Andoni Iraola does not want automatons. If space is there to be attacked, Bournemouth’s manager asks his players to be bold and seize the initiative.
It is about having faith in creative instincts, throwing off the shackles as the shift away from Pep Guardiola’s positional football gathers pace.
It would be unlike Iraola to threaten to substitute a goalkeeper for kicking long or a midfielder for trying a risky pass when a safer ball would allow his team to maintain their shape.
Enzo Maresca sees the game differently.
Chelsea’s head coach is from the Guardiola school and has built his tactical vision around carefully hoarding possession, which leaves little room for improvisation and is contributing heavily to the sullen atmosphere at Stamford Bridge.
“The people have to understand this is our way,” Maresca has said of the lukewarm reaction to his more sedate style. “This is the way we’re going to play.
”Cole Palmer, a maverick at his best when playing off the cuff, has gone nine games without a goal before the second leg of the Europa Conference League tie against FC Copenhagen on Thursday night.
The mood was restless during Chelsea’s 1-0 win against Leicester on Sunday. There were boos when Enzo Fernández passed backwards at 0-0. It was not lost on Maresca. He gestured angrily for fans to be more supportive when Marc Cucurella scored the winner a few minutes later.
