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The History of Gegenpressing
[A THREAD]
[A THREAD]
Jürgen Klopp is one of the most unorthodox and innovative coaches in the world during his early Dortmund career.
He took the world by storm with a new brand of attractive football, branded Gegenpreseing.
This thread would discuss that tactic, at least from a historical view.
He took the world by storm with a new brand of attractive football, branded Gegenpreseing.
This thread would discuss that tactic, at least from a historical view.
The year was 2009. Barcelona was undoubtedly one of the best sides in the world. A set of two intelligent midfielders, and a young attacker opened up the footballing world, taking on Europe by storm.
Inesta, Xavi, and Leo Messi... these three players, revolutionized football
Inesta, Xavi, and Leo Messi... these three players, revolutionized football
Klopp himself was a rookie coach at this point of his career. He had lots of influence from Rangnick and a couple of Mainz coaches at this era. He was a charming young man.
His task as a coach, however, was... demanding. He needed to save Borussia Dortmund from its downfall.
His task as a coach, however, was... demanding. He needed to save Borussia Dortmund from its downfall.
No football fan in the world would even think about any other teams other than Guardiola's Barça, and Alex Ferguson's United at this time.
Klopp admired the pretty passing and clever movement of Barça, the skillful players of United, from these sides, a bright spark came alive.
Klopp admired the pretty passing and clever movement of Barça, the skillful players of United, from these sides, a bright spark came alive.
You see, Klopp himself was already a pressing maniac. To him, winning the ball back was more important than what they could do with it.
At this point, Klopp didn't have players good enough to do wonders with the ball, so he just instilled workrate and pressing as his tactics
At this point, Klopp didn't have players good enough to do wonders with the ball, so he just instilled workrate and pressing as his tactics
Watching Barça... Klopp was astounded... and he focused on one thing that other people didn't.
When people watched Barça, people saw what the players did when they pass the ball.
Klopp didn't...
When people watched Barça, people saw what the players did when they pass the ball.
Klopp didn't...
Instead, he saw what Barça did when they lost the ball. They pushed higher up the pitch, limiting space, and winning the ball back ASAP.
Guardiola said that, Barça is a bad team without the ball. So, when they don't have the ball, they have to win it back, as a defensive tactic
Guardiola said that, Barça is a bad team without the ball. So, when they don't have the ball, they have to win it back, as a defensive tactic
Now, Klopp had half of his Gegenpressing tactics ready. To do stuff with the ball, he needs the ball... he wants his players to win the ball after losing them...
So, he invented a half baked pressing system, combining his German press background and Pep's tactics to press wide
So, he invented a half baked pressing system, combining his German press background and Pep's tactics to press wide
This worked well. But, the Bundesliga itself wasn't known as a pressing league just yet. Klopp had other ideas, combining the German league's style with this Spanish, German pressing...
Over history, German Footballers are known to be machine like... efficient.
They do things with minimum effort and maximum results, with structure.
The Bundesliga of the 2009-2011 was defined by this. They were a league accustomed to doing things quickly
Klopp saw this
They do things with minimum effort and maximum results, with structure.
The Bundesliga of the 2009-2011 was defined by this. They were a league accustomed to doing things quickly
Klopp saw this
Bundesliga was a league of fast moving playmakers, and fast strikers. A league of counterattacking football, designed to progress as quickly as possible up the pitch, with Özil, Reus and Kroos being chief products of this counterattacking playmaker style
Mindset of German Players of the time:
When you lose the ball, you are expected to reform shape and drop back, transition to a new formation.
When you win the ball, you are expected to rush forward, ruthlessly pass vertically and counter while the opposition is transitioning.
When you lose the ball, you are expected to reform shape and drop back, transition to a new formation.
When you win the ball, you are expected to rush forward, ruthlessly pass vertically and counter while the opposition is transitioning.
Klopp saw that, in order to prevent counters, he needed to win the ball back before the opposition transitioned from a narrow defensive form, into a widespaced attacking shape.
He wants his players to win the ball as soon as it is lost.
He wants his players to win the ball as soon as it is lost.
Keep in mind that unlike Pep, who uses pressing as a defensive method, Klopp wants his team to retransition from attack to press to attack within seconds of losing the ball.
He once recorded a 4 second gap of losing the ball, winning it back, and scoring a goal.
He once recorded a 4 second gap of losing the ball, winning it back, and scoring a goal.
As it is said... the world's best playmaker is born. Counter-Pressing.
FYI. Klopp's Liverpool side don't just counterpress.
Klopp's Liverpool is a weirder German Machine than his Dortmund side.
Liverpool is a side whose defenders spread the ball, fullbacks create chances, wingers score goals, midfielders defend, and striker opens up space...
Klopp's Liverpool is a weirder German Machine than his Dortmund side.
Liverpool is a side whose defenders spread the ball, fullbacks create chances, wingers score goals, midfielders defend, and striker opens up space...
This is a very different beast to Dortmund... and will be discussed separately.
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