Chris Fry

This is a good example of how physical data can be often misused in football. This post has 1.1m views and tentatively insinuates that because Manchester United don’t sprint much out of possession, that’s a bad thing. Under Michael Carrick, United generally defend in a mid-block. They will naturally accumulate less OOP sprint distance than a Bournemouth side whose defensive model involves pressing much more aggressively. Look at the bottom-left quadrant. Many of those teams use structures designed to control space rather than constantly press at high intensity. It’s about running at the right moments. Physical output is generally a consequence of how you play. Or at least, how you want to play. Additionally, after the longest World Cup in history, it's another long season ahead for clubs and players in European competitions, and who go deep in domestic cups. Managing the season physically will be key.