Van Gaal's Four-Phase Model

Football is undoubtedly a complex game. So how can we break down the tactics of this intricate sport into understandable segments to create a reasonably comprehensible yet technically correct structure?
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For structuring this topic, we have chosen a model developed by the Dutch coach Louis van Gaal. According to him, a football game is a continuous sequence of four phases that repeat from kickoff to the final whistle.
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Of course, this model is not perfect. Once again, the complexity of the sport becomes evident: hardly any game situation in football can be described without referring to indirect connections to other situations. The game of football is constantly in flux: players move freely, and aside from corners, free kicks, or goals, there are hardly any pauses. A ball that is in Team A's penalty area one moment can be in Team B's penalty area ten seconds later. The transitions between the four phases are fluid. As Juanma Lillo, the Spanish coach and a role model for Pep Guardiola, once said: "The game is an indivisible unity. There is no defensive moment without a simultaneous offensive one. Both form a functional unity."
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However, it still makes sense to choose this division as a foundation. Understanding the four phases of a football game is already a significant step toward analyzing a team's tactics. Furthermore, there are usually specific tactical principles that are consistently found in each phase in professional football.