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What if your pressing doesn't immediately result in a ball recovery?
Hello and welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter! In this issue, the following topics take center stage:
⚽ Pressing Part 2
💡 Football Positions and Formations: Free Excel File
⚽ Pressing Part 2
Covering:
Covering is a central aspect of effective pressing in football and plays a crucial role when pressing doesn't immediately lead to ball recoveries. It prevents the opponent from getting dangerously close to one's own goal. Covering starts during the forward movement by closing down the opponent's passing options, making it difficult for them to escape from the pressing.
An essential principle of effective pressing is creating numerical superiority in the ball-near area. Achieving numerical superiority in one part of the field inevitably results in numerical inferiority in another. Therefore, the defending team must weigh which areas need to be covered more effectively and which can be neglected. Key areas are of paramount importance. Having access to these key areas means that the covering players are positioned to put pressure on the opponent, either by regaining possession or engaging in duels.
Depth covering:
A nightmare for the defense is a pass into the depth of the field as it bypasses the pressing. The offside rule comes into play, helping the defense by preventing an attacker from being in an offside position and hoping for a pass. The defense can secure the depth of the game by pushing their defensive line forward, thereby reducing the playable field for the opponent. Bold teams may even push their defensive line up to the halfway line to limit spaces for the opponent and keep the field compact. However, this can become a risk when the defensive players are too far apart, enabling a pass into the depth.
Offside trap:
One way to secure the depth is by using the offside trap. In this tactic, defenders move forward together by a prearranged signal to catch the opponent in an offside position. It is especially effective when a team switches to a pressing mode and the defensive line advances to reduce distances. Opponents who don't react in time suddenly find themselves in an offside position, and a pass to them becomes illegal.
Anticipatory Goalkeeper:
In the context of depth covering, the goalkeeper plays a unique role. A prominent example of this role can be found in the Round of 16 match of the German national team during the 2014 World Cup against Algeria. In this game, the Algerian team repeatedly found ways to exploit the high defensive line of the German team. Defensive players left gaps in the defense, and the German midfield pressing was insufficient. Algeria played balls behind the defense multiple times. However, it was not a defender but the goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer, who prevented Algeria from posing a significant goal threat. He sprinted, made tackles, and cleared balls, often far outside of his penalty area.
In depth covering, an advancing goalkeeper can make all the difference. They have access to the space behind the defense and can secure it effectively. The advantage lies in their direct line of sight to this area, while defenders have their backs turned. This allows the goalkeeper to make timely decisions on when to rush out and act as a kind of "eleventh outfield player," intercepting an opponent's pass when necessary.
Redirecting the opponent to the wings:
Let's revisit the example of Liverpool's pressing. The full-back has the ball, and a through pass is well covered. Which passing lane would be the most dangerous now? A vertical pass along the touchline is an option, but the opponent would still be out wide. Their options are limited in that area. More dangerous would be a pass into the center of the midfield. Here, the opponent would have a strong starting position for an attack: the ball is in the middle, and there are numerous options available. A significant portion of Liverpool's pressing would be bypassed, and many defenders would be outplayed.
In such cases, Liverpool typically aims to secure the central area as a priority. The closer the ball gets to their own penalty area, the more crucial it becomes to protect the center. The goal is located there, and the opponent has the best chance to score. Some teams even employ pressing traps in the opponent's half to lure the opponent towards the center, as seen with Liverpool. However, at the latest in their own half, the strategy is to direct the opponent towards the wings. In conclusion, the central and deep areas must be secured to the best of their ability, while the width should be addressed as needed. A pass to the wings often distances the opponent from the goal and is preferred over a pass into the center.
💡Football Positions and Formations: Free Excel File
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