Pablo Franco highlights shared traits between Sundowns & Barcelona
Former AmaZulu FC coach Pablo Franco Martin has highlighted similar traits between Mamelodi Sundowns and Spanish giants FC Barcelona.
Martin spent last season and the early part of this campaign in the PSL before being relieved of his duties at Usuthu.
After an inconsistent start to the 2024/25 Betway Premiership, with AmaZulu losing their opening three matches, Martin was replaced by co-coaches Arthur Zwane and Vusumuzi Vilakazi.
Martin says that during his time in South Africa, particularly last season, Masandawana displayed a playing style reminiscent of Barcelona or Spanish football.
He states that he observed the Brazilians controlling the majority of matches through ball possession and generating and exploiting overloads, the type of football that needs immense quality in the squad.
MARTIN – ‘SUNDOWNS WERE THE CLOSEST TO FC BARCELONA’
“You can say without a doubt that Sundowns last season were the closest team to Barcelona or that Spanish style,” Martin told FARPost.
“It is true that you need their quality to do that properly but some other teams in the league had that quality as well and played much more vertical and based on physicality and a transitional style.
“Controlling the game is the most difficult thing and Sundowns and us tried to do it, attracting opponents to create spaces and find overloads to get advantages.
“In some moments of last season, they mastered it and they played the best football in the continent.”
Following the exit of Rulani Mokwena, the Tshwane giants experienced an inconsistent start to the season under the guidance of Manqoba Mngqithi, who has since been shown the exit door.
The Portuguese coach Miguel Cardoso recently took over and began his tenure with a 1-0 win over Raja Casablanca in the CAF Champions League group stage clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
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