Former Manchester United coach René Meulensteen believes it is not too late for Arsenal striker Viktor Gyökeres to improve his technique, using Diego Forlán as an example of how individual coaching can make a difference.
Gyökeres has faced criticism over aspects of his technical game since joining Arsenal, but Meulensteen insists the Sweden international can still develop those areas despite being 28 years old.
Speaking to BestBettingSites, Meulensteen recalled his work with Forlán during his time at Manchester United and explained how dedicated coaching helped the former striker add another dimension to his game.
Gyökeres, Forlán similarities
“It is absolutely not too late for him to refine his technique,” Meulensteen said.
“When I worked in the United academy, I had conversations with Sir Alex about Diego Forlán, who was lightning quick and could use both feet but lacked that specific 1v1 trick to beat defenders.
“Sir Alex let me work individually with Diego outside normal training, and within weeks you could see a significant difference as he added that skill dimension to his game.”
Meulensteen believes a similar approach could benefit Gyökeres, particularly when it comes to his ability to beat defenders and make the difference in the final third.
How technical improvements can impact squad quality
The former United coach argued that even small technical improvements across a squad can have a significant impact on a team’s overall performance.
“I firmly believe every player, regardless of age, can improve their technical execution by 1% to 5%,” he added.
“If you improve ten players by just 1%, your entire team is 10% better at resolving difficult 1v1 situations.”
Meulensteen believes Gyökeres would benefit from working closely with a specialist technical coach, with repetition key to turning improvements in training into greater end product during matches.
“Gyökeres just needs dedicated attention from a technical coach to drill specific 1v1 moves, repetition, and translating those skills into final-third output – whether that’s a shot, a cross, or a decisive pass,” he added.
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