Luis De La Fuente Counter-Pressing Tactics Powering Spain In 2024 – Tactical Analysis

The best playmaker in the world.

No, were not talking about Johan Cruyff, Michel Platini or Diego Maradona.

According to Jürgen Klopp, it is, in fact, counterpressing.

Thus, in this tactical analysis piece, the best playmaker of the current European champions, Spain, will be scrutinised, as well as Luis de la Fuente tactics.

The Difficulties

The problem when analysing counter-pressing is that the basic situations are usually entirely different, and the execution is generally spontaneous.

While a teams build-up play is constantly repeated from the same starting situation, counter-pressing can rarely be repeated one-to-one.

On the contrary, ball losses are usually not part of the plan, are subject to rapid decision-making by the players, and are, therefore, difficult to predict.

The Spanish are deploying a particularly effective counter-press.

This can be analysed based on various criteria and a large number of scenes.

The clear and well-practised sequences in the Spanish game ensure a certain predictability.

Priorities When Losing The Ball

It seems evident that the counter-pressing teams priorities should be differentiated depending on the situation when the ball is lost.

So, when possession is lost, and defence is lacking, the focus is not on winning the ball back immediately but on covering the centre close to the goal.

This is probably a logical risk/benefit assessment.

Typically, ball losses in offence occur more frequently in the opponents third, which provides defensive covering.

In contrast, ball losses in defence occur more regularly in your own third, and you rarely go into counter-pressing.

Therefore, it is exciting to examine moments of counter-pressing when the offence loses possession, typically in the opponents third.

Due to the particular proximity to the opponents goal, opposing counterattacks can be countered directly, and offensive transition moments can be created after winning the ball.

As the Spanish game is still primarily based on longer phases of possession and pressure in the opponents third, several scenes can be analysed.

Accordingly, this analysis focuses on those moments of counter-pressing in the opponents third when the ball is lost in the offence.

Spain Staggering In Possession

The Spaniards operate from a nominal 4-3-3 on the ball in the opposing third, with number six Rodri, left number eight Fabián Ruiz, and right number ten Pedri/Dani Olmo.

In addition, the wingers Nico Williams and Lamine Yamal are usually very wide.

At the same time, the full-backs Marc Cucurella and Dani Carvajal play more centrally in their respective half-spaces, especially away from the ball.

It can often be observed that a maximum of one player is positioned at full width to create central superiority when unnecessary.

This is one of the most critical aspects of why Spains counter-press is so effective.

On the ball side, well find the tucked-in full-back, number ten Pedri and/or striker Álvaro Morata, along with the anchor of Rodri or Fabián Ruiz.

This ensures an overload near the ball and constant pressure when the ball is lost.

When one side is overloaded, the passing routes are correspondingly