It is, he outlined that on a MNF episode with Gary Neville.
With short passes, you lose the ball less often and when you do, you have players in position to quickly press the loose balls / man in possession. Remember how Xavi, Iniesta and Busquets, not really your classic "ball winners" used to swarm round opponents like angry hornets? Its not about "effort" or "work rate", its about tactics - being close enough to close quickly and in packs of three of four.
Look again at that photo. Let's be under no illusion, that's what EtH wants, that's what he's asking his players to do. What use is Garnacho 60y away from the ball? What is Rashford meant to do when / if he does receive it? The only players close enough to support him are Hojlund and Eriksen, and they're outnumber 5 -2, include Rashford and we're outnumbered 5-3, even if Martinez makes the 50m pass.
Look at the Porto players setting the trap. Waiting for Martinez to play the only forward pass he can make. There's two Porto players ready to spring into action to cut-out an underhit pass and another waiting to quickly press Rashford. If that pass is cut-out, we suddenly have 5 players completely out of the game in positions they're unlikely to be able to recover from.
Creating overloads doesn't mean having one more player in the opponents half or whatever. It's creating overloads in certain areas where you can exploit opponents with a numerical advantage and quick passing. EtH is somehow managing to create "underloads", always ensuring we somehow have fewer players attacking and fewer players covering than our opponents.
It really really is car crash stuff. I said last season in September he had to go - and I have NEVER before publicly advocated the sacking of ANY Manchester United manager...and it wasn't because of his results and it wasn't because I didn't like him...it was because his football is just...mind-boggling ineffective and stupid
