How John Stones Position Reveals Key Tactical Difference Between Man City & Inter Milan Ahead Of UCL Final | OneFootball

The positioning of versatile defender John Stones looks to highlight a key difference tactical between Man City and Inter Milan.

This is the view in today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Corriere della Sera, via FCInterNews, who note that the Cityzens win the ball back on average 9.6 metres higher up the pitch than the Nerazzurri in the Champions League this season.

It is no secret that Manchester City employ an aggressive press high up the pitch as part of their strategy.

In fact, pressing is just as important as passing the ball to how the Cityzens’ can dominate matches. Arguably even more so.

Reflecting this, City have on average won the ball back highest up the pitch out of any team in the Champions League this season.

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Pep Guardiola’s men have on average won the ball back 47.8 metres from their own goal. It is from this high position that they look to launch very quick attacks while the opposition struggle to recover defensively.

The shorter distance needed to travel towards goal is key in this regard.

John Stones Positioning Key To Man City

As the Corriere della Sera notes, this season versatile defender John Stones has become a key cog in a slightly new-look City setup.

City coach Guardiola may always have the same basic aim for his teams – control the match high up the pitch. However, the coach often changes things around in terms of the means to that end.

This season, it has meant an unusual tactical tweak involving defender Stones.

The 28-year-old has traditionally always played as a central defender.

However, this season Stones has often played in defensive midfield.

Stones has a variable position, which allows him to play anywhere from in defense, to in holding midfield, to even joining the attack, based on what the situation calls for.

This has been key to allowing City to sustain high pressure up the pitch.

Inter Win The Ball Up Deeper On The Pitch Than Man City

On the one hand, Inter are also a fairly fluid possession-based side just as City are.

Defenders like Alessandro Bastonil, Francesco Acerbi, and Matteo Darmian can be given license to push up and join the attack.

However, on the whole the Nerazzurri play a much less aggressive press than City do. The Corriere della Sera notes that the Nerazzurri in fact win the ball back closer to their own goal than any other team in the Champions League knockout rounds this season.

Inter win the ball back an average of 38.4 metres from their own goal – almost ten metres closer than City.

This gives Inter more distance to make up to reach the opposition goal.

In the Nerazzurri’s case, this typically means a lot of very quick vertical passes to gain territory from a deeper starting position.

It has been a strategy that’s served Inter well throughout the knockout stages. However, it will be put to the ultimate test by City in tomorrow’s final.

Key to the entire tactical battle could be how defender Stones copes with the Nerazzurri’s quick forward passing.