Today we analyze one of the teams of the moment, Leeds United. We focus on how Bielsa's team presses after losing the ball, a common characteristic that can be found in all the teams coached by El Loco. As usual, let's take a look at the video first and discuss the key features afterwards.
We can see how different movements take place, so let's try to organise them in a clear manner. First thing it must be clear to us is that the players perform trajectories and movements depending on the space they occupy: the closest player goes to press the ball (it is important to note here that it is the closes player that is not out of the game). While this first movement happens, the rest of teammates close to the ball reduce the most dangerous space. This space will depend on the area of the pitch where the ball is lost, but it corresponds to central areas most of the times. At the same time, players in space of cooperations (this is those further away from the area where the ball is lost) start pressure movements and trajectories towards the potential receiver of the ball that is closest to them, also depending on their position. We can see, furthermore, that the reduction of space does not only take place on the longitudinal axis of the pitch, but also along the transversal axis, generating an immediate reduction of width of Bielsa's team. In this case, we can see in the video how, if there are free players in these wide areas, the Leeds players have an excellent defensive awareness of the game, so they are ready to start a new movement/trajectory over these players in case they receive the ball.
These movements and trajectories generate a feeling of anxiety on the opponent players, forcing them to play long balls without any type of control over the future receiver of the ball, which leads to players either receiving the ball under pressure or with the ball outside the pitch. We must take into consideration that one of the most important aspects, apart from the fact that each player has his role clear and in mind, is that all these movements are performed as quickly as possible so the opponents do not have enough time to observe/analyze their situations of advantage. Furthermore, notice how every pressing trajectory is performed closing passing lines of the opponent. The best of this fundamental of play is that it can be performed successfully against every single team, as long as it is performed properly.
Basic aspects like speed of reaction, closing passing lines on future receivers of the ball, and reduction of space in both axes (prioritizing the central area) are key achieve proper pressure successfully. As coaches, we must keep in mind that all these basic coaching points are also important, and not focus only in the fact that our players understand the concept. This is because if our players perform the right movement at the wrong speed, our pressure will not be good enough and the opponent will be able to generate dangerous situations. This is why us, as coaches, must find the right balance between the conceptual and the technical aspects when training this principle.
Let's train it?
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