In joining Manchester United, Jackie Groenen has had a subtle yet important role in a squad making its first steps in the FAWSL. United have made an immediate impact in the league and seem to be on the brink of breaking into the upper tier of the division. In this scout report, we will take a look at exactly how Groenen is able to expand and support United’s attacking tactics. After analysis, we find that she is able to use a dynamic mix of skills with and without her feet to elevate the United attack. This tactical analysis will look into exactly how she does it.
Background
Born in Tilburg, Netherlands, Groenen grew up just across the border in Poppel, Belgium. She made her first-team debut with SGS Essen (Frauen-Bundesliga) in January of 2011 at the age of 16 years old. Later that year, she joined FCR 2001 Duisburg, who she played with until the club’s insolvency in late 2013. Chelsea quickly pounced on Groenen, acquiring her in February of 2014. Groenen returned to Germany in June of 2015 to join FFC Frankfurt, where she remained up until signing with Manchester United last summer.
Groenen has become an influential fixture in the Netherlands Women’s National Team, gaining her first cap in 2016. She quickly made an impact and helped the Dutch to win the UEFA Women’s 2017 Euros (she was named to Team of the Tournament). Recently, she started every match in the 2019 Women’s World Cup that saw the Dutch advance to the final.
Deception
Sun Tzu once said, “All warfare is based on deception.” Groenen has fully allocated this idea within her individual play style. By weaponizing head movements and body orientation, she is able to mislead the direct opponent as to her true intentions with the ball.
This allows her to guide an opponent’s pressure in the desired direction while planning to move into a different attacking space. She is able to do this primarily with her eyes/head and torso.
By looking in a specific direction and signalling directional intent, she is able to cue pressure from the opposition in that specific direction. This can lead the opposition to pressure into the desired space while opening up a different space.
Groenen can also be found using her body orientation to mislead defenders. As a rule of thumb, attackers typically play the way they are facing and receive the ball across the body with the furthest foot. Groenen is aware that when receiving the ball, the pressuring defender will more than likely target her furthest foot from the ball. She uses this to her advantage and draws opposing players in to create space to move into.
Below we see an example of Groenen misleading a direct opponent with her body orientation. Groenen is set to receive the ball with her right foot and has her body open to the left side of the pitch. Groenen has already scanned the field and is aware that a Manchester City defender will immediately pressure her from her right side. Groenen is also aware that the City player will almost assuredly specifically pressure her right foot, which is in position to receive the ball.
As the ball travels across the front of her body to her right foot, Groenen flicks the ball under her with the inside of her right foot. Even though the ball is behind Groenen and within reach of the City player, the ball is safely in Groenen’s possession. Groenen has anticipated that the speed of the City player’s arrival to her right foot will be too fast and her immediate shift of the ball to her left side is too quick for the opposing player to adjust to.
