Welcome to The Debrief, a column on Sky Sports where Adam Bate combines data and insights to analyze key narratives from recent Premier League fixtures. In this edition:
- Xhaka’s pivotal influence at Sunderland
- O’Reilly’s significance for Man City
- Amorim’s rigidity under scrutiny
Xhaka: The Signing of the Season
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Before the season commenced, Granit Xhaka’s transfer to Sunderland appeared to be the potential signing of the summer. Many regarded the midfielder as fit for a Champions League-caliber team, and perhaps next season that team will indeed be Sunderland.
Sunderland’s win over Nottingham Forest on Saturday boosted the Black Cats to 11 points from their opening six matches, marking the best performance by a newly-promoted side in over a decade. This also represents Sunderland’s strongest points total at this juncture in a top-flight season since 1967.
Xhaka was named man of the match for assisting the only goal of the game and has been instrumental lately, providing assists for Sunderland’s last three goals. Only Jack Grealish from Everton boasts more assists in the Premier League this season.
Xhaka’s developing partnership with Noah Sadiki has been a key strength for Regis Le Bris’ squad, with the young talent covering significant ground—logging an impressive 11.67 kilometers against Forest.
This allowed Xhaka to concentrate on maintaining control and leveraging his vast experience to guide the game. Although much of the early-season attention has centered on Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson, it was Xhaka who truly shone as the standout midfielder during the clash at the City Ground.
His performance places him among the top 20 players in the Premier League for several metrics—touches, interceptions, clearances, duels won, possessions regained in the midfield, completed passes in the final third, long passes, chipped passes, and key chances created.
Xhaka’s contributions have been pivotal for Sunderland’s impressive start to the season.
While Sadiki helps alleviate some of Xhaka’s workload—especially at 33 years old—the impact he has on his younger teammates is significant. Le Bris noted, “His leadership drastically elevates the team’s performance. He has a natural aptitude for orchestrating play and demonstrating situational awareness. I believe he has a future in coaching; he is vital for our young squad.”
This is evident already. Historically, Sunderland’s objective has been survival in the Premier League, but the early indicators suggest this team can aim for loftier ambitions. Given Xhaka’s crucial part in revitalizing that possibility, he certainly deserves the title of signing of the season thus far.
O’Reilly: The Heart of Man City
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The emergence of Nico O’Reilly in Manchester City’s starting line-up transformed the trajectory of their season last year. Pep Guardiola acknowledged the young player’s contribution in that shift and might be surprised to witness the same influence this season.
Following two consecutive Premier League defeats in August, Guardiola opted to switch out the injured Rayan Ait-Nouri, bringing Nathan Ake into the lineup during their match against Tottenham. Since O’Reilly’s return for the Derby, City has shown marked improvement.
If not for Gabriel Martinelli’s late equalizer at Arsenal, City would boast five victories from five in all competitions; similarly, the upswing since O’Reilly’s inclusion echoes last year’s patterns when City won 83% of matches with him and only 50% without him.
“Since Nico started playing, we’ve lost just one game— the FA Cup final against Palace,” Guardiola remarked. “Before, we were on a losing streak. His presence has benefitted us immensely, enhancing both our aggressiveness and overall performance.”
During City’s 5-1 victory over Burnley, O’Reilly, who stands at 6ft 4in, showcased his strength and contributed with four tackles—totaling more than the rest of his teammates combined. The 20-year-old not only defended well but also advanced dangerously, registering five touches in the opponent’s penalty area—only outdone by Erling Haaland and the wingers, Jeremy Doku and Savinho.
Nico O’Reilly’s contributions included five touches in the opposition box during City’s win over Burnley.
Initially recognized as an attacking midfielder within youth setups, O’Reilly is transitioning into a holding role but has cemented his place in the team as a left-back and recently secured a new contract. “I’m thrilled,” Guardiola said, “as Nico is demonstrating significant growth.”
O’Reilly’s emergence has also involved beneficial adjustments, such as moving Josko Gvardiol infield to partner Ruben Dias. The duo has only conceded six goals across 12 matches since April. However, credit must go to O’Reilly for facilitating this transition.
Amorim’s Inflexibility Under Fire
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As Vitor Pereira conducted his press conference before his side’s trip to Tottenham, thoughts inevitably turned to Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United, particularly regarding structuring changes, such as a shift from a back three to a four.
“I’m not here just to satisfy my own preferences, but to support my players and elevate the team’s overall performance,” Pereira stated, having recently employed a back four in their Carabao Cup victory over Everton.
“I am not bound to rigid tactical concepts; I actively seek analysis and discussions to make adjustments if necessary. If I remain stagnant with the same strategies despite struggles, I wouldn’t consider myself a coach.”
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Pereira implemented a back four for the first time in his Premier League managerial career against Tottenham, which likely surprised Thomas Frank. He certainly didn’t expect Pereira to revert back to a five at half-time when the score was level.
“They switched to a 5-3-2,” Frank noted post-match. “This adjustment made our job harder. While we knew they could adapt, the challenge lay in relaying that information quickly to our players.” This tactical surprise nearly led to an unexpected Wolves triumph over Spurs.
While it may seem unorthodox to draw tactical lessons from a bottom-table team, one must ponder whether Amorim’s reluctance to adjust is hindering his players while making it easier for their opponents.
Ruben Amorim’s tactical formations at Sporting and their impact.
In the Premier League, teams continuously probe weaknesses, and managers emphasize the necessity of constant evolution to maintain a competitive edge. The style of play has visibly shifted this season, requiring even the top teams to adapt their tactics.
However, this adaptability seems lacking in United. Brentford’s Keith Andrews was well aware of United’s strategy, and Amorim’s unyielding tactics may be restricting his squad while facilitating adaptation for their rivals.