Pressing, changing mindsets and discipline: How Ranieri engineered Watford’s victory over Manchester United
By Adam Leventhal Nov 22, 2021
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Both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Claudio Ranieri said similar things about the usefulness of the international break prior to Watford 4 Manchester United 1.
“This week has been a good week, we’ve had a chance to work with everyone on quite a few things,” said the Norwegian, while the Italian insisted, “I’m very confident that we will see the results of the hard work the players have been putting in on the training pitches over these weeks since we’ve been away.”
Only one team walked the walk after the pre-match talk.
The focus for many will be that in the final throes of Solskjaer’s reign, United were the architects of their own demise, but Watford’s actions helped choreograph the dramatic downfall.
Although nine players were away with their national teams after Watford’s 1-0 defeat at Arsenal. Ranieri’s focus was to build on the positives. “He tried tapping into the psychology,” Tom Cleverley tells The Athletic. “At Arsenal, we got into areas and didn’t put the ball into the box so he tried to put a positive energy about the place (during the international break) and it showed.”
Coupled with working on the squad’s mindset, was the tactical plan. The majority of the detailed work had to be done in the last few days when everyone was back together but the emphasis throughout the domestic hiatus was on pressing.
Watford wanted to put pressure on United higher up the pitch but players were offered much more guidance from the coaching staff on the how and when. “Like with any Italian coach I’ve had, it’s very structured, it’s very black and white with and without the ball and more the basics of football,” said Cleverley.
It meant triggers were set in stone and if United players were isolated around their penalty box Watford hunted in packs. The weight of yellow traffic around Bruno Fernandes rushed him into a sliced clearance which led to the penalty incident in the opening 10 minutes and set the tone.
Seven players were near to Bruno Fernandes early in the first half which led to Josh King being fouled for the penalty.
Man of the match Cleverley knew Harry Maguire may dawdle on the ball – as he did on 69 minutes – so he reacted quickly and decisively and, in one motion, stole the ball as the United captain lunged, fouled and was sent off. Pivotally, there was an organised safety net of players backing Cleverley up.
The pressing movement was joined-up from front to back.
“The spaces in between the units (defence, midfield and attack) are now more balanced and compact rather than so open and disorganised (that had been seen earlier in the season),” said a club insider. It was disciplined training coming to life on matchday, one of the key elements Gino Pozzo wants.
“Every day the quality at the (training ground) in terms of work is high and detailed,” said a source close to the squad who praised the work that Ranieri had done on improving the “self-esteem and belief” shown against United.
“For me and my staff to bring the experience of working at many clubs to Watford is important,” said Ranieri.
“What we have learned about players, can make very positive changes by following my philosophy.” Cleverley concurs: “With his CV, as a player if he says something you listen and you try and implement it.”
Another tenet of Ranieri’s philosophy that the squad continued to work on was moving the ball forward more efficiently and ensuring players work hard to run into space to open up opportunities with overlaps. Joao Pedro and Emmanuel Dennis’s goals were evidence of a determination to not only demand the ball but get to it first. “We have the ability, it’s now the application, and the coach is providing that,” said a source familiar with how the club have been preparing for games. “We can hurt teams if we just concentrate and press.”
Personnel and formation changes also contributed to the success. Joshua King’s switch to the left of the front three allowed Emmanuel Dennis to operate down the centre with great effect and the pair rotated well. The move leant on Ranieri’s previous experience in the Premier League.
“King played a lot of matches on the left at Bournemouth and I wanted to put the defensive line under pressure because Dennis is very fast and it worked very well, but all of the team worked very well,” said the head coach.
With Juraj Kucka suspended and Ozan Tufan returning from Turkey with a knock, Ranieri changed the dynamic in midfield too with Imran Louza introduced as a bona fide deeper-lying midfielder and Cleverley alongside captain Moussa Sissoko as an energetic second piston, working up and down.
Louza was always available and put in a composed performance, helping to set the tempo and showed creativity. There were long, elevated passes but his most impressive was one threaded through the eye of the needle to Joshua King that almost saw him double the lead, and his tally, on 38 minutes. “It’s not easy to come and play your first match with a new manager against Manchester United,” said Ranieri of the Moroccan.
“(It) takes time with a new head coach but it (clearly) looks like they are working on things,” another source close to one of the players explained. “They looked organised and tactically aware going forward. Defensively leaking too easily but they have a proper plan.”
At the start of the second half when Watford dropped off United were able to build momentum and score their goal, which is a sign that work still needs to be done with the business end of a tricky run incoming (Leicester, Chelsea and Man City).
“Now we have to stay calm and continue to train very well, I want consistency. The results are important (in the coming games) but I want to see the same mentality,” said Ranieri, who also had Ben Foster to thank for an impressive one-on-one save from Cristiano Ronaldo at 2-1, and also an assist for the final goal.
Injuries to Ismaila Sarr – who redeemed himself with an impressive second after a double penalty miss – and Nicholas Nkoulou were the only concerning aspects of a day for Watford fans to cherish. They head into their next encounter feeling good about who is in charge, as United plot a different path.
By Adam Leventhal Nov 22, 2021
Both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Claudio Ranieri said similar things about the usefulness of the international break prior to Watford 4 Manchester United 1.
“This week has been a good week, we’ve had a chance to work with everyone on quite a few things,” said the Norwegian, while the Italian insisted, “I’m very confident that we will see the results of the hard work the players have been putting in on the training pitches over these weeks since we’ve been away.”
Only one team walked the walk after the pre-match talk.
The focus for many will be that in the final throes of Solskjaer’s reign, United were the architects of their own demise, but Watford’s actions helped choreograph the dramatic downfall.
Although nine players were away with their national teams after Watford’s 1-0 defeat at Arsenal. Ranieri’s focus was to build on the positives. “He tried tapping into the psychology,” Tom Cleverley tells The Athletic. “At Arsenal, we got into areas and didn’t put the ball into the box so he tried to put a positive energy about the place (during the international break) and it showed.”
Coupled with working on the squad’s mindset, was the tactical plan. The majority of the detailed work had to be done in the last few days when everyone was back together but the emphasis throughout the domestic hiatus was on pressing.
Watford wanted to put pressure on United higher up the pitch but players were offered much more guidance from the coaching staff on the how and when. “Like with any Italian coach I’ve had, it’s very structured, it’s very black and white with and without the ball and more the basics of football,” said Cleverley.
It meant triggers were set in stone and if United players were isolated around their penalty box Watford hunted in packs. The weight of yellow traffic around Bruno Fernandes rushed him into a sliced clearance which led to the penalty incident in the opening 10 minutes and set the tone.
Seven players were near to Bruno Fernandes early in the first half which led to Josh King being fouled for the penalty.
Man of the match Cleverley knew Harry Maguire may dawdle on the ball – as he did on 69 minutes – so he reacted quickly and decisively and, in one motion, stole the ball as the United captain lunged, fouled and was sent off. Pivotally, there was an organised safety net of players backing Cleverley up.
The pressing movement was joined-up from front to back.
“The spaces in between the units (defence, midfield and attack) are now more balanced and compact rather than so open and disorganised (that had been seen earlier in the season),” said a club insider. It was disciplined training coming to life on matchday, one of the key elements Gino Pozzo wants.
“Every day the quality at the (training ground) in terms of work is high and detailed,” said a source close to the squad who praised the work that Ranieri had done on improving the “self-esteem and belief” shown against United.
“For me and my staff to bring the experience of working at many clubs to Watford is important,” said Ranieri.
“What we have learned about players, can make very positive changes by following my philosophy.” Cleverley concurs: “With his CV, as a player if he says something you listen and you try and implement it.”
Another tenet of Ranieri’s philosophy that the squad continued to work on was moving the ball forward more efficiently and ensuring players work hard to run into space to open up opportunities with overlaps. Joao Pedro and Emmanuel Dennis’s goals were evidence of a determination to not only demand the ball but get to it first. “We have the ability, it’s now the application, and the coach is providing that,” said a source familiar with how the club have been preparing for games. “We can hurt teams if we just concentrate and press.”
Personnel and formation changes also contributed to the success. Joshua King’s switch to the left of the front three allowed Emmanuel Dennis to operate down the centre with great effect and the pair rotated well. The move leant on Ranieri’s previous experience in the Premier League.
“King played a lot of matches on the left at Bournemouth and I wanted to put the defensive line under pressure because Dennis is very fast and it worked very well, but all of the team worked very well,” said the head coach.
With Juraj Kucka suspended and Ozan Tufan returning from Turkey with a knock, Ranieri changed the dynamic in midfield too with Imran Louza introduced as a bona fide deeper-lying midfielder and Cleverley alongside captain Moussa Sissoko as an energetic second piston, working up and down.
Louza was always available and put in a composed performance, helping to set the tempo and showed creativity. There were long, elevated passes but his most impressive was one threaded through the eye of the needle to Joshua King that almost saw him double the lead, and his tally, on 38 minutes. “It’s not easy to come and play your first match with a new manager against Manchester United,” said Ranieri of the Moroccan.
“(It) takes time with a new head coach but it (clearly) looks like they are working on things,” another source close to one of the players explained. “They looked organised and tactically aware going forward. Defensively leaking too easily but they have a proper plan.”
At the start of the second half when Watford dropped off United were able to build momentum and score their goal, which is a sign that work still needs to be done with the business end of a tricky run incoming (Leicester, Chelsea and Man City).
“Now we have to stay calm and continue to train very well, I want consistency. The results are important (in the coming games) but I want to see the same mentality,” said Ranieri, who also had Ben Foster to thank for an impressive one-on-one save from Cristiano Ronaldo at 2-1, and also an assist for the final goal.
Injuries to Ismaila Sarr – who redeemed himself with an impressive second after a double penalty miss – and Nicholas Nkoulou were the only concerning aspects of a day for Watford fans to cherish. They head into their next encounter feeling good about who is in charge, as United plot a different path.
