Still enjoying the result and mulling over how it impacts the rest of the season.
The players will be able to look back on this and use it as yardstick for future games. Frank referred to the performance as a "blueprint" for the future. (Such an appropriate phrase) You could tell he thought the players had carried out his plans really well. This is so important for a manager. To know your workforce is listening and carrying out your instructions is very gratifying but for those instructions to then secure such an important victory puts Frank in a very good place. He knows his tactics and management are working but he also knows there is still lots to do. He is smart enough to know he cannot just stand still and will need to come up with new ways of enthusing the players.
This success was very much based on hard work and you could see Ajax were tiring with the introduction of Pulisic towards the end. I think Frank had a definite plan to play high energy football. I think his overall plan includes playing high energy football. You can play all the fancy tactics you like but if you can out run your opponent you can win. You still need plans but a high energy high press beats a high press. The players gave their all last night and thank heavens they got the result. It would have been devastating for all concerned if they had worked that hard and lost. They didn't though, and the victory was deserved. They got their just rewards and now know that this type of effort gets results. Frank can ask for this type of effort in the knowledge that the players know it can get them a result as well as the type of feeling they got on the plane home.
The players will be exhausted today and after todays warm down I'm pretty sure Frank will give them a day off. And here's Franks next challenge. How does he manage the energy levels in the team. Its encouraging to see Frank recognises that Willian's tires if asked to run like the team did last night. If he makes good use of the bench, Willian can put in a sacrificial performance and come off after an hour. Bringing on Pulisic late in the game is a real strong move and the only problem with it is that he will, rightly so, want to start in the next game.
Frank has to manage this situation and so far he has made many more good decisions than bad ones. Well done Frank and long may it continue.
COYB.