Silkeborg IF 2022/23: How Silkeborg’s attacking principles help them create chances but also concede them – scout report

A year on from qualifying for the UEFA Conference League, UEFAs third European competition after the Champions League and the Europa League, Silkeborg IF surprisingly dropped into the relegation round of this year’s Danish Superliga after missing out on the championship round by one point. This was made even more surprising due to the fact that the side had scored the third most goals in the division, with 34, at the end of the regular season. In addition to this, they have had the most final third entries as well as the most progressive passes in the league.

In regards to their principles and tactics as well as the data, it is clear to see that Silkeborg IF are a very efficient attacking team. However, despite their effective attack, the side have conceded more goals than they have scored in both the regular season as well as the relegation round.

This scout report looks to provide a tactical analysis of  Silkeborg’s tactics and attacking principles, and how these principles lead to the creation of goalscoring chances. Furthermore, this analysis will look to touch on Silkeborg’s frailties in defence and look to suggest possible reasons why the side have experienced problems at the back.

Structure and principles in attack

Silkeborg for the majority of the season have lined up in a 4-3-2-1 on paper. However, in possession, the side form a box midfield with two of their midfielders forming a double pivot in close proximity to one another, and their attacking midfielders positioned further up the field with a larger distance between the two. The third midfielder in the formation, which this season has been Anders Klynge, also pushes further up the field and may drift into more central areas or towards the wide area.

The full-backs of the side are often very advanced in the wide areas, pushing up as far as the opposition’s backline at times in order to provide width to the side. This can be seen in the example below. From this, Silkeborg look to progress the ball through the use of vertical passes in the centre of the pitch.

Silkeborg’s modified structure as well as their use of vertical passing through the centre is similar to that of Roberto De Zerbi’s Brighton. However, it would be unfair to state that the side completely executes actions in the same manner as the Premier League side. The example below looks to show how the sides structure, as well as their principles, create opportunities to progress the ball and destabilise the opposition.

The first issue faced by the opposition is the Silkeborg double pivot of Pelle Mattson and Mark Brink. Due to their close proximity, they are both in positions to support the centre-back on the ball as well as provide support to one another after a vertical pass is played to either of them. As in the example below, if the opposition looks to orient their position to the double-pivot too closely, they leave space for one of the other centre-backs to receive the ball in wider areas and progress the ball further up the pitch, withering play towards the centre or wide area.