I would venture he can do (and has done) all 4 of those things when he played at Leeds because Leeds played “off the leash.” Pep not only plays “on the leash,” but muzzled for the most part.
He CAN play, but the Pep system is almost robotic on its approach to the game and he is not a Pep robot…he was a Bielsa robot, which could go anywhere and do anything, as long as you took full responsibility for your man.
Like Grealish for most of his time here, and increasingly with Foden, it seems like flair is discouraged unless it is world class flair that actually produces a result. Messi had it, David Silva had it, Bernardo shows flashes of it. Alas, Grealish and Giden are passing robots! They pretend they might take you on, then pass it back to an open man. DON’T LOSE POSSESSION is more important than “penetrate by taking your man on one on one!”
Doku looks like he’s in a “damned if I fo, damned if I don’t” position because when it’s gone off, it’s looked exciting, but when it doesn’t, it looks Sterling-esque!
I hate to say it, but I think a few half decent coaches have us completely sussed and it is only the QUALITY OF THE PLAYERS that makes us come out on top. Pep acknowledged that the quality of the players in his system is key, because it’s generally high risk defence complemented by a smothering attack that is designed to not let you at the Spartan defence.
In short, Pep needs to figure out how to use Haaland in games like this OR play a false nine and leave the opposition marking thin air.
