Set pieces are all the rage in the Premier League these days and it seems their influence is spreading, at least if former Brentford star Pontus Jansson’s success at Malmo is anything to go by.
Fotboll Skanalen detail the Swedish side’s success at set pieces today and how that may have been copied from Brentford.
They explain that Jansson’s recent winner against Gais was Malmo’s eighth goal from a corner this season in nine games.
Before the game against Gais, they enjoyed an impressive 45% success rate from corners, with the average 24%.
They are a team that thrives in those scenarios, with manager Henrik Rydström insisting it is because they work hard on the matter behind the scenes.
According to them he ‘brought a set piece playbook’ with him from former club Brentford when he arrived in July last year, with the Bees among the leaders in the set-piece department too.
Most of their success comes from the work of Bernardo Cueva, who was scooped up by Chelsea earlier this year as a result.
Jansson remains in contact with him, and hopes if there’s any more playbooks on offer, he can be a recipient of them.
”It may feel cocky to say it, but it feels like we are dangerous in every fixed situation, and it feels like we spread fear among the opponents. Because they also know these numbers. There is psychology in this too,” he said.
”I actually last spoke to him (Cueva) the day before yesterday. He is ready for Chelsea now. We’ll see if some new manuals come up, some new “playbooks – then he can send it over.
”He mainly follows me but also a little Malmö. The day before yesterday he asked me: “Aren’t you going to score goals too?”. Glad it arrived today then! I must call him and ask if he is satisfied.”
