Thread by @Chris17_t

Aspect Analysis: Guiding the opponent while pressing

- wide areas
- centre
- advantages & disadvantages

#Pressing #Tactics #Liverpool #ManCity

[THREAD]

When pressing, most teams try to guide the opponent to a specific area of the pitch to eventually win the ball there and transition to create chances.

Normally, there is a distinction between forcing the opponent building-up through the wide areas or the centre. Both ways have advantages and disadvantages, which I'm going to analyse in this thread.

Wide areas:

When guiding the opponent to the wing, the pressing side can use the side-line as an "extra defender", which makes it easier for the pressing side to win the ball there or force a mistake from the opponent.

That’s because it's more difficult to progress from the wide areas than for example from the centre, as the wide player has less options to progress and is restricted through the side-line.

To achieve this aim, it's important that the centre of the pressing team is closed, and the wide area is the only possible option to build-up for the in-possession side.

Often, one or two players start the press and force the opponent to a specific side and then the whole block moves over to create local compactness there and leave the other side more or less free.

Many teams also try to restrict a back pass option if the ball was forced wide, which makes it even more difficult for the in-possession side.

The problem from this pressing approach however is that if the pressing team wins the ball, it's also more difficult to transition and create a chance. After the ball is won, the other team can immediately counterpress and now use the side-line for their advantage.

Therefore, a great structure and good movements to transition are necessary to create chances from this pressing approach.

Centre:

Guiding the opponent into the centre is more difficult and riskier if the opponent is able to progress through the centre as the way to the goal is shorter than through the wide areas and the opponent has better options to progress.

On the other hand, however, winning the ball in the centre means that the pressing side also has a shorter way to the goal, which increases the possibility to create a chance.

Moreover, in the centre, the options to progress are also greater, meaning it's more difficult to defend the transition. Since it's easier to get through the counterpressing of the opponent because of the various progressive options.

Again, it's important to close the centre. However, as the pressing side aims to guide the opponent centrally, it’s also important how the pressing team reacts if the ball goes out wide.

Conclusion:

Guiding the opponent wide is easier but more difficult to create chances after winning the ball. Guiding the opponent into the centre is riskier and more difficult, but it's easier to create chances.

What are your thoughts on this topic, and which one do you prefer more? Regardless of the opponent and if you could have any possible players.

Nevertheless, there is no right or wrong and sometimes changing the approach because of a specific situation is the even better option.

I hope you enjoyed this thread! Feedback is appreciated in any form whatsoever.