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Do you know the three variations of counter pressing?
Hello and welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter! In this issue, we're focusing on the following topics:
⚽ Counter pressing
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💥 Game of the Week
⚽ Counter Pressing
Even the most outstanding teams make mistakes. An unlucky ball reception, a misguided pass, or a shot off target - and possession changes hands. The further a team advances, the more vulnerable it becomes to counterattacks. When the opponent reacts swiftly, they attempt to exploit the defensive gap created, posing a threat to the opposing goal. However, in recent years, there has been a notable evolution in football. Why shouldn't a team retain control even after losing the ball? Players have always been taught not to give up after such instances. "Keep pressing!" - This keyword has been instilled in players by youth coaches. The individual tactical action, namely, pressing after losing possession, has been systematized recently. Coaches have pondered over how their team should react in such situations. "Pressing" is no longer just "pressing". Entire books have been dedicated to how teams should act after losing possession.
Jürgen Klopp coined a term that has since been in the limelight: counter pressing. This expression has become established to describe the systematic pursuit of opponents after losing possession. Essentially, it's a modified version of pressing. Here, the aim is to collectively apply pressure on the opponent. The distinction lies in the fact that counter pressing is initiated not from a defensive formation but from positional play. Yet, if counter pressing were straightforward, it would have become a fundamental part of football decades ago. It took time for coaches like Guardiola or Klopp to transform individual pursuits into a collective tactical approach. Counter pressing isn't merely about individual players pressing; it requires a sophisticated strategy involving commitment and activity from all players.
Jürgen Klopp once said:
"Think about the passes you have to make to get a player in a number 10 role into a position where he can play the genius pass," Klopp later urged. "Gegenpressing lets you win back the ball nearer to the goal. It's only one pass away from a really good opportunity. No playmaker in the world can be as good as a good gegenpressing situation, and that's why it's so important."
Types of Counter Pressing
If one were to outline the ideal process of counter pressing, it would roughly look like this: A team structures itself through its good positional play to establish a numerical advantage around the ball during transition moments. The players react promptly to the loss of possession and converge. In doing so, one or more players apply pressure on the opponent in possession, while others block potential options around the ball or secure their defensive depth. In this scenario, there are various ways in which the team can position itself during counter pressing. These options depend on how the team aims to block the opponent's actions. These examples are all idealized; in practice, distinguishing between the different types of counter pressing is rarely so straightforward. Nevertheless, coaches can influence how their players transition into counter pressing through their instructions and training.
Access-Oriented Counter Pressing:
The team has the opportunity to go all-in. In this scenario, it opts for an access-oriented counter pressing approach. Here, it forms a compact structure around the player in possession, emphasizing direct access to the ball. The aim is to envelop the opponent in possession within a veritable net. Successfully executing this access-oriented counter pressing requires thorough preparation and collective execution to avoid creating openings for the opponent. If the direct access is not achieved, potential gaps could potentially emerge.
Pass Access-Oriented Counter Pressing:
A more restrained strategy would be pass access-oriented counter pressing. Here, the focus is not on exerting maximum pressure on the opponent. Instead, the aim is to block potential passing options. Players can either work within their cover shadow or leave a corridor open to then sprint into the passing lane. This form of counter pressing may not generate intense pressure, yet it holds a crucial advantage: intercepting a pass usually allows for immediate continuation of play, ideally towards the opponent's goal. After a challenge, the opponent remains in close proximity, making a "clean" ball retrieval less frequent.
Man-Oriented Counter Pressing:
Man-oriented tactics consistently offer a reliable means of limiting the opponent's choices. In man-oriented counter pressing, a defender is assigned to each opponent in proximity to the ball. After losing possession, players immediately mark the next opponent, potentially creating significant pressure. However, there's a risk of failure if the opponent wins the one-on-one duel, forcing another defender to abandon their mark, potentially freeing up space for a pass. Hence, man-oriented counter pressing also entails certain risks.
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💥 Game of the Week
The clash of the first and second-placed teams in the Premier League is upon us. For the fourth time in Premier League history, Manchester City and Liverpool battle for the top spot. This rivalry has been the most intense in the league for years, and this season, they might deliver yet another thrilling battle at the summit (even if Arsenal or another team may want to intervene in this fight).
The upcoming match on Saturday might not necessarily be a decisive six-pointer in the title race, but it could still have a significant impact on the remainder of the season. Even if it's simply about one of the teams making a statement with a notable result.
Who will win?
Manchester City
Liverpool FC
Draw