To be fair, you can see Gassama wants to do well. His body language tells you he cares — that look when a play goes wrong, the disappointment is obvious. Trouble is, care alone doesn't stop the game moving on. How you react matters as much as the mistake itself.

Body language isn't the issue

It'd be easy to write him off as sulky or fragile, but that's not the point. You can be clearly gutted and still be useful to the team. The real problem is when disappointment becomes a pause; when a player visibly shuts down for a few seconds the opposition can exploit that and our shape takes a hit. We need players who show anger at the mistake, then switch it off and get back to the task.

Reset quick — the tactical side

Football is fast. Seconds count. When possession is lost the priority is immediate recovery: get back into position, press, or close passing channels. It's not glamorous, but getting a 7/10 every week normally wins more than an erratic run of highs and lows. Coaches must be clear about the basics — recovery runs, covering lines, supporting the press — and demand them, game after game.

Be the team mate we need

That old saying — if you can't be the best on the pitch, be the best team mate — still stands. To help Gassama improve we should emphasise consistency and the unseen stuff. Encourage him when he does the hard yards. Point out the moments he recovers well. It sounds soft, but building that habit is practical coaching, not psychology.

Truth is, we want his spark. We also want him reliable. Management need to hammer home that mistakes happen, but sulking doesn't help. Chin up, sprint back, plug the gaps, and the flashes of quality will count for more. That's the difference between one brilliant afternoon and week-in, week-out performances that win matches.

Written by zikos: 22 April 2026

Tags: tactics match-review