Thread by @TheMidfieldRole

COACHING PROFILE: JULIAN NAGELSMANN.

The 35 year old is unanimously touted as one of the best coaches in the world. Several clubs are scrambling to sign the German coach. But why?

In collaboration with: @sustainedpress @MazinMMukhtar @gxdfather_

Julian Nagelsmann is one of the most innovative coaches in football right now. At 32, Nagelsmann led RB Leipzig to their first Champions League semi-finals. But it isn’t his age that makes Nagelsmann one of the most innovative coaches in the world.

It’s his methodologies- a mix between the German coaching system and the positional game we see in Spain that makes him stand out in the world of football. His vertical yet possession-oriented football adheres to his ideas about football.

It all started in Gersthofen, Julian Nagelsmann starts his coaching career at Augsburg II, his first mission being to scout an opponent in GerstHofen. Uncertain and excited, collects Nagelsmann his notes on the opponent, with a paper, pen and a handheld camera.

Julian Nagelsmann became the youngest ever coach to win the U19 Championship with Hoffenheim U-19s at only 26 years of age. He was only going to climb up the ladder of managerial football from this point onwards & that is exactly what he did.

Nagelsmann in 2023, is an established coach in world of football, a Tier 1 Tactician having managed clubs like RB Leipzig & Bayern Munich. In this thread we will explain his entire coaching profile.

From this interview with DAZN, we can get an idea of how Julian Nagelsmann interprets football and how he looks to setup his teams going into every game.

Julian Nagelsmann's ideas and interpretation of the in possession principles:
- Wingers/WBs stretching the field.
- Narrow midfield.
- Occupying the last line with 5/6 players.

Julian Nagelsmann on breaking down low blocks:
Emphasis again on box occupation and stretching the field laterally + having a narrow midfield with short distances between the players in order to minimize the threat of conceding a counter-attack.

"Inducing a chain reaction".
Nagelsmann highlights how his players manipulate the opponent block. Here he's talking about pulling the LB in a back 4 out & creating space (b/w the CB & the LB) for his interior- Muller to run into.

Julian talks about the importance of a compact structure in the midfield in order to execute a successful counter-press & prevent transitional threat.
-Short distances b/w the players.
-Minimize central openings.
-Regain possession within 6-7 seconds.

Nagelsmann explains the co-relation between box occupancy & it's impact on also implementing a successful counter-press if the chance isn't converted.
- Greater chance of scoring of a rebound.
- Players in close proximity can win the ball back to start a new sequence of attack.

A little peek into how a half-time talk would look like in a Julian Nagelsmann dressing room:
- Key point to note here, Nagelsmann reacts according to the game situation and also focuses on the emotional aspect of the game i.e. boosting his player's morale.

We will now look at some of the training methods Julian Nagelsmann uses in order to help his players understand his game plan which would allow them to make quick decisions during the game and produce better results.

Training drill idea:
• 5 touches minimum -> more combinations of play, quick releases & faster decision making.
• Pressing trigger when fullback receives the ball after a switch -> outnumbered during low phase of build up, forcing a turnover, eventually leading to a chance.

Nagelsmann Training artificial transitions:
Possible mechanisms to be used when outnumbering the opponents defense in a 5v3 situation.

Ball circulation with 3 teams around the rondo.
6 passes -> immediate switch -> instant pressure by the 2 men pressing.
Training shifting with coordination in a block.

8v8 + 1 neutral player.
2 goals, 4 short goals.
Emphasis on quick combinations after regaining possession & scoring in the nearest goal but completing 4 passes is mandatory.

Nagelsmann has managed 3 German Clubs-
-TSG 1899 Hoffenheim
- RB Leipzig
- Bayern Munich.

We will now look at the core principles he implemented both in and out of possession at these clubs:

Starting with Hoffenheim,
In Possession, Hoffenheim were more dynamic & vertical in contrast to Nagelsmann's current teams who also demonstrate patience & control. Nagelsmann loves to stretch the field laterally but his emphasis has always been on progressing the play centrally.

Example of Vertical Build-up at Hoffenheim under Julian Nagelsmann.

Quick combinations, verticality was the Hoffenheim way under Nagelsmann. The players could change the rhythm of the game with a couple of line breaking passes or a direct run in behind the defence- a feature consistent in every Nagelsmann team.

Off the ball, Hoffenheim would mostly setup in a 532 with Nagelsmann adapting according to the opponent's gameplan. At times it would be a 541 to defend the centre better and abandon the man for man approach.

Example of the "Gegenpress" at Hoffenheim:
- Protecting the centre.
- Short distances between players.

Moving on to RB Leipzig,
We picked one of their most impressive displays to highlight Nagelsmann’s impact at the club.
The Champions League Quarter final against Atletico Madrid.

Leipzig emphasized on:
-WBs/Wingers stretching the field laterally.
-Narrow midfield, short distances b/w the players.
-CBs carrying the ball into the midfield to disrupt Atleti’s marking scheme.
-Smart movements of Sabitzer & Nkunku to create space for Laimer & Angelino.

Out of possession, it was a 4231:
- Compact double pivot.
- Wide pressing traps.
- Central cover to minimize risk of turnovers deep inside Atleti’s half.

Switched to a 442/532 hybrid towards the end of the game in order to protect their lead.

This was Leipzig’s basic setup throughout Nagelsmann’s tenure at the club & it was probably their most successful period since they were founded in 2009.

After an impressive spell at RB Leipzig, Nagelsmann signed for Bayern Munich, the biggest club in Germany.

In possession, in the first few games before settling in, he used the 4222.
-Ball side FB high and wide. Orientation such that if closed aggressively, can release the interior who now makes a run in the space vacated by the opp. Winger/FB.
-Direct access to interiors BTLs.

Movements in the 1st & 2nd lines to drag markers away & open passing lanes. VERTICAL BUILD UP.

Out of possession,
-Use of wide pressing traps with ball into wide areas a trigger for the ball side FB to jump aggressively.
-Advantages of the 4222—a narrow midfield, short distances—facilitates an efficient counter press.

We analyzed the last big game Nagelsmann managed at Bayern Munich—vs PSG

In possession, Bayern opted for a 3151 against a narrow 442 block, like the Leipzig v ATM game back in 2019.
-Kimmich as #6 baits the the 2 STs into following him, opening lanes into the interiors.
-The #10 & the interiors in proximity between PSG’s 2nd & 3rd lines of defence.

Quick combinations & relationist elements key for chance creation once ball is with the interiors/#10.
-Width always on offer for Davies & Coman due to PSG’s narrow block and tendencies of their FBs to drift inside because of Bayern’s interiors.

-Occupying the box to leads to far side winger being isolated. Can make a late far post run, cutting inside to get on the end of a cross from the opp. Side.

Final third dynamics & chance creation:

Out of possession, Bayern pressed PSG in a 3-1-2.
-Musiala jumping on the ball side #6 instead of Kimmich who was covering the other #6.
-Ball side FB jumps aggressively on the opp. FB

-Switching to a 442/532 hybrid in the 2nd half.
-Aggressive WCB jumps to prevent PSG players from receiving on the half turn & running at the Bayern defence.
-Strikers eliminating the double pivot from the game and closing central access to the PSG CBs.

This proactive way of defending is one of the main reasons why Real Madrid should be looking to sign Julian Nagelsmann.

JULIAN NAGELSMANN & REAL MADRID:
After a disappointing season, Real Madrid may search for a new coach. How can Julian Nagelsmann be the right choice? Let’s look at a few factors:
-Tactics.
-Youth Development.
-Long-term fit.

TACTICS:
Nagelsmann’s 3-1-6 & 4-2-2-2 shapes match well with Madrid’s current squads & potential signings.

Nagelsmann would bring much needed control & structure to the Spanish Giants. OPP he could fix Madrid’s decade-long issues related to proactive defending.

YOUTH DEVELOPMENT:

During his time at Hoffenheim, Leipzig & Bayern, Nagelsmann has shown the ability to develop players. Some players who have blossomed under the German:
- Dayot Upamecano
- Ibrahim Konate
- Jamal Musiala
- Niklas Sule
- Timo Werner

LONG-TERM FIT:
At Bayern, Nagelsmann attempted to change the culture of the club. Nagelsmann’s training methodologies & tactical philosophy align with Los Blancos’ long-term transfer strategy.
With adequate backing from the board, Nagelsmann could coach Madrid for 5+ years.

Players/coaches who have worked with Julian Nagelsmann, hold him in high regard.

"I can only say that Julian Nagelsmann is an outstanding coach. I've had a lot of top coaches, and I'd say he's easily in my top three.”
-Joshua Kimmich

"Marvelous person and coach".
-Leon Goretzka

"I've known him for some time now. He helps both the young and the experienced players and has always had the absolute will to win. He's already a great coach."
- Dayot Upamecano

"He talks about tactics a lot and it helps massively the way he delivers them. That’s what took me further as a player."
-Christopher Nkunku

“Here we play closer together. We rely on each other so we can give the game more speed. If we play more spaced-out, we can’t play as fast as the coach wants us to. That’s why we want to play as close together as possible, almost like Five-a-side Football. (contd.)

The smaller the space, the better, because the ball moves faster. We attract more rivals that way, but we need to know how to play under pressure. If we succeed, we open bigger spaces and we’re able to attack with more depth”
— Dani Olmo.

“As a coach, I am where I am today because I had success through a certain training philosophy — complex exercises, tactical behavior to adapt to the opponent. Bayern players weren’t used to this”
— Julian Nagelsmann.