Newly-appointed Australia coach Bert van Marwijk has given some hints of adopting Pep Guardiola’s tactics at Manchester City for The Socceroos at 2018 World Cup.
Using the example of Manchester City, van Marwijk said he would set up a “modern” style into the Australia squad.
“I’m a coach that likes to have the ball and likes to play combination football. Then you have influence on the game,” the Dutch tactician said in the Thursday press conference, as quoted on the Caltex Socceroos site.
“But in modern football, you also have to have influence on the game when you don’t have the ball. That’s very important. In modern football, it’s only about transition.
“For example, Manchester City may be the best team in the world this moment. Every game they always have the most ball possession, but they score most of their goals in transition. That’s very interesting.”
Van Marwijk takes over the Socceroos’ hot seat following Ange Postecoglou’s resignation in December. He has been the third Dutchman to coach the Socceroos after Guus Hiddink and Pim Verbeek.
