HT 0-0

I read recently that City likes to be pressed.(?) I didn't think so and thought, in fact, that is how to defeat tiki-taka. I have only read that once and I still think pressing them high is the way to beat them. But. Five straight minutes possession does not happen without Lester's cooperation. Lester was deliberately not trying to gain possession. Deliberately not pressing. Maybe they think too that City likes being pressed and aren't going to fall for it. But. However. Have you ever boxed? When my son was real young we used to put on the gloves and I'd get on my knees and just cover up rope-a-dope style and let him wale away. I'd thought it'd be easy. I NEVER lasted even a full 3' round. I couldn't believe it. Did he hurt me? A six year old? When I'm in a crouch and have padded gloves against my face? Of course not. What got me, and it got me every time, was the physical tension of remaining in that defensive position. It was exhausting (I know that sounds hard to believe, but it really was.). So my point here is that Lester has to feel some of that exhausting physical tension if they remain in a defensive shell. It's not parking the bus. As I understand what Lester did for those five minutes it was an elastic shell, a pas de deux, not letting City get close enough to goal to get off a shot, advancing a bit, then retreating, repeat. Not pressing either. Dancing. Dancing with City.