The world of modern top-level football appears to have been overrun by contemporary young coaches prizing either possession, pressing or both.
Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Barcelona side brought something of a sea change, ushering in a reboot of the sort of relentless pressing we saw from the great Dutch team of the 1970’s and Arrigo Sacchi's great AC Milan.
Jurgen Klopp’s Dortmund were among those who offered a nuanced alternative to the craze, as, of course, have Mauricio Pochettino’s Tottenham.
But Spurs, their squad perhaps a little light following their recent inactivity in the transfer window, now appear to be struggling to deal with opposition who seek to win the ball in the final third.
And this week that will be put to the test, as Lucien Favre’s young, dynamic, high-flying, high-pressing Dortmund side arrive in London for a UEFA Champions League showdown.
No team has forced more goal-ending high turnovers than BVB in this season’s competition, and that is most certainly an area of concern for Pochettino.
Spurs conceded the most goal-ending high turnovers in the group stage (three), meaning this mouth-watering knockout tie may well be defined by the Premier League club’s ability to retain possession when playing out from the back.
Watch the video above for the statistics and full breakdown.
Throughout the 2018-19 season, the 'Innovation Champions' series will highlight the Intelligent Movement of Europe's top teams. Follow the series on Facebook at Nissan Football Lab.