Middlesbrough head coach Kim Hellberg has drawn a direct tactical comparison between his Championship leaders and French giants Paris Saint-Germain. Speaking after his side's 5-1 demolition of Bolton, a result from Friday 23 October that saw goals from Aidan Morris, Amario Cozier-Duberry and a Will Lankshear brace, Hellberg defended the high-risk style that has propelled Boro to the top of the table.
"People might laugh, but that didn't deter Middlesbrough's head coach from making what he felt was a valid and important point," Hellberg said. He elaborated by referencing a recent Champions League match, stating: "I watched PSG-Barcelona and it's the same thing.
Hellberg insists his team's approach, which involves high pressing and midfielders operating far apart, mirrors that of elite European sides in its intent to control games and create chances. This philosophy has yielded spectacular results, with Middlesbrough sitting first in the Championship with 25 points from 12 games, a record of seven wins, four draws and one loss. Their recent form of three wins and two draws from the last five games, which includes the 2-2 draw with Cardiff on Saturday 17 October and a 3-2 win at Stoke, has them two points clear of Swansea City.
Offensive power and defensive trade-off
The strategy has made Middlesbrough the division's most potent attack alongside West Ham, having scored 27 goals this season while conceding 17 for a goal difference of plus ten. Will Lankshear leads the line as the club's top scorer with 11 goals in 12 appearances, including a brace in the Bolton rout where Aidan Morris, Amario Cozier-Duberry and an own goal completed the scoring.
This attacking verve comes with a known vulnerability, however. The expansive spaces left behind the midfield have seen Boro concede 17 goals, and they have kept fewer than two clean sheets all season. Hellberg acknowledged this trade-off but emphasised the overall benefit. "We sometimes end up with a lot of space behind," he admitted. "We are used to doing things a little bit differently.
The manager is unwavering in his belief that the rewards outweigh the risks, pointing to the team's position and resilience, with the side unbeaten in its last five matches. He believes they are a "good football side" with a great chance of taking points even if they concede first. His ambition remains to keep a clean sheet every game, a target that will be tested in their next Championship fixture.
Middlesbrough now turn their focus to maintaining their lead at the summit. The next test for Hellberg's bold philosophy is a home match against Charlton at the Riverside Stadium on Saturday, 31 October.
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