Attack is the best form of Defense.
Why Press?
Imagine a team that sits deep in its own half and decides to shut shop from the word go. They are essentially inviting pressure on themselves by allowing the opposition time and space on the ball. And against top quality opposition, if the midfielders (or even defenders in some cases) are allowed the luxury of either time or space they will certainly pick out a killer pass before the defense can react. It essentially means that the opposition has control of the pitch and the ball while the defensive team is restricted to reacting according to the actions of the opposition.
This control the opposition enjoys can be taken away by pressing them and forcing them to take decisions they wouldn't want to; purely out of panic.This is even more effective when done in the opposition's first phase of play. It involves trying to win the ball back immediately after losing it and catching the opposition off guard while launching our own attacks. This, popularly known as 'Counter Pressing' can be done in different ways.
Various Pressing Techniques
Although pressing essentially means putting pressure on the man with possession of the ball, there are multiple facets to this. One way is to accompany the press by man marking all the passing options available to the man in possession which may force cheap turnovers.
Another alternative to this would be to block all the passing lanes and simultaneously pressing the man in possession. In this style the team defending attacks the ball instead of the individual. Pep Guardiola's Barcelona were one of the teams that employed this nature of pressing to devastating effect.
And, now onto Jurgen Klopp's much revered 'Gegen', the most critical thing with this is awareness of time. The 'Gegen' is very effective because this press is employed only for the initial ten seconds or less once possession has been lost. And after this initial period if the defending team is not able to win back possession then the midfielders and/or defenders retreat back to their original defensive framework. This looks to exploit the opponent's unawareness as soon as they've won the ball. But in some cases when the opponent is able to withstand this initial press then it doesn't make sense to persist high pressure. What Jurgen Klopp employed at Dortmund during their trophy days was a much refined version of what Roger Schmitt's Leverkusen are doing right now. Leverkusen converge 3 or even 4 players onto the opponent in possession and persist which leaves them very vulnerable and open.
Another important dimension to the 'Gegen' is that it provides leeway on the sides for wingers or wingbacks not involved in the press to bomb forward. This makes sure that we have enough men in positions that can cause danger to the opposition. The no.9 also converges along with one of the wingers for this press and when the ball is won it is dumped to the central midfielders who launch in onto the progressing wingbacks and wingers.
Below is an illustration of how Klopp used this style:
Over time, Klopp has evolved his 'Gegen' to come up with 'Pressing Traps'. Pressing Traps as the name suggests are traps which act as 'Pseudo Spaces' mostly in the defending team's zone 14. When an opposition player is in possession in these zones, in sudden action two or more players converge onto him forcing an error. Pressing Traps are a way of luring a player into what he thinks as space he can take control of, only to force an error out of him.
Apart from this there can be other common triggers for pressing like a poor first touch from an opposition defender, or when the ball is played on to the left of a right footed center back and vice versa.
How Pressing Can Cover-up for Under loaded Areas on the Pitch?
Sometimes, intelligent pressing can also be used to cover up areas of the pitch where the defending team is under-loaded. In the below illustration, the no 10 has come infield to gain superiority in midfield. This makes the defending team very narrow. Although it creates a 4v3 in the middle of the pitch the opposition Left Back has been let free. In order to make life difficult for the opposition, we employ a man-to-man in midfield while the no.9 presses the Center Back in possession while the No.10 keeps the other CB occupied while also cutting out passing lanes to the LB. With the man in possession put under pressure, he is forced to go long which would increase the possibility of a turnover.
CONCLUSION
It is crucial, irrespective of the style adopted that the pressing is done by a team acting as one unit. When done with discipline and a will to work harder than the opposition, Pressing can unsettle even the mightiest of opponents.
While many people still perceive it as an adventurous attack minded notion, it is rather the opposite.
Pressing with the Forwards and Midfielders is the first line of a Solid Defense.
Why Press?
Imagine a team that sits deep in its own half and decides to shut shop from the word go. They are essentially inviting pressure on themselves by allowing the opposition time and space on the ball. And against top quality opposition, if the midfielders (or even defenders in some cases) are allowed the luxury of either time or space they will certainly pick out a killer pass before the defense can react. It essentially means that the opposition has control of the pitch and the ball while the defensive team is restricted to reacting according to the actions of the opposition.
This control the opposition enjoys can be taken away by pressing them and forcing them to take decisions they wouldn't want to; purely out of panic.This is even more effective when done in the opposition's first phase of play. It involves trying to win the ball back immediately after losing it and catching the opposition off guard while launching our own attacks. This, popularly known as 'Counter Pressing' can be done in different ways.
Various Pressing Techniques
Although pressing essentially means putting pressure on the man with possession of the ball, there are multiple facets to this. One way is to accompany the press by man marking all the passing options available to the man in possession which may force cheap turnovers.
 |
| MAN-MARKING |
Another alternative to this would be to block all the passing lanes and simultaneously pressing the man in possession. In this style the team defending attacks the ball instead of the individual. Pep Guardiola's Barcelona were one of the teams that employed this nature of pressing to devastating effect.
 |
| PASSING LANE PRESS |
And, now onto Jurgen Klopp's much revered 'Gegen', the most critical thing with this is awareness of time. The 'Gegen' is very effective because this press is employed only for the initial ten seconds or less once possession has been lost. And after this initial period if the defending team is not able to win back possession then the midfielders and/or defenders retreat back to their original defensive framework. This looks to exploit the opponent's unawareness as soon as they've won the ball. But in some cases when the opponent is able to withstand this initial press then it doesn't make sense to persist high pressure. What Jurgen Klopp employed at Dortmund during their trophy days was a much refined version of what Roger Schmitt's Leverkusen are doing right now. Leverkusen converge 3 or even 4 players onto the opponent in possession and persist which leaves them very vulnerable and open.
Another important dimension to the 'Gegen' is that it provides leeway on the sides for wingers or wingbacks not involved in the press to bomb forward. This makes sure that we have enough men in positions that can cause danger to the opposition. The no.9 also converges along with one of the wingers for this press and when the ball is won it is dumped to the central midfielders who launch in onto the progressing wingbacks and wingers.
Below is an illustration of how Klopp used this style:
Over time, Klopp has evolved his 'Gegen' to come up with 'Pressing Traps'. Pressing Traps as the name suggests are traps which act as 'Pseudo Spaces' mostly in the defending team's zone 14. When an opposition player is in possession in these zones, in sudden action two or more players converge onto him forcing an error. Pressing Traps are a way of luring a player into what he thinks as space he can take control of, only to force an error out of him.
Apart from this there can be other common triggers for pressing like a poor first touch from an opposition defender, or when the ball is played on to the left of a right footed center back and vice versa.
How Pressing Can Cover-up for Under loaded Areas on the Pitch?
Sometimes, intelligent pressing can also be used to cover up areas of the pitch where the defending team is under-loaded. In the below illustration, the no 10 has come infield to gain superiority in midfield. This makes the defending team very narrow. Although it creates a 4v3 in the middle of the pitch the opposition Left Back has been let free. In order to make life difficult for the opposition, we employ a man-to-man in midfield while the no.9 presses the Center Back in possession while the No.10 keeps the other CB occupied while also cutting out passing lanes to the LB. With the man in possession put under pressure, he is forced to go long which would increase the possibility of a turnover.
CONCLUSION
It is crucial, irrespective of the style adopted that the pressing is done by a team acting as one unit. When done with discipline and a will to work harder than the opposition, Pressing can unsettle even the mightiest of opponents.
While many people still perceive it as an adventurous attack minded notion, it is rather the opposite.
Pressing with the Forwards and Midfielders is the first line of a Solid Defense.
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