Since we've addressed close to a dozen GOAT footballers, perhaps it's time to move on to the elite managers in a build around theme? Posters have the option of selecting from an unrestricted pool — including players that were managed by Sacchi, obviously.
Overview of team/player characteristics — which will serve as the guiding principles for the XI:
Proactive compactness from back to front to asphyxiate the opposition — ultraoffensivo high press by the attackers backed up by a high defensive line to trap and press them in their own half as a block — moving on to the zonal era in Italian football, in contrast with reactiveness and traditional sweeper + man-marker + creator-in-chief #10 approach.
Players have to be incredibly fit and versed in a collective method considering the scheme was very demanding and organized — like the Italian version of totaalvoetbal, but also mentally sharp to digest Sacchi's guidelines and perceptive to make a million synchronized positional adjustments in-game and focused to keep the intensity going week-in and week-out.
Subtle changes in formation don't matter that much as long as Sacchi's actual principles are at the forefront — not dogmatically of course, they had freedom to express themselves...switching from 4-4-2 to 4-2-4 or narrow diamond, but closely-knit banks of 4s in defense and midfield with a swashbuckling forward leading the charge (Gullit) and a technically capable #9 holding a high line and acting as the fulcrum (Van Basten) is the most iconic setup.
Attempt #1 based on a tried and tested Milanese recipe:
Overview of team/player characteristics — which will serve as the guiding principles for the XI:
Proactive compactness from back to front to asphyxiate the opposition — ultraoffensivo high press by the attackers backed up by a high defensive line to trap and press them in their own half as a block — moving on to the zonal era in Italian football, in contrast with reactiveness and traditional sweeper + man-marker + creator-in-chief #10 approach.
Players have to be incredibly fit and versed in a collective method considering the scheme was very demanding and organized — like the Italian version of totaalvoetbal, but also mentally sharp to digest Sacchi's guidelines and perceptive to make a million synchronized positional adjustments in-game and focused to keep the intensity going week-in and week-out.
Subtle changes in formation don't matter that much as long as Sacchi's actual principles are at the forefront — not dogmatically of course, they had freedom to express themselves...switching from 4-4-2 to 4-2-4 or narrow diamond, but closely-knit banks of 4s in defense and midfield with a swashbuckling forward leading the charge (Gullit) and a technically capable #9 holding a high line and acting as the fulcrum (Van Basten) is the most iconic setup.
Attempt #1 based on a tried and tested Milanese recipe:
- Upgraded defense — quite possibly the sturdiest Back-5 possible with the addition of Djalma, Nesta and Buffon.
- Slightly reconfigured midfield dynamics with Suárez representing an incredible upgrade over Ancelotti. Nedvěd and Figo has good workrate for their position.
- Gullit was rampant at his peak — one of the cornerstones of Milan under Sacchi, the spark of inspiration that brought everything together as the natural on-field leader, and proven with Van Basten — so substituting him seems a bit draft. But O Rei was an irresistible option and should fit right in as a talisman, IMO.
In all seriousness, I think Neuer is the best Sacchi keeper.
