Sheffield Wednesday boss Xisco Munoz is planning an overhaul of his side’s tactical set up.
After Sheffield Wednesday’s poor start to the new season, Xisco Munoz is already set to go back to the drawing board when it comes to the tactical approach his team are taking into matches.
The Owls’ campaign got off to a difficult start with a 2-1 defeat against Southampton at Hillsborough Stadium. That result has been followed by a 1-1 draw with League Two’s Stockport County in the EFL Cup (Sheffield Wednesday were ultimately able to win on penalties), and a 4-2 loss against Hull City in the Championship.
In all three matches, Munoz set his side out with a back four. However, Sheffield Wednesday have struggled defensively and the Spanish coach seems to think that additional numbers are needed in his rearguard.
Sheffield Wednesday host Preston North End on Saturday, and will be desperate to get their first points on the board in the Championship. Xisco will be working hard with his players on the training ground to implement his new ideas this week, and the Owls may well line up in a new formation against the Lilywhites.
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Munoz has already suggested he will explore the idea of playing with five at the back. As quoted by The Yorkshire Post after the disappointing result against Hull, the manager said, “maybe we need to change the system, because maybe we don’t have a solid situation with a back four and we need to starting working for a back five…we need to be thinking about the situation and how we can improve it.”
Sheffield Wednesday certainly need to add some defensive stability. Switching to a back five formation will allow them to dominate the central areas in their own defensive third, and exploit their extra width going forward as the wing-backs push on.
However, Munoz will have to be wary that his side aren’t blunted in attack by this change, and that they don’t surrender the midfield battle too easily.