Two doubts about Douglas Costa playmaker

With the return of Douglas Costa, what happened to the playmaker? None for the moment. Against the Genoa, around the eightieth minute of the game, the Brazilian star was finally seen again. But he took the place of Bernardeschi behind the points, in a position that aroused some astonishment. Here is Sarri on the subject at the end of the game: “We, due to the characteristics of Dybala and Ronaldo, are perhaps more suited to playing with one-two than with the three in front, a form that penalizes both Dybala and Cristiano. Let's take a look at the individual form moments, because then that's what will determine the form. Douglas has experience as a trequartista, especially at Shakhtar, but he returned two days ago and there was no way to prove it ". Interesting this veiled and obsequious rejection of 4-3-3, and therefore of Ronaldo in 4-3-3. Did you realize what was happening? This fact, however, does not remain without consequences: the first to adapt will have to be Douglas Costa. But will he manage to affect this new position in the same way?

WILL WORK? – In the image below we see a classic exchange between Dybala and the playmaker. There could be Bernardeschi, Bentancur or Ramsey in place of Douglas Costa, that the function would remain the same. One goes to dribble the other attacks the line of the opponents. This use of the Brazilian could then route Ramsey definitively or almost to the role of right wing, where so far little has been employed by Sarri. And where Khedira seems to have lost the lead of the first championship.

In the same action but later, we see the Welshman crossing the central axis of the field and downloading on Alex Sandro. Now Douglas Costa is the farthest player from the ball, in a Half-Space he could have reached even from the right wing. When the coordinated movements work, the right position to hurt the opponents is always covered (and beyond the starting module).

Dybala receives from Alex Sandro, turns, leans behind Bentancur and here is Douglas Costa practically alone, on the edge of the area. Ready to make a difference from there, in a central patch of the field. In contemporary football, labels and roles jump at some point.

In a moment the Brazilian jumps Agudelo with his proverbial speed.

And he shoots in the goal, aiming for the far cross. Upright touched.

TWO DOUBTS – In the few minutes in which Douglas Costa played as a midfielder on Wednesday night, we had time to see a good restart by the bianconeri. There came the first doubt.
Look at how the 4-3-1-2 tends to overshadow Flash in counter-attacks. Paradoxically, this centrality marginalizes it, distances it from its old function of "splitting". It becomes more complex to serve it, less easy and immediate. What would have happened here if Douglas Costa and not Dybala had received the ball along the right wing? Because it is clear that with 4-3-1-2 it is always one of the two attackers that tends to open up ..

The other doubt obviously concerns the defensive phase. Like Dybala behind Higuain and CR7, Douglas Costa also does not shine for application and spirit of sacrifice. Mica is a Bentancur, a Bernardeschi. Certainly it is jerky and is good for high backlash when you remember. Below, however, I bring back a slipped descent from one of his distractions. In such a short time available, yes, it happened. He received Agudelo, who then tried to run away towards the middle of the pitch. Pressing jumped due to the Brazilian.

And Juve now in midfield is open, too open. Agudelo reads the most dangerous passage, the one for Gumus and executes it, despite Douglas Costa having almost regained his speed. The ball is raised a little too much at Agudelo: the action fades and nobody notices.