Tricky_Trev
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 18 Jan 2009
- Messages
- 32,324
It’s simple tbh. Because Rico can defend in a two with Rodri and Phil can’t. When Rodri is available, we have 2 other midfielders with him, one has to press high next to Haaland in the 442 (KDB/Alvarez) and the other has to defend next to Rodri (Bernardo/ Rico/Kovacic/Nunes). Pep has said before that he wants Phil to play deeper. What he means by that is for him to be able to defend next to Rodri, so that he can play centrally. Until he learns that, he probably won’t play there. Same reason why Grealish isn’t going to magically play in the centre for us. He can’t do either of the out of possession roles.I rate him much higher than most(apparently) seem to, but there's no denying he looked completely out of his depth tonight. Stones didn't look much better than him tbf...
Does anyone have a plausible explanation as to why he's seemingly trusted centrally more than Phil is...?