Manuel Pellegrini, the coach of Betis Sevilla, who beat Olympique Lyonnais in the Europa League this week, is one of the technicians who dream of a revolution to make football more attractive on a global scale. A key measure seems to be particularly close to his heart, as he explained after the match against OL.
The Chilean coach suggested taking inspiration from basketball and no longer allowing the return to the zone: in other words, once crossed the halfway line, the teams could no longer return to their half of the field.
Pellegrini explains: “There are rules that could be changed to improve football, such as not allowing the ball to return to one’s own half once it has crossed midfield, like in basketball. » And added: “In fact, they are already analyzing this possibility… I think it would make the game more dynamic and entertaining, the teams would have to stay closer to the opponent’s goal. »
The idea is bold and radical. By banning backtracking, matches would likely be much quicker and more offensive, with less downtime and careful construction. Defenders should adapt to constant transitions, while midfielders should find new solutions to recover and retain the ball.
Of course, this proposal risks provoking strong reactions, to say the least, among possession game purists, like Pep Guardiola and all those who appreciate control and patience. But Pellegrini has the merit of offering an innovative vision, capable of breaking the lethargy of many matches that are too cautious and predictable.
Football, like any sport, evolves with its rules and experiments. If this idea were ever to be tested in competition, it could well redefine the way the game is played and watched, bringing the action and spectacle closer for spectators, while presenting coaches with new tactical challenges.
Manuel Pellegrini is not the first to make radical proposals regarding the fundamentals of the game. We remember that Jacques-Henri Eyraud, the former president of Olympique de Marseille, wanted goals scored from outside the area to count double. Marco Van Bastien put forward the idea of ​​abolishing the offside rule. For Gary Neville, it is the draws in the league which should disappear.
