Jorge Sampaoli Finally Lands His Dream Job With Argentina

User avatar
RealGM Articles
Lead Assistant
Posts: 4,772
And1: 45
Joined: Mar 20, 2013

Jorge Sampaoli Finally Lands His Dream Job With Argentina 

Post#1 » by RealGM Articles » Fri Jun 23, 2017 11:58 pm

It is a testament to the nature of new Argentine manager Jorge Sampaoli that he can turn two early morning, Messi-less summer friendlies against Brazil and Singapore into must-watch viewing. Tactically, he did not disappoint. His backline constantly morphed between three and four defenders, before finally settling on a consistent 2-3-5 formation against Singapore. He handed debuts to Manuel Lanzini, Leandro Paredes and Papu Gomez in searching for the right pieces to put around Messi. Summer friendlies are played at a languid pace, but in beating Brazil 1-0 and Singapore 6-0, he is unbeaten heading into the next round of World Cup qualifiers.

Sampaoli’s mission statement for his time as national team manager is to expand the talent pool with fresh legs. The importance of young players is inherent in his tactically morphing, pressing style and that refresh is implied in bringing him to the national team. His trademarks were on display in the two friendlies just a month after taking over as manager, although they still remain untested when it matters. Regardless, he is not one who manages through small improvements and iterations. As with anyone who comes from the Marcelo Bielsa school, Sampaoli’s style is a paradigm shift. It’s either all or nothing.

His Chilean side that won the first senior tournament in the country’s soccer history was an example of when players and a system come together at the right moment. Sampaoli had the benefit of developing the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal (26 and 28 years old at the time) - players who combine both art and graft. Consider the ages of the Argentine starting 11 that lost to Chile in last year’s Copa America Centenario: Ever Banega, Nicolas Otamendi, Gabriel Mercado, Lucas Biglia, Javier Mascherano, Gonzalo Higuain, Angel Di Maria, and Messi were all in their late 20s or early 30s. Hence, the importance of incorporating the 22-year-old Paredes with an eye beyond the 2018 World Cup. 

Brazil underwent a similar restructure under Tite, who used his managerial experience and knowledge of the domestic game to expand the pool for his national side. Most notably, he found a place in his lineup for functional players like Paulinho and Renato Augusto from China in lieu of bigger names. Argentina has an overflow of attacking talent, but in building around Messi, Sampaoli must uncover his functional, overlooked players as well - whether box to box midfield destroyers or wingers who sacrifice goals for tracking back in defense. This is welcome for a starting 11 who appeared as a collection of talented individual players as opposed to a team bringing the best out of each other. 

Sergio Aguero is the odd superstar out thus far, replaced by Higuain, Gomez, Correa, and Mauro Icardi. Sampaoli said the striker still has a path into the squad, but the Argentine public sentiment is with the manager as 86% of supporters in a recent newspaper poll agreeing with his decision. This is the second time this year Aguero, who has scored 122 goals in 181 matches with Manchester City, has been dropped from the starting side. While acknowledging that the Argentine striker can score goals, Pep Guardiola replaced Aguero with Gabriel Jesus. He reasoned that an Aguero-less attacking three showed more intensity and cohesiveness. Aguero individual goals are overvalued from the perspective of team first pressing. Aguero may be playing one era too late.

But the biggest area of youthful improvement will be on the defensive end. His sides fluctuate between three and four defenders depending on the match situation, yet fitness and pace are essential for his high line. Gabriel Mercado and Otamendi, both well schooled in defending in this style, are locks in the center and wing even as they approach 30. Sampaoli said Javier Mascherano would play in a similar role under his side as he does at Barcelona. 31-year-old River Plate center back Jonatan Maidana and 30 year old Federico Fazio started against Brazil and Singapore respectively. 21-year-old Lyon center back Emanuel Mammana and 23-year-old right back Jose Luis Gomez each received time in the two friendlies. Sampaoli must uncover more defensive pieces to bridge the age gap of Mammana and Otamendi.        

Those are the stakes underlying the long term plan. Sampaoli’s purpose within the next year is clear and singular: Argentina are currently in fifth place in CONMEBOL World Cup qualifications, placing them in the extra playoff round, with four matches remaining. Their next competitive match isn’t until August, giving the new manager two months to analyze, scout, and cultivate a squad closest to his vision. It took him three years to win a senior title with Chile. At that rate, the 2019 Copa America looks more likely for his impact to translate into something tangible. 

----

In describing the Argentina job as a calling, it is important to note that Sampaoli has never managed in his country’s domestic league. He managed in Peru and Ecuador before making hipster soccer waves at Universidad de Chile and the Chilean national team. Despite his success, he is unknown to a footballing population so focused on the Primera Division. Diego Maradona said Sampaoli is no better than previous manager Edgardo Bauza. 

There was also the manner in which he left Sevilla after just one season. Sampaoli would have never made it to Spain had the Argentine FA bought out his contrast last summer. He leaves Sevilla with the understanding that he may never manage in Europe again. Still, he turned Sevilla into what was at one point the most exciting team in La Liga. They were in second place exactly halfway through the season. Yet whether due to lack of fitness, or rumors of Sampaoli and Monchi leaving, Sevilla only won four of their final 13 matches (losing both Monchi and Sampaoli in the same summer signals an entire rebuild for the club). 

Sevilla still finished fourth through the rumors and the late season dip in form. While Sampaoli’s time in La Liga was brief, it had an outsized impact appropriate for any Bielsa disciple. He introduced what Chilean supporters knew about his style to Spanish audiences. Not only were all the attributes on display - the intensity, the pressing, the passing, the attacking - but it got tangible results. Sampaoli has four matches to introduce himself to his country. If all goes to plan, the next step is the entire world. 

Return to Articles Discussion