All that is fine but how does Mascherano and Toure deal with Ozil, Vieira and Seedorf at the same time. Vieira and Seedorf are better than Toure at Toure's job.
If your team leaves Vieira one of the best midfielders to dictate play I don't think that front four despite all their brilliance will get a chance.
It's similiar to how we beat City in CL quarterfinals, whose front-four were all brilliant but at Anfield their midfield couldn't stand upto to our workrate.
Also having that midfield behind Ozil, allows Ozil to play a free-role. If Masch gets dragged towards him that is going to make Toure woefully understaffed against the rest.
As for Masch dropping down in defence and defending, in Barca's team with over 60% possesion it might work but against my team where possesion will be in short supply it will be very hard for him to go up against Torres.
As for Gattuso and Mjhajlovic, discounting Hansen is just silly. There is no way all your attacks can just be focused on these two while having one of the best CBs of all time right beside them. It's like teams planning to attack Matip while forgetting VVD patrols beside him.
Also, I have my doubts how well your team will mesh up in attack with Zlatan as the focal point. He is very individualistic who will not put in a shift like a Firmino, your team depends on Ronaldinho to a great extent to provide creativity but he will be coming up against Vieira on his side.
When you're attacking Zico drops in, as with most midfields, to cover off your more attacking midfielders making it Mascherano, Toure and Zico tracking and closing Ozil, Vieira and Seedorf. Gattuso is left to try and shift the ball into them or left and right with Salah and Ronaldinho covering off the angles.
Most of our buildup play would be down the wings, due to your narrow formation, triangles between Marcelo, Ronaldinho and Yaya Toure from defence and Marcelo, Ronaldinho and Zico when further forward, or on the right side, Suurbier, Zico and Salah. Similar to how we use Robertson and Trent to transition the ball forward against City.
As for workrate, you'd struggle to find three hardworking players, in key areas, than Marcelo, Suurbier and Mascherano.
As I mentioned I don't see you dominating possession, Mascherano and Toure were excellent in midfields for possession based sides for the majority of their career. And Mascherano would only be dropping in when we push, allowing us to further spread the pitch creating space in your midfield diamond.
I'm not discounting Hansen. Just showing where we are going to target out attack. We'd be silly to go down Hansen's side, as nobody targets VVD. Hansen would be reduced to sweeping and clearing up for Mjhajlovic, who'd struggle to cope with Zico and Salah, bouncing balls off Ibrahimovic as a strong and skillful, target man, when needs be or using those wide triangles.
Ibrahimovic is excellent at holding the ball up and laying the ball up. There are few stronger strikers. He is a huge threat if he gets to turn and face, so your centre backs will be looking to ensure he stays back to goal, in which case he can feed the ball into the on running Ronaldinho, Salah and Zico, not to mention Yaya who is a long range threat himself.
I have to admit your midfield is strong, but my team is very strong in the wide areas which is perfect for exploiting your side.
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