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The High Press Explained | The Best Counter to Build-Up | Gegenpressing Football Tactics Explained
Pressing is when opposing team put pressure on opposite players either by closing them down, closing down the players around or make the opposition do a specific play that makes it easier to stop. It requires every players to move and block off certain areas of the pitch. Attackers will usually look to put pressure on the defenders by chasing them down. Midfielders will look to block passing lines and shadow mark the opposition's midfielders and the defenders need to maintain the defensive line, moving up and down along with the team to squeeze the space available. The defending team can choose to initiate their press at any time. A high block will immediatly put pressure on defenders and goalkeppers. A mid block will look to start their press near the center and will aim to stop the midfielders from having time and space on the ball while a low defensive block will aim to completly limit the space in front of the goal. In the high press, the high block structure is the most comon. Managers like Guardiola, Klopp or Nagelsmann aim to dominate the game by retaining the ball as much as possible. The best way to do it is to regain possession as soon as the ball is lost. In the 1970's the Netherland national team took the world by storm with their agressive press. One decade later Arrigo Sacchi's AC Milan dominated the club scene with a similar agressive pressing game.
There are pressing triggers and pressing traps. A pressing trigger is a set of circumstances acting as a prompt for a team to initiate their press. The whole team need to recognize these patterns. For example when a defender makes a bad pass or touch, or has a moment of hesitation or when the receiving player has their back to go. All these should be trigger for the player closest to the ball to start closing down the space immediatly and will need to be supported by teamates to limit the space needed to move the ball forward. But not all mistakes should trigger a high press and the defending team need to check their shape before agressively close down their opposition. If not enough players are ready to move then it will leadthe team leaving dangerous gaps that can be exploited. Secondly, pressing traps are a more tactical method of forcing the opposition into a uncomfortable position. They require more organization and are thougher to execute as you are not relying on the opposition making a mistake. An exemple would be closing the center of the pitch and forcing to play out wide where it's easier to defend as the pressing team can use the touchline as an extra defender. Or the defending team will seemingly allow a player in the midfield to receive the ball before being closed down by multiple players An alternative could see them leave the opposition's player completly unmarked but will effectively close down all passing options available forcing either a difficult pass or an individual play from the attacker. Both triggers and traps are essential for any effective press
Starting with Klopp as an exemple, gegenpressing is a tactic in which after losing possession the team will immediatly attempt to win the ball back. Rather than regrouping and allowing the opposition to settle. The main idea behind it is that the opposition is at its most vulnerable as soon as they have the ball as the team will rarely be correctly set up yet to start their attack immediatly. In Klopp's Liverpool, the front 3 dictated how the opposition need to play the ball. Firminho shadow marked the opposite holding midfielder. Both wingers Salah and Mané would position themselves between the fullbacks and the center backs forcing a player inside. Then the 2 midfielders will mark the opposition midfielders meaning the team in possession is forced to go long or to play the ball outwide where Liverpool can force them into a though spot near the touchline. If the opposition is fooled into playing the ball into the midfield then it's where Liverpool are at their most dangerous. If they regain the ball back near the midfield the positions of Salah and Mané in the half spaces is a tricky one to stop and Klopp's team could create immediatly a dangerous opportunity. At Liverpool, the fullbacks also played a very important role during the press. Either Robertson either Trent would join along with the strikers and the wingers; When one would join the other would move more centrally and form a back 3 with the center backs to ensure the team has enough cover for any potential long balls. So main idea is to immediatly create chances for the strikers and maintain the ball into the opposition's third. As for Pep Guardiola, his objective is to keep the possession as much as possible. Instead fo wanting to immeiatly createre a goal scoring opportunity, his team would look to restart their attacks. By doing this, Manchester City can ensure they have more control of the ball and that they can dictate play in a more organized and structured manner.
On the pitch this translates to a less agressive initial press but by more players covering blocking any possible passing lanees and force possession into a specific area. For example when one center back has the ball the striker will just ensure enough pressure to force a play. The wingers will cover the center backs and the midfielders will cover any passes into the center meaning the only only realistic option is for the defender to go long to the striker where the defending team can regain possession, start their attack from this position. Guardiola also has his 6 seconds rules in which he instructs his players to win the ball back within 6 seconds after losing it. Then finally Nagelsmann's Bayern Munich looked to play a very high line aided by their sweeper keeper Manuel Neuer. Their 4 2 3 1 formation often morphed into a loopsided 4 4 2 with Sané pushing high alongside Lewandowski and looking to cover the center backs. Muller has excellent spatial awarness and will make sure no central progression is made, meaning only the fullbacks are available options. However from here Gnabry could close the space down and this way Bayern could have 4 players around the ball to make it very difficult for the opposition. However Nagelsmann tended to also adopt a more oriented man to man press and rather than specifically cutting out passing lanes, will apply a lot of pressure on the player receiving the ball If they are able to turn over possession then Sané 's advanced position can immediatly create danger. as his excellent dribbling and pace means he can immediatly threaten the goal or look to pick out Lewandowski in the box. There are different type of press but generally the managers fall into 2 categories : either they look to immediatly start a counter attack either they want to regain possession and start the attack from the back line.
The High Press Explained | The Best Counter to Build-Up | Gegenpressing Football Tactics Explained
Pressing is when opposing team put pressure on opposite players either by closing them down, closing down the players around or make the opposition do a specific play that makes it easier to stop. It requires every players to move and block off certain areas of the pitch. Attackers will usually look to put pressure on the defenders by chasing them down. Midfielders will look to block passing lines and shadow mark the opposition's midfielders and the defenders need to maintain the defensive line, moving up and down along with the team to squeeze the space available. The defending team can choose to initiate their press at any time. A high block will immediatly put pressure on defenders and goalkeppers. A mid block will look to start their press near the center and will aim to stop the midfielders from having time and space on the ball while a low defensive block will aim to completly limit the space in front of the goal. In the high press, the high block structure is the most comon. Managers like Guardiola, Klopp or Nagelsmann aim to dominate the game by retaining the ball as much as possible. The best way to do it is to regain possession as soon as the ball is lost. In the 1970's the Netherland national team took the world by storm with their agressive press. One decade later Arrigo Sacchi's AC Milan dominated the club scene with a similar agressive pressing game.
There are pressing triggers and pressing traps. A pressing trigger is a set of circumstances acting as a prompt for a team to initiate their press. The whole team need to recognize these patterns. For example when a defender makes a bad pass or touch, or has a moment of hesitation or when the receiving player has their back to go. All these should be trigger for the player closest to the ball to start closing down the space immediatly and will need to be supported by teamates to limit the space needed to move the ball forward. But not all mistakes should trigger a high press and the defending team need to check their shape before agressively close down their opposition. If not enough players are ready to move then it will leadthe team leaving dangerous gaps that can be exploited. Secondly, pressing traps are a more tactical method of forcing the opposition into a uncomfortable position. They require more organization and are thougher to execute as you are not relying on the opposition making a mistake. An exemple would be closing the center of the pitch and forcing to play out wide where it's easier to defend as the pressing team can use the touchline as an extra defender. Or the defending team will seemingly allow a player in the midfield to receive the ball before being closed down by multiple players An alternative could see them leave the opposition's player completly unmarked but will effectively close down all passing options available forcing either a difficult pass or an individual play from the attacker. Both triggers and traps are essential for any effective press
Starting with Klopp as an exemple, gegenpressing is a tactic in which after losing possession the team will immediatly attempt to win the ball back. Rather than regrouping and allowing the opposition to settle. The main idea behind it is that the opposition is at its most vulnerable as soon as they have the ball as the team will rarely be correctly set up yet to start their attack immediatly. In Klopp's Liverpool, the front 3 dictated how the opposition need to play the ball. Firminho shadow marked the opposite holding midfielder. Both wingers Salah and Mané would position themselves between the fullbacks and the center backs forcing a player inside. Then the 2 midfielders will mark the opposition midfielders meaning the team in possession is forced to go long or to play the ball outwide where Liverpool can force them into a though spot near the touchline. If the opposition is fooled into playing the ball into the midfield then it's where Liverpool are at their most dangerous. If they regain the ball back near the midfield the positions of Salah and Mané in the half spaces is a tricky one to stop and Klopp's team could create immediatly a dangerous opportunity. At Liverpool, the fullbacks also played a very important role during the press. Either Robertson either Trent would join along with the strikers and the wingers; When one would join the other would move more centrally and form a back 3 with the center backs to ensure the team has enough cover for any potential long balls. So main idea is to immediatly create chances for the strikers and maintain the ball into the opposition's third. As for Pep Guardiola, his objective is to keep the possession as much as possible. Instead fo wanting to immeiatly createre a goal scoring opportunity, his team would look to restart their attacks. By doing this, Manchester City can ensure they have more control of the ball and that they can dictate play in a more organized and structured manner.
On the pitch this translates to a less agressive initial press but by more players covering blocking any possible passing lanees and force possession into a specific area. For example when one center back has the ball the striker will just ensure enough pressure to force a play. The wingers will cover the center backs and the midfielders will cover any passes into the center meaning the only only realistic option is for the defender to go long to the striker where the defending team can regain possession, start their attack from this position. Guardiola also has his 6 seconds rules in which he instructs his players to win the ball back within 6 seconds after losing it. Then finally Nagelsmann's Bayern Munich looked to play a very high line aided by their sweeper keeper Manuel Neuer. Their 4 2 3 1 formation often morphed into a loopsided 4 4 2 with Sané pushing high alongside Lewandowski and looking to cover the center backs. Muller has excellent spatial awarness and will make sure no central progression is made, meaning only the fullbacks are available options. However from here Gnabry could close the space down and this way Bayern could have 4 players around the ball to make it very difficult for the opposition. However Nagelsmann tended to also adopt a more oriented man to man press and rather than specifically cutting out passing lanes, will apply a lot of pressure on the player receiving the ball If they are able to turn over possession then Sané 's advanced position can immediatly create danger. as his excellent dribbling and pace means he can immediatly threaten the goal or look to pick out Lewandowski in the box. There are different type of press but generally the managers fall into 2 categories : either they look to immediatly start a counter attack either they want to regain possession and start the attack from the back line.