If you had to guess which of Europe’s top five leagues had the most pressing in their games, you would be forgiven for guessing the Bundesliga, the home of gegenpressing, where Jurgen Klopp’s influence can still be seen across a plethora of games every week. The Bundesliga averages an 11.23...
In this video analysis, we explain the tactics behind attacking with inverted wingers in football and therefore use in-game scenarios from inverted wingers such as Manchester City attacker Raheem Sterling and Liverpool winger Mohamed Salah as well as Richarlison from Everton. Our analysis deals with the advantages of using inverted...
The concept of compactness has become a constant in discussions about modern football tactics, particularly when it comes to defensive structures and out-of-possession blocks that many teams employ. Even though it is quite a commonly used word, and it is quite simple terminologically, compactness is way more complex in terms of the...
In this video analysis, we will take a closer look at the pivot position in football. Our tactical analysis will look at defining the subtleties of the role and explain, how the pivot’s movement and positioning has a desired effect on the rest of the side’s attacking shape and their...
What Is An Inverted Winger? 'A moderniser of the game, through the use of mazy wingers who pass through the gaps between defenders to feed the strikers, as they seldom cross'—a statement used to describe the legendary Arsenal manager Herbert Chapman's 1922 FA Cup-winning side, Huddersfield Town. Chapman was a...
Perhaps you were watching a Premier League or UEFA Champions League game this past season and heard the commentator say, "What an excellent training ground move from…" Or perhaps you were reading a tactical analysis, and the writer emphasised a particular passing and movement sequence by the team in possession...
Wide defenders have a prevalent role in all of football, providing managers with new tactical options and methods of attack. They are no longer restricted to pure defensive roles; rather, they are, in some cases, a focal point of a team’s attacking structure. Women’s football, in particular, has seen some tactical...
As football data continues to evolve, we’re seeing that most goal-scoring actions are produced with limited time in possession and few passes. With the emerging trend of quick, direct actions towards a goal, top coaches are seeking ways to minimise losses against the opposition. At this point, most are aware...
Pressing can be defined as applying pressure on your opponent with the intention of forcing a negative action on the opponent. These “negative actions” can come in a variety of forms, with the most advantageous to the pressing side being a turnover in possession, but other favourable outcomes include a...
What Is Gegenpressing? Football has become a lot more dynamic over the last decades. As a result, the transition phases have become increasingly important. This rang the bell for a new concept on how to react after losing the ball: Gegenpressing. It is the concept of regaining possession immediately after...
