Defending comes with a cost!
The elimination of Sunderland in the FA Cup Round of 16 shows only one thing. The team is not capable of imposing its rhythm when it needs to win, while in the Premier League, they are constantly able to defend.
There is such a great difference between attacking and not risking anything and constantly defending. That difference cost them today. It is not the same when you are the favourite and when you are a complete outsider in the approach.
Sunderland started the season brilliantly and were impressive, but for months, they have not played a truly respectable match.
A team that once showed great potential was a big favourite against Port Vale in the FA Cup, yet they failed to impose their game and lost 0–1. Port Vale advanced while Sunderland failed to establish itself as the favourite.
It is easy to play and defend against big teams. It is easy to sit deep and defend in all lines, but when it is necessary to impose your own style, Sunderland had no chance, and Port Vale went through.
Long-term defensive football leaves consequences, and today, Sunderland were completely outplayed by a team that plays in League One and sits at the bottom of the table.
Many teams relaxed after the holiday period and fell into a kind of lethargy in which they only focus on matches they believe they can win, while they treat Premier League games they expect to lose as unimportant.
This kind of approach has taken Sunderland from being the favourites to a team unable to impose itself, and in this match, they were bad offensively without an idea of attaching side and were weak in the game of football.
The same approach led to Fulham being eliminated by Southampton, who advanced.
The same approach led to Fulham being eliminated by Southampton, who advanced. Fulham are also in the group of teams that only truly compete in Premier League matches when it is necessary and when they are the favourites.
As a result, Fulham’s players were eliminated in the Round of 16 by a team that was relegated to the Championship last season.
Many people who call themselves experts speak about a “European Fulham,” but this team is so far from that level that they were eliminated in 90 minutes by Southampton, who were clearly the better side. Fulham is not capable of playing European football for many reasons, mostly because they are defending at any time possible, avoiding imposing their style, as was the case today against Southampton.
These clubs need to understand the difference between constantly defending for 90 minutes and imposing their own style of play in every match, something that teams like Chelsea and Manchester City do week after week.
These two teams are the favourites every week, they face pressure every week, and they face opponents who defend for 90 minutes. Chelsea and Manchester City impose themselves week after week and remain favourites because of their approach to matches.
They are top teams because of this!
They control the games with possession and impose their play style.
Fulham and Sunderland don’t!
Because they are defending weak after weak! When they have to attack, they are weak and are disappointing fans in England.
Sunderland and Fulham choose to defend, and they saw the limits of their quality in matches where they were forced to take possession and control the game. If Le Bris had played more offensively, he would not have ended up in this situation. The same applies to Marco Silva, who is often very arrogant in his statements and, in reality, is not a coach who deserves great attention or trust.
Fulham and Sunderland were eliminated in the FA Cup Round of 16 by Southampton and Port Vale.
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