Understanding pressing

As we all know, pressing is vital in the modern game.

In fact, it is one of the key defensive strategies left as a legacy of Pep Guardiola’s all-conquering Barcelona side of 2010.

“Without the ball we are a disastrous team, a horrible team, so we need the ball,” he admitted that year. As a consequence, when they lost it, his players were drilled to win it back swiftly.

Guardiola has changed clubs a couple of times since, but hasn’t forgotten this basic principle. Both his FC Bayern and Manchester City teams have deployed the same tactic at an alarmingly quick rate.

The mantra is simple: lose the ball, win it back.

These days most successful sides like to regain possession as soon as they can. 

When teams are quick to close space, it puts a huge amount of pressure on the player in possession, making it more likely they will allow the defending team to intercept or steal the ball.

Pressure makes simple passes very difficult and a misplaced pass surrenders possession.

When it is applied by the best teams, the press is almost like a blanket – players move as a unit and smother the opposition. They will press the wings to keep the ball there and away from danger zones. 

However, pressing zaps energy and most teams won’t be able to do it for long periods of time.

"Defenders will have to practice when to press, how quickly and how tight..."

Usually, pressing is most common when the game first kicks off and teams are hungry for the ball. It is a great time to put pressure on opponents, forcing them back and claiming the psychological advantage.

If a team starts the game with a full press, almost hounding the opposition to give up the ball, this will be followed by ‘half pressing’, when the out-of-possession team waits until opponents have crossed the halfway line with the ball before reacting, saving energy and being much more solid at the back.

Teams will also ‘fake press’, where just one player will chase the man with the ball while the others rest.

Pressing should be looked on as a tactic to be used at certain times in a match – this selective use will enable teams to get the benefit at key points, while not tiring too soon.

What teams must work out is when to press - and when to sit back and let the ball come on to them.

As individuals, each defender will have to practice their own approach: when to press, how quickly and how tight.

Body shape is important too, half turned to one side or the other, with knees bent and weight forward. They must also learn when and where to support – which side to open up and how close they should be.