Julian Nagelsmann

| A THREAD |

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Sections:

- Background

- Style and Philosophy

- Tactics (20/21 Leipzig)

BACKGROUND:

Nagelsmann started off his career in football in the 1860 München Academy as a young tall & promising ball playing centre back, often compared to John Terry, & seen as a future Bundesliga CB. He was forced however at age 20 to retire due to a knee injury.

He immediately began working as an opposition scout for Thomas Tuchel at Augsburg. He then worked two years as the assistant manager in 1860 München’s U17s, before joining Hoffenheim in 2010.

Nagelsmann spent 6 years in different coaching roles at Hoffenheim before being promoted to 1st team coach in February 2016. Hoffenheim at the time were deeply entangled in a fierce relegation battle, and the appointment was seen as an acceptance of relegation.

At only 28 years old Nagelsmann led Hoffenheim to safety, winning 7 out of 14 remaining matches and ending the season 7 points off the relegation places.

He went on to achieve back to back CL places with Hoffenheim before agreeing a year in advance to join Leipzig in 2019. Where in 19/20 he finished in the CL spots & made it to the CL semi-final before losing to his old mentor Tuchel’s PSG, not before beating Mourinho and Simeone.

So far into 20/21, Leipzig sit 2nd despite losing the 34 goals of Timo Werner. After 18 games they’ve 35 points, and are due to play Liverpool in the CL round of 16 after making it through a group of death, including PSG and Man U.

STYLE AND PHILOSOPHY

The 33 year old is heavily influenced by Ralf Rangnick, the same man who later brought him to Leipzig. He’s a part of the gegen-pressing, positional play, attacking era of German Managers such as Klopp, Tuchel, and Hassenhüttl(Austrian).

His team are known for their pressing but in a structured and effective manner. In comparison to Rangnick’s Leipzig, Nagelsmann’s press less but win the ball back more often. Often trapping opposition out wide and high up the pitch.

Nagelsmann promotes vertical passing (forward) in the build up. Leipzig often fire balls forward to players in between the lines when they play out and it can look very forced but works. There’s an emphasis on only passing sideways if there are no forward psssing options.

TACTICS 20/21

FORMATIONS

Nagelsmann has set up in countless formations. At leipzig the main 3 have been 3-4-3, 3-1-4-2, and 4-4-2. The style of play and system remains the same no matter the formation. He did however line up in a 4-3-3 against Bayern.

BUILD UP

Leipzig this Season have often used a 3-1-5-1/ 3-1-4-2 shape to play out of the back. With Laimer dropping deep to link play between the back 3 and midfield, and the wing backs high and wide stretching the opponents midfield.

The outside centre backs have options both centrally, in the half spaces, and out-wide to progress the ball forward, making it extremely difficult for opponents to cut off the passing lanes as there are so many of them.

Having both the half spaces and the flanks occupied means that 2v1s can easily be created between the wing back and midfielder, against whoever is marking either of them, if they're both man marked it creates space centrally for Leipzig to progress through, or in b/w the lines.

Leipzig may look to drag opponents onto their right side of the pitch, so they can quickly switch it to the otherside where angelino has plenty of space to run into and get forward.

The band of 4-5 across the midfield and 1 dropping deep means that teams can’t effectively man mark Leipzig. Leipzig’s midfielders will drop deep and play 1-2s or lay-offs, the zone they occupied is now empty leaving space for another midfielder to run into and receive the ball.

The best way of dealing with Leipzig’s build up is probably just sitting deep or forcing them wide, as they will look to create overloads all over the pitch, and if you press high they’ll drag your pressing players into certain areas to create space for them to progress through.

DEFENDING AND PRESSING:

Leipzig employ a high and organised pressing structure. Forcing opponents long or wide is their objective.

Their forwards will put heavy pressure on the centre backs and intentionally leave the full backs open. Once the full backs receive the ball, Leipzig’s own wing backs will press forward, a midfielder will press horizontally and the forward will try prevent it being passed back.

When Leipzig lose the ball, they’ll cut off the central areas and force the opponents wide again, by pressing the ball carrier forcing him to pass quickly. Once again they’ll then look to trap the wide man.

If teams try play the ball over the Leipzig press, players such as Upamecano are aerially dominant and able to win their aerial battle more often than not. As well Leipzig are extremely quick on second balls, and will converge on any knock downs or loose touches.

Overall Leipzig are very effective at pressing their opponents. This season off set pieces have only conceded 3 goals. Their defensive record of 17 goals against is the best in the Bundesliga, despite a poor season from goalkeeper Gulacsi.

ATTACKING

Leipzig have had to make some big changes in their attacking approach, last season they had Werner able to sprint in behind, go 1v1 against his man, and run the channels. This season Hwang and Kluivert are yet to get going and Sørloth and Poulsen are more target men.

Nagelsmann has spread the goals around this season, among his numerous attacking players. Their top scorer is Angelino with 8 goals from left wing back. Haidara, Sabitzer, Nkunku and Olmo all have 3, Poulsen 7 and Forsberg 5.

Leipzig have scored 1.7 goals per game compared to last szns 2.4. Their defensive improvement and loss of Werner can be reasons for this. As well they’ve underperformed their xG by 5, and are clearly lacking a goal scorer, making 2nd place look even better.

When attacking Leipzig look to isolate Angelino 1v1 versus the opponents full back, with the Spaniard able to cross and shoot. This can be done by dragging the opponents to the right side of the pitch and then switching it out to Angelino on the left side where there’s space.

Below the right side of the pitch is more congested. Wide left Angelino is free, Leipzig play it out to him where he has time and space to cross, as United’s players are all on theright side of the pitch. His cross ends up resulting in a goal.

Against Man United Leipzig used Forsberg to drag the United wing backs narrow to create space out wide. Forsberg positioned himself between the wing back and outside centre back, and twice this produced a goal.

Below Forsberg in between AWB and Lindelof. AWB comes narrow and leaves the flanks open, Angelino is all by himself for the cross, thanks to Forsberg’s positioning and hits it first time into the bottom corner.

Again Forsberg occupies the wing back, and Haidara is able to make a back post run and get onto the cross uncontested to make it 2-0 Leipzig.

Full backs getting forward and into the box are a big source of goals for Nagelsmann. As we saw earlier against man United. Mukiele often arrives late into the box and getting onto the end of a cross like below against Wolfsburg.

As mentioned earlier Leipzig often win the ball back high up the pitch. Once they do this they run at the defence and try release a forward with a through ball or expose an opening in the opponents’ unorganised defence

As we see below Leipzig win the ball back up high after forcing the opponents wide and the wing back pushing up and intercepting the pass forward. Immediately the ball is played forward to Olmo who sets into Poulsen’s path to shoot.

Below against Schalke Leipzig press high when Schalke move the ball wide and win the ball 19 metres from goal. They’re able to move the ball central and away from Schalke players, play a through ball in behind and score at lightening speed.

Leipzig can often search for players on the edge of the box to use as target men almost, to force their way through teams. Below a pass is played into Forsberg who is able to play a 1-2 with Olmo, get in behind and score.

1-2s and dragging defenders away from the defensive line to create gaps, are often methods used by Leipzig to get a player in behind the opposition defensive line so they can shoot or set up another opponent like above.

When they can’t break through deep, compact defences Leipzig overload the centre of the pitch, forcing teams narrow to create space out wide. They did this very well against Atleti.

Here Leipzig have most men central. However when Laimer picks up the ball the Atleti full back is stuck with two men to mark, and has to stay narrow. Sabitzer is thus able to receive the ball space out wide and cross in for Olmo to score.

In summary Leipzig’s are able to break through opponents defences in multiple fashions. While the loss of Werner has hurt them this season they’ve still been able to score 31 goals, and Nagelsmann should be given huge credit for being able to spread the goals around the squad.

Nagelsmann has got Leipzig overperforming for sure. With this squad definitely not at the level they’re performing at. Linked with the Chelsea job, Nagelsmann would be a great fit and would have much better players to work with, which is another thread I’m working on.

At only 33 Nagelsmann could have another 4 decades in management, and with what we’ve seen already he could potentially become one of if not the greatest managers in history, constantly overperforming with the teams he is given.

END OF THREAD

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Written by: @cfc_eoin