Gary Lineker criticises tackling and claims the 'get stuck in' mentality has held English football back

'Brain over brawn might not excite British fans but it's the future'

Evan Bartlett
Tuesday 15 August 2017 12:44 BST
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Gary Lineker did not receive a single yellow card in his whole career
Gary Lineker did not receive a single yellow card in his whole career

Passing, shooting, heading, dribbling and tackling may seem like fundamental skills that everyone who plays football must learn – but there’s a quiet rebellion going on against the last.

The Premier League is celebrating its 25th season this year and one of its most archetypal teams will play on Tuesday night in the Champions League.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool – with their blood and thunder attacking instincts, high intensity running game and carefree attitude to defensive organisation – will take on Julian Nagelsmann’s Hoffenheim.

Ahead of that game, some comments by the younger German have come to light regarding his attitude to tackling.

Unlike many an English football fan, who enjoy seeing their team’s players fly in to tackles, Nagelsmann is not a fan.

“There are too many unknown quantities in tackles,” the 30-year-old coach has said.

“The ball can fall here, fall there, take a bounce, go out for a throw-in or end up at an opposition player’s feet. The referee can give a free-kick to us or to our opponent.

“Nah, I am not too keen on tackles. I much prefer us to win the ball by pressuring the opponent into a mistake, that we cut off his angles so that he makes a mistake when he tries to find a team-mate with a difficult pass.”

It turns out Nagelsmann is not alone in his opinion.

Gary Lineker, former England striker and current face of Match of the Day, agrees.

The 56-year-old was unusual in his generation for heading to the continent and forging a career at Barcelona, and it appears the Catalan club’s attitude to the beautiful game wore off.

“Yes, yes, yes. Thought this forever,” Lineker said on Tuesday in response to Nagelsmann’s comments.

“Tackling generally involves lunging in, ending up on your backside. Football is hard enough to play on your feet, let alone on your arse.”

Lineker, who famously did not receive a yellow card in his entire career – although did spend one of his most infamous moments on the pitch “on his arse”, added that the aggressive attitude to football in England has “held the game back”.

“The 'get stuck in' mentality has held the game back in this country. Brain over brawn might not excite British fans but it's the future.”

Lineker then highlighted a quote from Paolo Maldini, one of the finest defenders of his generation, which backed up his claim.

"If I have to make a tackle then I have already made a mistake," Maldini, the former Italy captain and five-time Champions League winner, said.

Liverpool will take on Nagelsmann's non-tackling Hoffenheim on Tuesday night. Here's everything you need to know about the Bundesliga outfit.

And here's a glorious video of Maldini making dozens of "mistakes".

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