DEFENSIVE SECURITY A KEY FACTOR

Molina has not only not been beaten in the Liga for four matches in a

row as the blank sheet against Juventus was number seven (!) in a row

in European home matches. Recap the results of last year against Basel

(1-0), Manchester United (2-0) en of this season against Rosenborg (1-0),

PSV Eindhoven (2-0), AS Monaco (1-0), AEK Athens (3-0) and Juventus (1-0)

to conclude that Riazor is a fortress in Europe. Seven victories in a row

without leaking a single goal. Which club can repeat that?


It may look like Deportivo play like an Italian club, waiting on the

defence and striking when the opportunity is there. But it's just the

opposite as the continues attacks of the Galician team make it that the

opposing team aren't able to create much danger themselves. In fact,

especially the last weeks criticism goes towards the upfront players of

Deportivo as they waste a lot of chances the team creates.


But back to the defense as it's amazing to see how well the team really

functions as a team. For example, the work is divided as last night a

midfielder like Mauro Silva stole nine balls while Sergio and Lionel

Scaloni provided constant hard work to prevent Juventus from reaching

Molina. Add to this that Naybet also stole nine balls while Jorge Andrade

recovered seven.


The lessons of matches against AS Monaco (8-3) and PSV Eindhoven (3-2)

shouldn't been forgotten though as Deportivo, like any other team, remain

vulnerable. But the defensive security displayed this season, as the team

has the best of the Spanish Primera Division, indicates that there's

sufficient balance in the team.


This might come out of the fact that there hasn't been an injury crisis

like Deportivo suffered in previous years while the team also isn't

completely depended anymore on the lethal strikes of Roy Makaay. Every

match another player takes the leading part, whether it's Molina, Jorge

Andrade, Luque, Valeron or Victor Sanchez. It's the fruit of the balance

that goes around in the team.