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Julian Naagelsman Tactical Analysis
[ A THREAD]
![Julian Naagelsman Tactical Analysis[ A THREAD]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EsRDU7lXYAADIp6.jpg "Julian Naagelsman Tactical Analysis[ A THREAD]")
[ A THREAD]
After briefly working under Thomas Tuchel at Augsburg, Nagelsmann worked his way through the ranks at 1899 Hoffenheim, leading them into the UEFA Champions League for the first time in their history.
After three incredibly successful years with Hoffenheim, Nagelsmann departed the club in 2019 for Leipzig. Due to his fantastic success with a club that is now firmly one of Germany’s elite clubs, Nagelsmann is now one of the most sought after and respected coaches in the world.
SYSTEM OF PLAY: 4-4-2
they have two reasonably consistent approaches to their system of play, a variation of the 4-4-2 or a variation of the 3-5-2. Both of Leipzig’s previous managers – Ralph Ragnick and Ralph Hassenhuttl preferred the innovative 4-2-2-2 system.
they have two reasonably consistent approaches to their system of play, a variation of the 4-4-2 or a variation of the 3-5-2. Both of Leipzig’s previous managers – Ralph Ragnick and Ralph Hassenhuttl preferred the innovative 4-2-2-2 system.
But whatever formation the team plays, one of the keys seems to be in giving Timo Werner a partner. The German striker is a natural number 9 and completely capable of playing up top all on his own. But he likes to get involved in the link-up play.
FLAMBOYANCY IN ATTACK
Leipzig love to attack down the wings. They have a highly talented cast and crew of players, who are very capable of taking players on 1v1 and creating chances through individual skill.
Leipzig love to attack down the wings. They have a highly talented cast and crew of players, who are very capable of taking players on 1v1 and creating chances through individual skill.
With wingers who love to cut inside, their fullbacks are able to progress forward frequently on the overlap. In moments where they can get the ball to the fullbacks, they may look to deliver a low cross, or play a diagonal into the nearby striker before switching play
In addition to the fantastic individual skill of their players, they combine in a collective effort to keep possession. Die Roten Bullen play a possession-based style of football, involving short and quick passing combinations.
Their approach involves a mix of both verticality and getting the ball forward quickly, and horizontality, shifting play left and right to take advantage of the wings, particularly when playing in a back-three formation. They like to play in the opposite half more than their own.
VARIETY OF GOAL-SCORING METHODS
Leipzig have a great variety for how they score their goals. 20% of those 75 goals have been scored via set-pieces, while 9% have been scored through counter attacks directly after winning possession in their own half.
Leipzig have a great variety for how they score their goals. 20% of those 75 goals have been scored via set-pieces, while 9% have been scored through counter attacks directly after winning possession in their own half.
They’ve also scored the most number of penalty kicks this season with 5. But the majority of their goals as should be the case for any top-level team, come from intricate combinations and open-play.
Leipzig don’t favour one side more than the other and actually attack down the middle far more than most teams in the Bundesliga. The narrowness of such a formation like the 4-2-2-2 or even the 4-4-2 allows naturally for that central penetration.
So too does the lack of natural wingers who get up and down the line. Sabitzer and Nkunku are both far more likely to adopt central positions and cut inside rather than take players on, and that in a way has helped Leipzig achieve quick attacking transitions.
POSSESSION & PLAYING OUT FROM THE BACK
Nagelsmann’s talented team are quite adept at keeping possession and playing through the thirds. Similarly to Dortmund, they like to play a one-two-touch passing kind of game, advancing the ball quickly and vertically.
Nagelsmann’s talented team are quite adept at keeping possession and playing through the thirds. Similarly to Dortmund, they like to play a one-two-touch passing kind of game, advancing the ball quickly and vertically.
But they also tend to favour direct balls along the ground into their forwards or wingers, who will drop to show for the ball. Their central midfielders are not frequent outlets during moments where the team are attempting to play out from the back.
They instead hold their positions, allowing Leipzig to have a clogged midfield should they lose the ball. Upamecano and Klostermann will often shift the ball left to right, looking to play in a striker or a winger at the right moment.
The young Frenchman has completed the ninth most passes per game in the Bundesliga this season (70.3), highlighting his importance to the team when playing out from the back.
Once playing the ball more directly to a forward or winger, if there is no adequate route forward they may look to spread the ball backwards to the fullbacks, or inside to the central midfielders before looking again to go forwards.
These one-two-touch combinations allow Leipzig to retain possession and look to play the ball forwards at the right moment.
If Leipzig are under immense pressure and finding it difficult to locate the perfect pass, they may look to go long to their target player in Yussuf Poulsen or Patrik Schik.
However, it is again worth noting that Leipzig have attempted the fewest long-balls per game and that even though this target man often helps in their possession and attacking combinations, they only use the target man from back to front as an outlet when under intense pressure.
Both Poulsen and Schik are however very capable of holding the ball up and when combined with Werner’s pace and clever movement, it’s easy to see why Leipzig might adopt this approach from time to time.
PRESSING FROM THE FRONT
Leipzig play a high pressing style of football off-the-ball. As custom, they press in a diamond shape, with their strikers crucial to the process. Rather than forcing their opponents back towards their own goal, they like to pressure their opponents wide
Leipzig play a high pressing style of football off-the-ball. As custom, they press in a diamond shape, with their strikers crucial to the process. Rather than forcing their opponents back towards their own goal, they like to pressure their opponents wide
This is done by the intentional movement of the strikers to both press the player in possession and cut off their central passing options, such as the other team’s central midfielders.
The goal for Leipzig in their press is to trap the opposition in a wide area, where the mobile Nkunku or Sabitzer are ready to pounce.
With one pass into the wide area, Leipzig will overload that side of the pitch and ensure their opposition have no way out. The diamond shape is then completed by the central midfielder and near-sided fullback offering cover and support nearby.
Against teams that have a talented ‘number 6’, Nagelsmann may opt for a 3-5-2 system, in which he has an attacking midfielder (such as Emil Forsberg) match the other team’s defensive midfielder.
This again allows Leipzig to achieve numerical superiority in central areas, forcing their opposition into the wide areas where they are prepared to create defensive overloads.
With one striker involved in the press and the other remaining high and central, Leipzig also have a natural outlet to go on quick counter attacks should they win the ball back.
