John C. Olsen

Are you watching closely?

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

On another, somewhat-related note, I’m absolutely delighted that Gregg Berhalter is now managing my local (Chicago Fire).

He should never have been removed from the USMNT post, and that decision will go down as one of the worst in this United States’ footballing history.

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

Coming back to say this:

Poch Out.

I would give an explanation, but the Euro-snob USMNT fanbase (that doesn’t understand the sport) doesn’t deserve it.

When this crashes and burns in 2026, derailing the country’s ascension as a football power, just remember: I told you so.

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

Leipzig is a great fit for Loïs Openda, although I’m not sure he’s worth €43m.

Openda’s biggest strengths are his burst and top-end speed, and his box movement is decent enough, but he does struggle in other areas, namely ball-striking and just general technical ability.

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

Absolutely embarrassing from Chelsea.

Spending however much they have to still look worse than a Liverpool tram without Salah, Núñez, Jones, Szoboszlai, Trent and Alisson (and others) is inexcusable, no matter the occasion.

I really just do not know where they go from here.

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

Great win.

Tailed off a bit at the end, but those first 30 minutes were something special.

Jorginho and Declan Rice the standouts in what was collectively a fantastic display.

PL is still very possible if performances like this become the standard.

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

This is complete domination.

Jorginho’s temporizing and breaking lines with ease.

The back four and Rice are winning every duel and picking up every second ball.

On track for one of the best performances I’ve ever seen from this team.

Simply no answer for Newcastle.

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

Porto’s Otávio (LCB, 21 y/o) caught my eye.

In his CL debut, he showed remarkable courage in build-up vs. a fierce press.

Otávio opens his body up well (wide angle access), has good hip fluidity and passes the ball deftly with his left.

One to monitor.

https://t.co/5DHFV3I8ep

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

Additionally, we manipulated Galeno’s (LW) positioning with White’s movement.

Inversions forced him to narrow, opening access to Ødegaard shuttling wide, and White going high and wide pushed him back, creating a gap for Ødegaard to receive deeper.

https://t.co/QWYjMiy7R0

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

Just wanted to emphasize this point — we were able to open up spaces in the Porto block in the latter stages of the game.

As fatigue set in, jumps got slower/less intense, and usage of wall-passes from CF as +1 while Rice joined first line exploited it.

https://t.co/Ib5BhLirfm

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

The fact I could compile a 140-second video (with some parts sped up) of just lapses we made illustrates how sloppy our play was yesterday.

Yes, Porto’s 4-5-1/4-3-3 midblock stymied out settled attack in the first 30 minutes, but that didn’t last as the match went on.

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

Here’s another instance of this idea.

Evanilson (CF) is slow to close down White while González (L8) gets caught in “no man’s land,” opening a lane for a Trossard arrival and wall pass to Ødegaard, who can quickly find Saka in a 1v1.

https://t.co/KBtL9oRTMV

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

@joeladejola Fiorentina if nothing has changed since Amrabat left.

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

Alan Varela was the most impressive player on the pitch yesterday.

A true No. 6 in every phase of play.

His ground coverage, angle understanding, technical empathy and disguise of actions, all amazing.

Shouldn’t still be at Porto after this summer.

https://t.co/cRFx4GEE9r

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

Especially in the second half, both as Porto began to tire and we began to find solutions — more switches of play + “long” balls, CF/interior arrivals behind midfield jumps — there were opportunities available.

Instead, we were wasteful and error-prone.

Home leg must be better.

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

The key to success in the Champions League knockout rounds is minimizing errors.

Yesterday, we absolutely did not do that — not recovering second balls, simple technical mistakes, bad decisions, etc. — and were ultimately punished for it at the end.

https://t.co/eB28IM5H8O

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

The fact I could compile a 140-second video (with some parts sped up) of just lapses we made illustrates how sloppy our play was yesterday.

Yes, Porto’s 4-5-1/4-3-3 midblock stymied out settled attack in the first 30 minutes, but that didn’t last as the match went on.

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

3. Koke

His performance deteriorated as the match went on (physical capacity dwindling with age) but his first 60 minutes were the paragon of technical empathy, angle understanding and pressure evasion.

Classic No. 6 play and crucial for Atlético IP.

https://t.co/8zjLHXpbAJ

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

Three things I enjoyed from Inter vs. Atlético Madrid:

1. This quintessential Inzaghi sequence.

Inter entice the press and cut through it with one-touch play — Darmian first-time lofted, diagonal ball to Lautaro arrival to flick on is a staple.

https://t.co/JZoY6eyKtL

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

2. Nicolò Barella

Man of the match-level performance.

Wonderful variety in his passes and dominated the right side of the pitch when Inter had the ball.

Barella shifts his weight well too and has a great feel for tempo and varying it.

https://t.co/moMhJywiss

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

Buildup to the penalty on Trossard was nice.

- Ødegaard and Saka exploit Burnley passivity to decompact block + create angle for diagonal ball

- White and Trossard straight runs open lane to Havertz

- Trossard blindside movement for Havertz to set

https://t.co/ZNXpvd5BDA

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

Odobert stays narrow just long enough for Saliba to find Saka (dismarked) — technical empathy to play to his front foot is nice — and from there, he retains possession and finds Trossard’s straight run with a diagonal ball.

Technical and positional excellence all around.

[John C. Olsen @InvrrtedFB]

When Gabriel receives with Fofana closing down, White’s inversion + distance Burnley midfield line has to travel means Amdouni can’t just jump to Saliba again, or else White is free.

So, Gabriel can play to Saliba, who then has options with Ødegaard + Saka 2v1 vs. Odobert.