INTENSITIES AND METHODOLOGIES

When I started the blog, I had the idea to go talking about football things . Of those that, as a coach  I worry or have lived.

You all know that I am a supporter of Barça. The events in recent months have made that I have written a lot about what happens there and not about things purely on football. Now, with what has appeared in the press today, I have the chance to talk about one of the things least talked about: the methodology of training.

According to the newspaper "El País", the players of Barça believe that the methodology of Tata Martino is outdated and that there is no intensity. It has been saying this, and internet has been filled of "experts" who have almost all agreed that this was the big problem this year at Barça.

Let's go step by step. The intensity, in any exercise or activity, is put by those who are doing the exercise. Intensity does not mean going as quickly as possible from here to there or, to jump higher than anyone. Intensity is the effort required for the activity to go well. There are players faster than others (by nature), and other players jumping more than others (also by nature); therefore, if a player is running slower than another, does not have to be a matter of intensity. Can be many things.

I'll explain. Imagine a typical "rondo" of 4v2. No movement of players in possession. Therefore, no intensity, according to some. Is this right? Nope. Intensity in this case (and elsewhere) is to put the maximum effort and concentration for the ball goes well to the teammate. Intensity is doing the job well done. Imagine another example. A player who receives a pass from a teammate and is facing the goalkeeper. A soft but precise touch that puts the ball away from the opponent goalie and makes to score a goal. Shall we say that has not been intense because it was a soft touch? Absolutely not.

That is, it can be as intense an exercise with 6v0, as one with 5v5. So clear. And, if the player has no intensity, it is assumed that there is a coach that will demand the required intensity, right?

Working methodologies are several. Some are based on the "physical form". Others, on "analytical" work. Others have tactics as the main component. I do not go to value what is best or most appropriate. I will say that, Martino is charged of being "old fashioned". I remember when Carlos Queiroz was the manager at Real Madrid, players complained that their methods were very modern and, when Juande Ramos came, players preferred his more "traditional" methods. But the same Juande Ramos was branded as "modern" at Spurs, for wanting to control meals (among other things), of the players.

Ancelotti, for example, makes a similar pre-game warm-up very similar to the one Martino does. The Argentinean is "ancient". About the Italian, no word. And it is clear that is not a reproach. It is a fact. There is much talk of the "fitness" of Mourinho's teams, when we all know that Mou trains following Tactical Periodization and, as he has said many times, he does not work on "fitness", as this does not exist in this Methodology. If someone watches the teams of Guardiola, Simeone, Klopp or Rodgers, they all have a clearly defined style of play. The intensity applied is very high in all cases. I think none of them use the same methodology.

Think about one thing. In football everything is almost invented. The exercises you can do are more or less similar for all: exercises about passing, finishing, whatever you want. The same activity can be done with different methodologies. What will vary are two things: The ultimate goal we want to achieve (because the same exercise can be used for many things, depending on the coach), and the intensity. 4v4 is the same everywhere. Depending on the desired target, we will adjust the space (grid), number of touches on the ball, the rules that we want, etc. Now, if there is no intensity, the exercise is useless. But it is the same whether the exercise is coming from an integrated methodology of a "structured microcycle" or, "tactical periodization". The same exercise, with the same conditions, with the same players will succeed or fail depending on the intensity you have.

And this makes me wonder: Are you sure that the intensity is a problem of methodology?

Jordi Pascual

You can follow me on Twitter: @JordiPascualP