Pressure does strange things to football managers.
Some thrive and relish the scrutiny while others shrink and hide behind weak excuses.
Some throw caution to the wind while others tighten up to the point where it looks as though they’ll strangle themselves.
The race for fourth and UEFA Champions League qualification has allowed us to witness exactly how Harry Redknapp, Martin O’Neill, Roberto Mancini and Rafael Benitez have handled situations which would send most mortals straight to a nice, cozy, padded room accompanied by a friendly soul in a white coat.
Not Redknapp though, as he stared pressure in the face and laughed it off, like one of his classic one-liners. When you consider that Spurs hadn’t won at Old Trafford since 1989, the crafty cockney was exceptionally brave because many minds would’ve gladly taken a point off Manchester United. Surely it was time for a defensive stance?
Instead, Redknapp, looked to the likes of David Bentley, risked Aaron Lennon and threw on Peter Crouch soon after Spurs equalized. I wouldn’t have questioned him for a second if he’d sent on the more defensive-minded Younes Kaboul or Sebastien Bassong and parked the bus.
Yes, Spurs lost. But you had to admire the courage of Redknapp as he sensed that his team was on top and instead of settling for one point, he wanted all three.
The message that sends is invaluable as it tells his players and supporters that he believes in them.
Left for Spurs: It’s in their hands, win all and they’re in the Champions League: Bolton (h), Man City (a), Burnley (a)
After getting hammered and humiliated, 7-1 by Chelsea a month ago, no one would have blamed Martin O’Neill for heading to the North Pole. Instead the Northern Irishman has stuck around Villa Park and shown the league that he is made of sterner stuff.
In all honesty, you wouldn’t expect anything else from someone who was raised in the aura of Brian Clough, the master at handling pressure in his Derby and early Forest days. When the critics demanded O’Neill freshen up and rotate his squad, he held firm, and now he’s being rewarded.
By taking the criticism, he placed the burden of carrying the club on himself and allowed his players to concentrate on getting back to playing their best football. The disappointment of two losing trips to Wembley has been replaced with the knowledge that Villa, have perhaps the inside track to Champions League qualification.
Left for Villa: They need to win both matches and ask for some help: Man City (a), Blackburn (h)
Roberto Mancini on the other hand must be wondering why that blue and white scarf he so fashionably wears is getting tighter and tighter around his throat.
It’s as though the loss last week to Manchester United has stripped him of any backbone because Arsenal were there for the taking at the Emirates after seeing their own title hopes disappear at the DW Stadium last week.
In an overly cautious display he picks Nigel de Jong, Patrick Vieira and Vincent Kompany who have combined for 4 goals in 51 appearances. If anything he is adding to the demands on the players and the club. I’m really disappointed in the Italian.
The need for fourth and Champions League football is immense at City but it seems to be paralyzing the attacking ambition of his team which, when you look at the squad, is a crying shame. The trouble for Mancini is that he knows that if they don’t make it to the riches of Europe, he’s gone. However, he also knows that he has it in his hands to kill off his rivals.
They say that Italian football is a pressure cooker but I think we’re finding out that the crushing stress is right here in the Premiership.
Left for City: Just like Spurs, it’s in their hands, win all three and they’re in: Villa (h), Spurs (h), West Ham (a)
When Rafael Benitez guaranteed fourth place for Liverpool he placed a weight of expectations on his club that they’ve never really recovered from. For sure, they’re still sniffing around and hoping for a miracle but when you consider that the 4-0 win at Turf Moor was their first away win in 2010 in the Premier League it boggles the mind.
The pressure that has been heaped upon Benitez has been due to his own making. His stubbornness has become a millstone around his neck and he’s displayed the same blindness to reality that Mancini has shown.
Consider this for a moment: Javier Mascherano and Lucas have between them had 59 Premier League starts this season and returned zero, zilch, nil goals. Alberto Aquilani the $20 million forgotten man has one goal and four assists in seven starts!
Left for Liverpool: They need help but somehow the club thrives in adversity: Chelsea (h), Hull (a)
As Redknapp and O’Neill have shown, this is the time of the season to release your team. Let them play with freedom, let them be unafraid to make mistakes because without the ability to express themselves, they’ll never make the big plays that they’ll need to fulfill the work of a season.
Football at this level will always be about pressure. It’s now about your ability to handle it and turn it on to your opponents. If you don’t believe me just ask Sir Alex Ferguson.
Until then, I’ll see you at the far post.
