Alan Brazil was discussing England’s performances at Euro 2024 ahead of their upcoming quarter-final clash against Switzerland.
The Three Lions have a chance to make a statement by beating one of the best teams in the tournament in the quarter-finals of the European Championship on Saturday.
But more importantly, a convincing display would ease a lot of their supporters’ concern. A question raised by many has been why Gareth Southgate does not try to replicate managers like Pep Guardiola and Mikel Arteta to a certain degree — to highlight the strengths of several of his players who play under the Spanish pair.
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Alan Brazil makes interesting Pep Guardiola claim ahead of England vs Switzerland
If there is a team in the world football that this England side certainly does not resemble on the pitch, it is Manchester City.
City are associated with dominating possession for large spells of the game, sustaining pressure, pressing intensely and in an organised fashion, creating chances aplenty and limiting the opposition to a few chances.
A similar claim can be made about Arsenal — who starting players such as Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice play under.
On talkSPORT, Alan Brazil reckons Pep Guardiola would be exasperated watching this England side.
Brazil said: “I think there’s lack of urgency, they don’t move the ball quick enough and when the opposition get it, Piers [Morgan], they retreat. You imagine Pep [Guardiola] watching that. Pep would be going crazy.”
“Guardiola would be saying, ‘Get the ball back as soon as you can! Press them! Press them! Urgency!’ And England don’t do that.”
Hard to disagree with what has been said regarding Pep Guardiola
As Alan Brazil stated, Pep Guardiola would perhaps be frustrated by the lack of intensity when pressing sides from England.
The Three Lions’ press seems disjointed — with players often chasing the opposition individually rather than collectively and also in spells.
Furthermore, Guardiola would perhaps be baffled by England’s struggles in retaining possession.
Especially considering the likes of Phil Foden and John Stones, who are known for being excellent technicians are starters in the team.
Lastly, the £378,846-a-week man would perhaps question Gareth Southgate’s player profiling — considering his use of Foden as a left-winger despite England’s lack of runners, Jude Bellingham, who is at his best in a box-to-box midfield role playing as a number 10 and Saka’s temporary shifts to left-back and right wing-back against Slovenia.