Brought to the pinnacle after the Euro to rightly assert himself as the greatest Swiss coach of all time, Murat Yakin has not lost his totem of immunity with this relegation to League B.
Basel can, in fact, put forward many mitigating circumstances with faulty refereeing, the weight of absences and, also, the lack of involvement of its two leaders Manuel Akanji, out of his subject in October, and Granit Xhaka, without much venom in November. The defender and the captain have undoubtedly paid for the infernal pace to which they have been subjected for fifteen months.
“A relegation will not be dramatic,” said Murat Yakin before this last gathering of the year. Monday evening in Tenerife, he recalled that Switzerland would undoubtedly have experienced the same misfortune four years ago if it had not won its last match against Ukraine on the green carpet. This small stone in the garden of his predecessor reminds how fragile the status of the Swiss team is. His place in the European top 12 has always hung by a thread.
Two essential qualities
But fortunately, this place is still assured despite relegation to the Nations League. It will offer Switzerland a top seed position for the draw for the preliminary round of the 2016 World Cup which will take place on December 13 in Zurich. The idea of not qualifying for this first 48-team World Cup which will ensure extraordinary income for its participants haunts the nights of officials of the Swiss Football Association (ASF).
However, they remain convinced that Murat Yakin remains the man for the job. Even if his governance does not really fit the profile of a modern coach, he has two essential qualities: a certain flair and the ability to attract fans from all over the country, from Geneva to Romanshorn. Who has never succumbed to the charm of the former FC Basel captain, raise your hand…
Between now and the three shots of this new campaign which will be given at the end of March, Murat Yakin finds himself facing two major projects. He must find the ideal partner in Manuel Akanji in the central axis of his four-man defense.
During this November gathering, Eray Cömert and Aurèle Amenda scored a few points. But with Ricardo Rodriguez, who, on Monday, will have waited for his…125th selection to play a central defender for the first time in a line of four, and with Denis Zakaria whom he really wants to see embrace such a role, the coach has two less “risky” alternatives.
Joel Monteiro the X factor
Offensive animation is the other area to explore in the coming months. “We must become more efficient,” emphasizes Murat Yakin. If we consider that Breel Embolo, Zeki Amdouni and Dan Ndoye are essential, there is only one place left for an offensive player in Murat Yakin’s 4-2-3-1.
Ruben Vargas, scorer in the round of 16 of the Euro against Italy, Fabian Rieder and Simon Sohm, who showed interesting things on Monday against Spain in his role of 9.5, can harbor legitimate ambitions. For not having really seized the chance offered to them on Monday, Filip Ugrinic, above all, and Dereck Kutesa start from further away.
But we have the feeling that Joël Monteiro has made everyone agree. Described as “magnificent” by Murat Yakin, his introduction after the break against Spain really made an impression. Author of a double against Galatasaray during the preliminary round of the Champions League, the Valaisan of Young Boys is advancing as the man of the big meetings. This is good since the Swiss team will not be short of it.
