Soccer Tactics - Build-Up Play in The Face of Pressing - Coachbetter

S O C C E R A RT I C L E
Soccer Tactics: Build-up

Play in the Face of
Pressing
Coachbetter
In order to hold your own against an opponent’s pressing in midfield– at least
against teams that are roughly on the same level as yours, you need as much
information as possible about the opponent’s preferred pressing variations.
Does the opposing team press in midfield? In which spaces does the opponent
attack depending on the situation of the match? Based on careful study of the
opposing team you can make a match plan and develop effective counter-
measures. This requires time and patience but can be worth it – especially in
such a crucial match.
Basic formation
In order to limit the opponent’s options going forward, it’s helpful to stagger
the team as widely and deeply as possible without losing connections
between different parts of the team.
This means the opponent has long running paths in order to then press
successfully. Because of this, the team should avoid playing into tight
situations.
The passing game therefore shouldn’t consist of just short passes, but rather –
where possible – be over at least mid-range distances (which happens almost
automatically when the team is staggered widely).

To do this, formations with four rows are advantageous, for example the 4-2-
3-1 or the 4-1-4-1 system. Less staggered formations, like the 4-4-2 with a flat
back four, are unfavorable in this case, because there are fewer options
available in the game. It’s beneficial to place players who can resist pressing in
the center of midfield if possible.
Pressing resistant players are those who are very comfortable in possession
and can find useful solutions even in tight and fast-paced situations. The same
principle naturally applies vice versa: you should try to avoid sending players
who aren’t as comfortable in possession, into dangerous pressing situations.
Embed from Getty Images
Tactical possibilities against

forechecking
If the opponent attacks very early on and high up the pitch you should let the
players run long distances at first, something that requires involving the
goalkeeper in build-up play.
The rest of the team can then fan out and constantly provide openings (even
deep in one’s own half) for the player in possession. The players receiving
passes must stay calm with the ball when in high pressure situations, in order
to let the opponents wear themselves out from running.
If you let some of your players play higher up the field in the opposing half, it
then increases the risk of a dangerous counter-attack for the opponent, if

their pressing efforts are unsuccessful. If the opposing team is able to prevent
your successful combination play while building up from the back, you can
resort to long passes, that can be controlled or passed on by one’s own
offense.
This forces the opponent to make long, exhausting runs down the pitch every
time, something that will expend high amounts of energy across the duration
of the match
Tactical possibilities against pressing

in midfield
Pressing in midfield can also be out-maneuvered easily with long passes. It’s
unlikely, though that successful combination play will come of it, which is why
it’s better to try to prevent the opponent’s typical pressing pattern.
If the opposing team often presses directly against the right fullback (pressing
victim), you can avoid passing to that player. Another possible reaction to this
tactic is to have a player who is especially technically skilled play in this
position as an element of surprise.
If the opponent’s pressing formation isn’t compact enough and gaps are
created, these should be used to play past an opposing line and get one’s own
offensive players moving towards the opposing goal. This creates scoring
opportunities and forces the opposing team to adjust the players’ behavior
when attacking, once this system has failed on numerous occasions.
Wingers as a surprise effect:

A typical play is a direct pass from a central defender to the offensive
midfielder who has moved in from the wing, for example in a 4-2-3-1
formation. If this player gets to the ball in time, he/she can switch the ball to
the central midfielders, who can then pick up the pace and head towards the
goal.
Another possibility for combating pressing in midfield is for the central
midfielder to drop deep into the tight pocket of space between a central
defender and fullback.
If an opposing midfielder advances and leaves his/her line, a gap is created
that can be used for build-up play through the center. If this player stays in
his/her position, though, the central midfielder has secure possession of the
ball and the situation will unlikely end up in pressing.
One variation that is often used, is playing into a relatively tight situation on
the wing. This lures the opponent into attacking. If the opposing players then
subsequently attack, you can switch play through the central midfielder or
with a direct pass to the central defender furthest from the ball.
Ideally, the central defender is then able to pass not only to his/her fullback,
but also to the wide midfielders or wingers positioned in front of them, who
can then begin to dribble further up the field. Since the opponent is still on the
other side of the pitch after a switch in play, your team has more room in
which to make key decisions.
Flexibility and technical quality are key in order to get past opposing pressing
situations, it’s primarily about not getting stuck in the same patterns of build-
up play, as it becomes too easy for the opponent to anticipate. This requires
technically good players, who have a feel for space and are able to use small
gaps to their advantage. At a team-tactical level, simple measures such as
position changes or rotating players can render the opponent’s pressing
efforts ineffective.
Embed from Getty Images

Getty Images Sport | Pool
Training focus
Training different variations of build-up play that are effective against
opposing pressing is about training the flexibility of one’s own team. Using a
sparring team that plays with as many variations of pressing as possible, your
own team can learn what kind of behavior is helpful when trying to play
through pressing.
It’s difficult to use the identical pressing patterns as the opposing team in
training, but spaces in which the opponent presses and in which direction they
try to steer the game, can be simulated quite easily. Otherwise, you always
have the option of showing your team videos of the opposing team and
working on passing and running paths accordingly, in order to then prepare
your players for the opponent.
All small-sided games that require fast decisions under a lot of pressure from
the opponent, train the necessary skills of your players and by doing so
indirectly increase the chances of success against opposing pressing.”

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What formations are advantageous for build-up play against pressing?

What formations are advantageous for build-up play against pressing?

What are some tactical possibilities for countering pressing in midfield?

What are some tactical possibilities for countering pressing in midfield?

S O C C E R A RT I C L E

Soccer Tactics: Build-up

In order to hold your own against an opponent’s pressing in midfield– at least

information as possible about the opponent’s preferred pressing variations.

such a crucial match.

the team as widely and deeply as possible without losing connections

between different parts of the team.

where possible – be over at least mid-range distances (which happens almost

automatically when the team is staggered widely).

the center of midfield if possible.

who aren’t as comfortable in possession, into dangerous pressing situations.

Embed from Getty Images

Tactical possibilities against

goalkeeper in build-up play.

to let the opponents wear themselves out from running.

then increases the risk of a dangerous counter-attack for the opponent, if

resort to long passes, that can be controlled or passed on by one’s own

Tactical possibilities against pressing

it’s better to try to prevent the opponent’s typical pressing pattern.

tactic is to have a player who is especially technically skilled play in this

position as an element of surprise.

when attacking, once this system has failed on numerous occasions.

Wingers as a surprise effect:

defender and fullback.

If an opposing midfielder advances and leaves his/her line, a gap is created

ball and the situation will unlikely end up in pressing.

which to make key decisions.

gaps to their advantage. At a team-tactical level, simple measures such as

position changes or rotating players can render the opponent’s pressing

Embed from Getty Images

working on passing and running paths accordingly, in order to then prepare

your players for the opponent.

indirectly increase the chances of success against opposing pressing.”

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