The 24-year-old Senegalese international and AS Monaco player, has shared insights into the adaptation process to the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) champion Senegal National Team’s altered playing system under coach Aliou Cissé. Jakobs acknowledges the effectiveness of the new system while highlighting certain distinctions from the style he is accustomed to at his club.
Even before the commencement of the AFCON, Aliou Cissé, the Senegal National Team coach, initiated a tactical shift, opting for a 3-4-3 system instead of the traditional 4-3-3 that led the Lions to victory in the AFCON 2021.
While this change proved advantageous for some players, including Jakobs, who already played in a similar system at AS Monaco, he notes that differences persist between the national setup and his club.
In a recent interview with L’Observateur, Jakobs commented on the shift, saying, “It’s true that Krépin Diatta and I both play as pistons for Senegal and for AS Monaco.
The coach (Aliou Cissé) wanted to try this system too, using both of us, and I think it worked quite well.
The system is similar, yes, but maybe for Senegal, it’s a little more defensive than the way we play here, but the principles are the same and the players are comfortable with the style of play.”
Jakobs’ observations shed light on the nuances in the tactical approach, emphasizing the shared principles while acknowledging a slight defensive inclination in Senegal’s national setup compared to AS Monaco’s style.
As the Senegal National Team continues to fine-tune its playing system, players like Ismail Jakobs exemplify adaptability and versatility, contributing to the team’s cohesion within the evolving tactical framework implemented by coach Aliou Cissé.
