Following the overwhelming impact that the ‘tiki-taka’ style has had on
football in recent years with the rise of Spanish football with the national
side winning 3 major international tournaments back to back and the fantastic
record of Barcelona, the “antidote” to tiki-taka appears to have manifested
itself in the form of “gegenpressing”.
With more
available and authoritative observations and comments on the game these days
including pretty sophisticated analyses of strategy and tactics via the
internet, more coaches, at every level of the game, are exposed to many
opportunities to be able to understand the game better.
However, the
game is the game, notwithstanding some key changes or adaptations we have seen
over the years (better pitches, re-interpretation of the offside law and a
significant change to the back pass rule).
That being
the case and the fact that the Principles of Play for territorial, or invasion,
games remain constant, I wanted to explore some ideas about the new approach of
“Gegenpressing”, or counter-pressing, made popular in recent seasons by
Borussia Dortmund and latterly Bayern Munich, especially and elements of which
can be detected in the “tiki-taka” approach when possession is lost and for
which preparation is made when they still have the ball.
HOW DOES GEGENPRESSING WORK?
There are a
couple of decent explanations around on the internet and I have extracted
detail below, with credit to the sites from which they were obtained.
WHAT IS
“GEGENPRESSING”?
Well,
depending on which website you read (see references below) it is:
“a rather
simple tactical approach: A team simply
plays at full pace for 90 minutes, approaching every moment as though they are
down a goal late in a major final. After losing possession, players will swarm
their opponents, giving them no time on the ball regardless of position and
location”
And then, having won the ball “always look for the
opportunity to counterattack, playing the ball forward immediately and
sprinting into open space as opponents shift from attack to defense”
OR
How Gegenpressing Works
Gegenpressing differs from Barcelona's approach of pressing teams as high up the pitch as possible by incorporating a defensive as well as attacking element, which involves the whole team pressing aggressively in unison. Gegenpressing is a highly-organised approach to regaining possession and minimising space for the opposition. Dortmund's opponents are rapidly closed down by well-rehearsed, co-ordinated pressing movements, often by two or more players, allied with intelligent positioning to restrict space for players to pass and move into.
Gegenpressing differs from Barcelona's approach of pressing teams as high up the pitch as possible by incorporating a defensive as well as attacking element, which involves the whole team pressing aggressively in unison. Gegenpressing is a highly-organised approach to regaining possession and minimising space for the opposition. Dortmund's opponents are rapidly closed down by well-rehearsed, co-ordinated pressing movements, often by two or more players, allied with intelligent positioning to restrict space for players to pass and move into.
The best
moment to win the ball is immediately after your team just lost it. The
opponent is still looking for orientation where to pass the ball." Once
Dortmund have regained possession, the transition from defence to attack is organised
and, potentially, explosive.
Gegenpressing
is used to capitalise on Dortmund’s ability to execute extremely quick
transitions, moving the ball up the field as fast as possible.
Ultra-Fast Transitions
Klopp
knows only too well that any tactical approach, including gegenpressing, won't
bring success without sheer hard work
FROM
Matt Whitehouse’s new book “UNIVERSALITY – The Blueprint for Soccer’s New Era”
“It
was Jürgen Klopp at Dortmund who developed and executed the ‘counter pressing’
tactic to great effect. Klopp would work on the defensive organization of his
side to nullify space behind the defence as well as making it difficult to play
between them. Dropping his forwards off to a point 10 yards ahead of the
halfway line, he would allow the opposition to have the ball in their defensive
third, the aim being to draw the opposition into the mid-third and then to
pounce with frightening speed and intensity in order to win the ball back and
counter.
This
compact mid-block meant there was a lack of space for the opposition to
penetrate through and behind. Setting out in a 4-4-1-1 formation the team would
make a strong defensive block which was tough for sides to break down and
penetrate through. Of course the aim was to draw the opposition in, win the
ball back and transition with frightening speed. Dortmund’s counter attacks
were truly incredible to watch.
Their
ability and dynamism to press when out of possession is central to the success
of the tactic. It was not about winning the ball but being able to force the play,
contain the opposition, and force errors.”
STRATEGY,
TACTICS & DECISIONS
Some of this sounds very straightforward and simple but actually requires
high levels of coaching and attention to detail in order that players recognise
which passing lines to close off (whilst sometimes leaving others deliberately
open to set ‘traps’ for the opponents to pass into) and what to do ‘in
transition’ when having won the ball.
Playing forward again sounds simple but, where, to whom, to which
runner? In one pass, or two? Direct or deliberately indirect to entice now
recovering defenders into the ‘wrong’ areas?
So, there are a number of elements, all of which are around the
Principles of Play (attack and defence) but involve reasonably sophisticated
tactics and strategy with the ability to understand the situation in the game
and to also plan ahead, not just reacting to what happens, but by taking a
pro-active approach to what happens when we lose and regain possession of the
ball, or vice versa.
A MODERN
APPROACH
It all sounds very modern. Or does it?
I thought I recognised some really key points in a book from almost 25 years ago written and researched by the, since, much derided former FA Director of Coaching and Education, Charles Hughes.
That book, The Winning Formula and elements from it are re-visited here.
I have retained page numbers for ease of reference and passages from the book
are shown is quotation marks. My intention in retaining page numbers is to demonstrate that the references are not isolated but are consistent messages throughout the book. Where there are words in brackets, they are my
additional comments and/or interpretations.
THE
WINNING FORMULA
Page 8 -
INTRODUCTION
“Modern football has fewer goals, shots at goal and goal
mouth incidents – everything that produces excitement” (for players and spectators. I am not so sure that these statistics are
still valid but I will leave that particular analysis for another time.
Certainly some of Hughes’
statistical analysis has been shown, more recently, to be flawed. However, some
commentators and fans began to describe tiki-taka as ‘boring’ – not me, I
hasten to add! ).
“The reason for this is not in new efficient defensive strategies, so much as misguided attacking strategy, that of possession football”
(This would seem
to have modern relevance to one of the frustrations of tiki-taka, that of
constricting the very space that you seek to exploit by retaining and advancing
the ball relatively slowly up the field which in turn allows the defending team
to funnel back and present a ‘deep block’ – think of Chelsea in their CL
winning season)
“Those who believe in possession football argue that a
team without the ball cannot score and that the team which keeps the ball for
long periods is more likely to score.” (Part
of the philosophy of Tiki-Taka is ‘resting with the ball’ and certainly
possession of the ball is seen as having defensive value as well as offensive
value)
“As a general rule, in soccer, time is on the side of the defender allowing the team to recover and re-group and re-organise.”
(I would suggest
that this is still the case, as a general principle, although I do accept that
manipulation of the ball in order to manipulate the opposition into errors of judgment
and tempting defenders into areas of the field in order to exploit other areas,
does, necessarily take time to construct within the game.)
“To point out the flaw in possession play is NOT an endorsement of kick and rush tactics with the ball being punted in the general direction of the opponents’ penalty area at every opportunity.”
(This significant
comment is one that utterly refutes, in my humble opinion, the popular
interpretation that ‘Direct Play’ was about forcing the ball forward to
construct knockdowns for second balls. Certainly that WAS how it was
interpreted, by some coaches/managers, but is not what was intended, I believe,
from the approach suggested by this book.)
“Success comes, as might be expected, in a balance between the EXTREMES of
possession play and kick and rush.”
“DIRECT PLAY involves moving the ball forward in a
CONTROLLED WAY”
PAGE 9
“The simple fact is that teams are at their most
vulnerable at the moment they lose possession of the ball”
(This observation
seems consistent with both the Tiki-Taka and Gegenpressing approaches – KNOW
that the opposition will lose the ball to you and be prepared to take action to
exploit the transition. Know also that the opposition will also be vulnerable when
you lose the ball to THEM as they seek to take advantage and break from
defending compactness to an attacking dispersal.)
“The Winning Formula is concerned with seizing the
initiative and then retaining it by playing to a system (process?) which gives the best percentage chance of winning
matches.”
However, ”The Winning Formula is not a substitute for
good technique” (skill)
(As per my
comment above – Gegenpressing is about seizing the initiative through assertive
pressing and having, as a first option, to play forward, where possible, to
exploit that initiative.)
PAGE 10 - Passing
and Support Play
“Passing is not just about technique. It is about UNDERSTANDING – what is required and what is possible” (both tactically and technically, is the point here. So, not just biffing the ball forward but making deliberate decisions based upon the possibilities available when having won the ball. Again, Gegenpressing is based on rehearsed understanding of what to do in given situations and prompted by key ‘triggers’ – actions by the opponents recognised, acted upon and exploited by the pressing team).
From The Winning Formula, set priorities allow a structure from which to play. These elements are self-explanatory and are very similar to the assertiveness of Gegenpressing and, even, elements of Tiki-Taka in the transition from possession to loss of possession – the ‘6 second press’ implemented by Guardiola.
“Priorities – Play forward” (What is now sometimes referred to as “Verticality”)
4 options – Shot, Dribble, Run, Pass
“Pass – Space beyond defenders for well placed forward players to exploit
To feet
of most advanced player
Beyond
at least one defender
Switch
play
Back to
supporting players”
(Forward play/passing is stated as a first option because defenders may be unbalanced as they were contributing to the attack when possession was lost. Again, this is NOT about biffing the ball forward as a hopeful kick – it is about dribbling, running with or passing the ball, with considered intent.)
“Support – Angle, speed and distance
Different types of ‘runs’ (movement) to exploit possession”
PAGE 98 - WINNING
THE BALL
“It is a vital part of The Winning Formula that players
in forward positions must contribute as much to regaining possession as those
players in defensive positions”
(Again, with
gegenpressing, it is a considered approach by a collective; not individuals
running willy-nilly but, as mentioned above, working from key cues as to where
and when to press and, indeed, when not to.)
From The Winning Formula, several key elements are identified in terms of an approach to playing the game:
“Key- Concentration” (mentally
and with numbers)
“Adopt a compact shape. Short distances between players. Keeps opponents under constant pressure and forces errors”
“Increase momentum, not slow it, when regaining possession.” (Remember forward play as first option when defenders may be “out of balance” [modern parlance]. The reference to short distances, in order to exert early and combined pressure, is a feature of gegenpressing as well as Tiki-Taka, as mentioned earlier. It starts to become apparent that gegenpressing and Tiki-Taka are not necessarily opposites of each other, more a derivation, evolution or even a re-interpretation of consistent elements.)
P122 - KEY FACTORS IN DEFENDING
“Players should remember that defending is the first
stage in launching an attack”
(Consistent with
both Tiki-Taka and gegenpressing – a means to recover possession of the ball
which we need if we are to score !)
“…there is a belief that rules of attack and defence are determined by the player’s customary position on the field of play. This is a mistake”
“The crucial factor is possession of the ball.” (as to what determines whether you are an attacker or a defender)
“It is an essential part of The Winning Formula that as soon as their side loses possession, every player should start to think defensively.
That is, they should be working to get the ball back.”
(Whether that is
by pressuring, covering and cutting off passing options / lanes and
opportunities to switch play. Sounds VERY much to me like Gegenpressing ! …oh,
and Tiki-Taka.)
P 123 - “PRESSURE
Restrict time and space by pressuring/challenging.”
(NB Recovery
lines to challenge – do not ‘over-recover’)
“Provide close cover for the challenging player.
Occupy important space goal side of the ball” (Including preventing passing opportunities
or even ‘allowing’ some to create ‘traps’ from which to win the ball and
counter attack)
“Maintain compactness and try to avoid being stretched”
P174 - STRATEGIES
“The first step in creating a Winning Formula is to adopt
the best strategies in both defence and attack.
In attack this means going forward as quickly as
POSSIBLE” (based on understanding of the
situation and with regard to the current options – see passing and support
above)
“In defence it means attempting to win back the ball as
soon as possible and as near to the opponents’ goal as possible.”
P184
“If a team is compact when the ball is lost it is
possible to switch at once into a defensive strategy.
A compact team can
lose the ball but retain the initiative.”
P185 - “ESSENTIAL TECHNIQUES
“Strategy and tactics alone do not win football matches.
Every player has to master a range of footballing techniques”
SUMMARY
In conclusion then, I have to say that I feel I can draw
direct parallels between quite a few elements of gegenpressing from The Winning
Formula and the recommended approach, especially, to defending and counter
attacking, that are consistent even today.
NB Previous readers of my blog may have seen a previous post of mine about Charles Hughes but if not, you can link to it here: In Praise..or maybe Defence of, Charles Hughes
