Barnsley have recently come under media spotlight after their second contest of the season against Chelsea in the FA Cup. Their first matchup back in September was a 6-0 battering in the League Cup, which included a hattrick by Kai Havertz, but this was under the previous coach Gerhard Struber, and this embarrassment played its part in his eventual dismissal.
Fast-forward five months, former Crystal Palace man Valérien Ismaël is in charge, and at the Oakwell Stadium, Barnsley host Chelsea in the FA Cup, with a renewed sense of optimism heading into the fixture. Chelsea, under the new management of Thomas Tuchel and co, could only edge past the Championship side 1-0 and heading into the second-half at a stalemate, many considered Barnsley to be the better side until that point. This analysis will cover how they went toe-to-toe with the Blues.
In this tactical analysis, we are going to look at the progress that Ismaël has made in his time at the club, a look at his nuanced tactics, where Barnsley as a side excel, and where they could improve.
Barnsley’s fighting spirit
One thing that Ismaël has instilled is a fighting spirit, which can be seen displayed on the pitch in different game states. They are unwavering in their application whether they are winning, drawing, or losing under the French coach, and this is a testament to his man-management. Their ability to withstand opposition pressure as a team is remarkable – especially after going 1-0 up, the team look to drop their line of engagement and protect the lead.
Barnsley PPDA compared to league average.
Since Ismaël has been appointed, Barnsley have won four games from losing positions, winning each game by a 2-1 victory. Two of these victories came away from home, which is slightly less impressive in the Covid era, but impressive, nonetheless. It sounds very Graeme Souness of me to say, but the Tykes have shown real fight and determination to earn these points, and they should be applauded for their efforts.
