Fernandinho definitely helped them out. I can’t really explain how we managed to win so much with them in central defence but maybe other teams wasn’t used to the pressing. We surprised everyone with our brand of football in 17/18. Anyway, it doesn’t matter what happend back then. They’ve had a long timeperiod to prove that wasn’t an isolated seaso .
These guys have shown time and time again they have no place in this world star team. Otamendi either overcommit to a challenge and completely miss the opponents body, or he fouls them in dangerous territory. He’s not using his intelligence for one bit when defending, sadly.
Stones positioning is a joke, his reading of the game is absolutely nowhere, he doesn’t use his body to tackle anyone of the ball, he can’t slidetackle (I don’t think I’ve ever seen him do that). He seems afraid to defend, to actually commit to a challenge. Do you think Firmino could’ve just pushed Koulibaly or Aké off the ball as he did against Stones? It was a joke. He knows how to pass a ball sideways, that’s about it.
This thread was not meant to be used as a platform to trashtalk Stones and Otamendi, but guys like Koulibaly and Aké should have joined a long time ago. At least one year of our disappointments in a Champions League knockout game could’ve been avoided if we had guys how know how to defend. Just look at what we have in attack and midfield. Some of the very best in the world. Looking at our backline to compare, only Laporte (and maybe Walker) counts as world class like the rest of the team.
That’s why I think this transfer is so bloody important. We would finally have three high quality options in centreback position instead of just one. Signings like these wins you big games and ultimately big tournaments.