Jeg har lige kigget lidt og fundet følgende omkring Rafas taktiske overvejelser:
Benitez told the Chronicle: “If we want our striker - it doesn’t matter what his name is - scoring lots of goals, we have to control our games.
“I am sure they will all, Dwight, Mitro or Joselu, score goals - especially if we made 30 crosses per game.
“But we don’t have that type of team.
“We are in the Premier League but have to realise our level.
“A lot of games we don’t have the possession or control and we have to play counter-attack.”
Benitez then suggested that such a system points to pacy striker Gayle.
He added: “When we aren’t in the final third and the striker isn’t the quickest we then have to defend well and be strong to regain the ball.
“We can play counter-attack but can’t expect certain things from certain players.
“If we don’t have the pace in the team we can’t be in there.
“When we talk about Mitro or Joselu they are different to Dwight.
“Dwight has pace and the others are big and win balls in the air.
“It makes a big difference.
“If you play deep it’s more difficult for them because they are too far away.
“If we play high it is easier for them (Joselu and Mitrovic) but more difficult for Dwight Gayle.
“It’s a question of space, and a lot of fans will realise this.”
https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rafa-benitez-offers-depth-explanation-13984104Jeg har ikke kunnet finde noget ift. træningsindsatsen, men synes nu jeg har læst det et sted. Til gengæld skrev The Chronicle at ét af Rafas problemer med Mitro er "at han ikke stoler på at Mitro følger de instruktioner, han bliver givet". Og Rafa værdsætter jo kontrol, virker det til.
Men jeg håber da at ovenstående taktiske overvejelser fra Rafa viser, at det handler om mere end at "han blot ikke kan lide ham". I min verden kunne Mitro godt have spillet lidt mere i stedet for Joselu, men jeg tvivler egentligt ikke på at Rafa har haft professionelle grunde til at fravælge ham (feks at han ikke kunne stole på ham).