarily true; the rise of the 4-2-3-1 and death of the libero (yet it’s return is looking possible) have been significant for what the game has produced. And not to think of the changing role and type of players across the pitch. The game has certainly evolved, yet does Sacchi imply that coaching has not evolved?

Many will point to say that modern coaches are smarter and more intelligent, that they are psychologists and man-managers, as well as tactically astute. Well if this is the case then Sacchi is right, this area of the game has not evolved since he was coaching Milan. Sacchi was all these things. He was a genius of a coach; creative, unorthodox and able to convince a group of world class players that his 'foreign' 4-4-2 high pressing tactic was a formula for success. 

Here was a man who was unknown, who had never played the game, and who was telling Milan’s players to change their cautious Italian approach for a more attacking expansive game. His ability to persuade and convince was why he achieved success and it was this element which modern coaches have become famous for. When we look at the influence of Wenger and Guardiola we see these similarities.

The importance of persuasion

When Arsene Wenger arrived at Arsenal in 1996 he came to a league which was lacking compared to other nations, both in terms of tactics and science. While the rest of Europe was busy evolving formations, nutrition and embracing the foreign transfer market, the game in England really hadn't evolved for decades in terms of football (television was the most progressive and radical change). 

Wenger persuaded the Arsenal players to change their ways, to eat healthier and to learn the value of preparation. He used the foreign market to bring in some excellent talent and built a winning side which would challenge Man Utd’s dominance of English football. 18 years later and he has revolutionised the club in terms of the stadium and modernised the business model to make Arsenal one of the most profitable clubs in world football. It really is a compliment to his talents as a coach, an economist and importantly a persuasive psychologist.

As for Guardiola, he too revolutionised a club under his image and ideals. He had the advantage of being a famous player for Barcelona yet when he arrived in 2008 as first team coach the questions were being asked over his suitability. Like Sacchi and Wenger he had to prove his doubters wrong. And he did so impressively. 

Guardiola would build one of the greatest sides world football has seen, one which would rival Sacchi’s Milan and Wenger’s ‘Invincibles’. He persuaded the team to buy in to his methods, tactics and approach and by doing so they became a great success. Even Wenger admits that this side was the best he has seen,  “Until now, in my life, it’s the best team I’ve played against. The first time we played them at the Emirates, the first half an hour was the best I’ve seen.”

Guardiola’s arrival at Bayern required more persuasion, this was a group who had just won the treble, who had dominated European football the season before and who were very content and happy with how they did it. Why change it? Yet he thought different and convinced them that his way of doing things would bring greater success and quality. And so it has proved. Bayern now are better than they were last season, something you could not have believed when watching them last year.

Both Guardiiola and Wenger share many similarities in terms of their influence and revolution of the clubs they have worked for. Like Sacchi they were able to convince their players to change their approach and be selfless for the team. 

Sacchi’s pressing game was built on team cohesion, understanding and sacrifice. Each player had to buy in to their role and work for the team. Guardiola replicated this high pressing game for Barca, a tactic which was essential in their success. The possession based style, with speed in transition was the hallmark of all three of the sides. Skill, speed and intelligence ran through all coaches beliefs.

Of course it was Rinus MIchels who would be the influence on all these coaches. Sacchi was in awe of what Michels had done and the philosophy he used. The totalfootball philosophy revolutionised the game for future generations. 

Creative players 

All three coaches believe in the creativity of players. They all wish to have playmakers in their side, creative players who can unlock defences and control possession. as Wenger says, “It is always the big players who make the difference on the pitch.” 

However the past decade became the ‘era of the specialist’, with the Makelele type defensive midfielder becoming a key part of successful sides. Sacchi was not a fan of this type of player however, As he says, "In my football, the regista - the playmaker - is whoever had the ball. But if you have Makélélé, he can't do that. He doesn't have the ideas to do it although, of course, he's great at winning the ball.”

However the game became one of specialists and those wishing to achieve totalfootball struggled, while those like Mourinho prospered. By the mid-2000's Sacchi believed that modern football was, “about managing the characteristics of individuals, and that's why you see the proliferation of specialists. The individual has trumped the collective. But it's a sign of weakness. It's reactive, not pro-active."

The idea of a collective team acheiving success appeared to be lost at this point. It was about balance, an attacking unit and a defensive one. A whole organism was no more. Wenger wanted to move away from the specialist, believing in creative players across the XI like Sacchi yet his lack of success would point to a failed ideal.

And then Guardiola came along. He would make this ideal a success. He would produce a team built on Sacchi’s beleifs and style. A collective unit possessing playmakers across the team. Guardiola revolutionised the game. Or should I say, brought back the Sacchian ideals. 

The problem for Wenger however was that he was seeking to produce the same style and success at Arsenal, yet like a chemist attempting to achieve greatness he was short of the key ingredient. And this is where Guardiola and Wenger differ.

The key ingredient 

Sacchi was a coach who was meticulous in his preparation of the team, obsessed with the positioning and space between units. For him it was important that all the players were as one and focused on their objectives, especially out of possession. Guardiola was the same at Barca. 

Guardiola was the general who would organise and prepare his team for each game with meticulous planning. Perhaps only Mourinho can be compared to the indepth tactical preparation of his team, the precision in terms of movement, position and strategy. 

Yet Wenger was different. Although both believed in totalfootball, Wenger did not and still does not believe in micro-managing his side. This is where the dichotomy between the coaches arise. 

When asked about the rivalry between him and Guardiola, about the ‘talent’ of Guardiola as a coach, Wenger replied, “Football is not a chess game. It belongs to the players. We prepare the team to do well but don’t forget that the main heroes are on the pitch, not on the bench.”

Wenger does not believe that the game is like chess, yet he is wrong. Wenger's philosophy is about the players, about giving them ownership, responsibility and the freedom to choose and make decisions. Guardiola however is about managing the group to minute perfection. Each detail is covered, every step planned. 

Sacchi knew the importance of this method, so too does Guardiola. The coach is not a facilitator of the players but their leader and general. And this is why Wenger has failed to achieve success in terms of trophies this past nine years. He has given players too much freedom in a game which has required a more intelligent tactical approach. Sacchi is right, the game has not evolved much from his time, as this was the key then too. Wenger however appears unwilling to accept this.

Wenger’s belief in management is admirable however this has been his undoing as a coach. It is why he has taken his team ‘close’ yet never all the way. The game and success has always been about the influence of coach on players. Talented players coached excellently will achieve success. Just look at what Mourinho has achieved. 

Arsenal’s continued failings in Europe or when playing the big teams has stemmed from Wenger’s approach to coaching. Wenger has never accepted this, he has always sought to allow his sides to lead themselves and make their own decisions. Even with players like Adams, Vieria, Berkgamp and Henry he wasn't able to conquer Europe. He always seemed just short. His team now is technically excellent yet it requires leadership and organisation. 

Guardiola has proven that the players require coaching to mould them into a cohesive unit and team. They need preparing for each opponent with near meticulous detail. Sacchi’s success came from this method of coaching, yes the style and players were important, yet building a team was the key. Guardiola and Mourinho know the importance of this, and their success highlights that. 

Wenger may believe in totalfootball, may strive to emulate the quality and style of Sacchi's Milan and Guardiola's Barca, however he has neglected the key ingredient of greatness. He should take a lesson from the title of Rinus Michels book which points to what he has not been able to achieve with real success for a decade. Teambuilding.

As the two coaches face each other again tonight it appears Guardiola will outshine and outcoach his rival once more. Wenger may point to the quality of the players on the pitch yet he should consider the power and influence of coaching and reflect back on his time in football and wonder if he got his approach wrong? At 64 years old it is perhaps too old to change his ways, yet that will most probably mean he never achieves European success as a coach. 

I will end with a quote from Sacchi and his definition of a coach,  “He’s a maestro who has his own style. He needs to aim for quality, not the superficial and what comes easy. I don’t go to the bakery because of the baker but because of the bread. A maestro is someone who demands the best, who demands rigour.”

The Whitehouse Address @The_W_Address

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