How do we feel about Hasenhuttl?

[THREAD]

#CFC #Chelsea #PremierLeague #Football #hasenhuttl

Ralph Hassenhuttl managed to get Southampton at the top of the Premier League, they haven’t been in pole position since 1988

Hassenhuttl creates a team with a clearly designed set of principles. He uses a 4-2-2-2 formation at Southampton. The wide midfielders tuck inside when they’re in possession and attacking.

Possession is circulated in the defence where one of the midfielders often drop in too to support them. To create a three man ball circulation.

Southampton players are trusted to rotate the ball between themselves, they’re patient and methodical. The opposition can be drawn into pressing which will disrupt their positioning, pulling them away from their own goal.

Secondly, it means that Southampton can shift and move the ball extremely quickly once the opportunity arrives. The change in pace is a damaging weapon as it can catch teams off guard, especially have a lot of pace ( Kyle Walker Peters, Theo Walcott )

This ball progression usually is out wide or quick vertical possessions. Generally Southampton take the ball out wide at pace and often the team will recycle the ball backwards even when in a promising position. They usually try score goals from whipping it into the box to header

The box is usually congested with Southampton players and therefore, means it’s difficult for the opposition to defend & then means they’re players available to shoot outside the box or get a rebound.

If Southampton cannot get a good opportunity to score, they will restart all the way at the back and is a clear method used by Hasenhuttl. It requires good concentration and patience.

Southampton usually use specific passing lanes which Hasenhuttl calls “ Automatisms. “ the goal is to win a turnover which is followed by the same overload of the attacking zone as is seen from controlled build up.

OR, they force the opposition to force long passes and the defenders recover it and they quickly press and restart the attack from the back.

If there is a ball loss the strikers usually drop back to prevent the opposition to restart from the back of their team which engages players to keep possession. Moreover, this will then make Southampton players overload the box again and will create goal scoring opportunities.

Southampton don’t just boot it up the pitch, those passes are controlled and careful like anything else they try to do. Southampton are an intelligent football team.

Qualities:
- Careful approach
- Good build up
- Energetic pressing
- No silly fouls
- Overloading the attacking zone

They’re an example of what a great coach can do to institute a play and then make it work.