Veteran European football manager Jose Mourinho is ready to implement a bold new goalkeeping technique in his next foray as football manager.
The Portuguese reiterated this while making a bold prediction on how football may soon change in the near future.
In what he described as the next “genius” shifts, the former Roma boss revealed a trend-setting change in the art and science of goalkeeping has definitely come to stay and is not going away.
Speaking with The Telegraph, the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League winner went spot on with changing goalkeeper roles in football.
According to him, football is gradually evolving to accommodate goalkeepers who step out of the traditional role of shot-stopping to play an active part in the game.
Some goalkeepers in Europe’s top leagues such as Bayern Munich’s Manuel Neuer, Manchester City’s Ederson, and Manchester United’s Andre Onana are said to be at the forefront of the emerging new normal in goalkeeping.
The three aforementioned goalies are known for their active involvement in the game, taking their game outside the goalkeeper’s box, helping build and trigger press from the back, setting in motion counterattacks, and maintaining a high-line when pressing opponents who settle for a low block.
The likes of Andre Onana have consistently shown such a pattern of play with United manager Erik ten Hag giving a nod to the new goalkeeping style.
Moreso, it is believed the revolutionary goalkeeping tactic – increased involvement in the general play – is what necessitated Ten Hag’s decision to part ways with David De Gea and go for Andre Onana.
With top European managers integrating the ultra-styled and flamboyant goalkeeping system into their tactical plans, Jose Mourinho believes it’s just a matter of time before we have an 11th outfield player who will not be stuck in the goalpost but joins the general play while observing extant goalkeeping rules.
“Why do you play with a goalkeeper, even if he is good with his feet, almost in the midfield, if you can do that with a proper player? I can see that substitution happening.
“And the coach who does it will be considered a genius,” Jose Mourinho said to The Telegraph.
“To have an extra player there … when the opposition is very low in the block and 10 minutes left? Let’s try it – yeah!” he added.
