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Why Manchester United’s press is ineffective
A THREAD:
A THREAD:
When he was the caretaker manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer told the media that Manchester United should be the hardest working team in the league.
Since then, Solskjaer has gained status as the full-time boss at Old Trafford, and the side has definitely improved in this aspect.
Since then, Solskjaer has gained status as the full-time boss at Old Trafford, and the side has definitely improved in this aspect.
To know whether a team has improved in their pressing, a good metric to use is ‘ball recoveries in the opposition half’ – this helps show whether a team is pressing successfully and winning the ball back in the opposition’s half.
In the 2018/19 season, Manchester United averaged just 22.63 ball recoveries in the opposition half per 90 – this was the 16th worst in the Premier League for the season. (StatsBomb)
In 2019/20 and 20/21 so far, United average 24.29 ball recoveries in the opposition half – the 12th best in the league since then. Yet, they are still far off the numbers that Liverpool (33.55) and Man City (30.75) have produced in that time.
There is still improvement needed.
There is still improvement needed.
𝙒𝙝𝙮 𝙐𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙚𝙙'𝙨 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝙞𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙞𝙫𝙚
I will talk about three reasons that United do not have much success with their press.
1. The lack of intensity in the press
2. The pressing is not smart
3. Not pressing as a team
I will talk about three reasons that United do not have much success with their press.
1. The lack of intensity in the press
2. The pressing is not smart
3. Not pressing as a team
1. The Lack of intensity in the press
Teams like Liverpool and Southampton operate with high intensity in their press. This gives opposition limited time to make their decision and also closes down angles more-so than a 'half-press' which is much easier to build-up against.
Teams like Liverpool and Southampton operate with high intensity in their press. This gives opposition limited time to make their decision and also closes down angles more-so than a 'half-press' which is much easier to build-up against.
United's 'half-press' allows teams to play out easier - as the pressure is not high enough to force the opposition backwards or make them panic and force a mistake.
Against the better sides, this is even more dangerous as there is space to be exploited in the transition.
Against the better sides, this is even more dangerous as there is space to be exploited in the transition.
Yet not all teams need to press with the highest intensity but in that case, they need to *press smartly*.
Which brings me onto the next section...
Which brings me onto the next section...
2. The pressing is not smart
The top pressing sides are great at retrieving the ball because one presser can, at times, occupy two or more opposition players. They do this by pressing and ensuring they move and keep an opposition player in their cover shadow.
The top pressing sides are great at retrieving the ball because one presser can, at times, occupy two or more opposition players. They do this by pressing and ensuring they move and keep an opposition player in their cover shadow.
In the below examples we can see two instances in the same play where we did not press smartly and was punished for it.
Blindly pressing is something that United players are guilty of and ultimately makes it much easier for the opposition to break the press.
Blindly pressing is something that United players are guilty of and ultimately makes it much easier for the opposition to break the press.
3. Not pressing as a team
This might be the most important factor in why United are not successful in their pressing. There have been many instances where United will have a disjointed press and the opposition will be able to take advantage of it.
This might be the most important factor in why United are not successful in their pressing. There have been many instances where United will have a disjointed press and the opposition will be able to take advantage of it.
When pressing the opposition in their third, you need to suffocate their options and that means a handful of players need to be aware and pressing their men.
If just one player doesn't press quickly enough the opposition can break and build an attack.
If just one player doesn't press quickly enough the opposition can break and build an attack.
In the below example we can see how one player not pressing quickly enough can be punished.
Improvement in this area would instantly make it more difficult for the opposition when United press.
Improvement in this area would instantly make it more difficult for the opposition when United press.
While United are certainly a more hard-working team than before, they still lack different aspects as a team to become a good pressing side.
I have noted three factors to why we still struggle in this aspect but there are many more which I haven't considered in this thread.
I have noted three factors to why we still struggle in this aspect but there are many more which I haven't considered in this thread.
If you enjoyed reading, I'd appreciate any likes or retweets and any feedback!
END OF THREAD.
END OF THREAD.
