GPS FC Bayern National Team Style of Play - Presentation

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GPS FC Bayern National Team Style of Play - Presentation Intro: These videos have been compiled in order to demonstrate aspects of FC Bayern s play under Pep Guardiola that we would like our GPS

You should treat the following as inspiration to help build an idea of the type of possession-based, attack-minded style of play your team will display.

1 GPS FC Bayern National Team Style of Play - Presentation Intro: These videos have been compiled in order to demonstrate aspects of FC Bayern s play under Pep Guardiola that we would like our GPS Bayern National Teams to replicate. It goes without saying that your tactics should take into account the types of players you have at your disposal. You should treat the following as inspiration to help build an idea of the type of possession-based, attack-minded style of play your team will display. Attacking: Building from the Back Role of the GK 1- The goalkeeper should be used as an insurance option to recycle the ball if you cannot progress up one side of the field. The goalkeeper s deeper position in the centre of the field means that the opposition press is stretched horizontally as the GK has access to every option on the field. Here, this opens up the central option to Boateng who checks his shoulder, turns, and Bayern can attack the space in behind Dortmund s midfield line. This shows how the GK can be used to draw out the opposition to create spaces in between their lines. 2- Here we can see Neuer moving to one side to give an option, then accurately picking a pass into the second line as there are no credible options on first line. It s important not to force a pass to the CBs if they are under pressure. Drawing out the Opposition 3- Bayern are playing around Wolfsburg s press with quick passes that have become natural to them through practicing rondos every day in training. As soon as they break out of the press they have three men on the last line using the full width of the pitch, stretching the two centre-backs and allowing them to go through to score.

2 Triangles/Diamonds to Keep Possession 4- Bayern create triangles and diamonds when building from the back, giving the ball player two or three immediate forward options thus making them difficult to press. As they move forward they transition into their opposition-half attacking shape with the full-backs moving forward as Alonso drops deeper. Costa s pass is won by a Wolfsburg defender however Bayern have enough bodies up the pitch in the area around the ball that it is impossible for them not to win the second ball. Role of the #6 5- Bayern are deep and encouraging Dortmund out of their compact defensive shape. Vidal peels off the opposition forwards into the space between the CBs. He scans and turns. If the opposition are playing a high back line without pressure on the front line, this should be seen as an opportunity to play dangerous passes into the space behind. The #6 should have the ability to execute a variety of different types of passes, choose the correct passing option, and recognise when to move to support the player in possession and when to wait in his space for a pass. Building with Three Players on the First Line 6- Bayern are playing a back four here but always build up with three at the back, whether that s a DM dropping in between the centre-backs or one fullback moving forward while the other tucks in. This is to create a 3v2 with the front pressing line of Dortmund. This video shows the importance of staying in your position and how this helps Bayern progress up the field. The symmetry in their positioning allows the switch of play to be successful as they have a 2v1 with Müller and Costa. Attacking: Possession in the Opposition s Half Breaking the midfield line 7- How to open space between the lines: Vidal and Alonso both drop towards the ball in an attempt to pull out the Wolfsburg midfield, opening up the space for Müller in between the lines. Bayern s three central midfield players work in unison to create overloads in the centre of the field and to find the space between the lines. The video shows the importance of centre-backs with the ability to find vertical passes into these areas.

3 Switching play to advance 8- First, notice Kimmich moving forward into the right halfspace. Bayern only move the ball to the flank when there is a forward and backwards option. We often see teams where the ball moves wide to feet, but the player can only go backwards so the team are sterile in possession and easy to defend against. Kimmich s presence forces the Hertha midfield line back to cover, allowing Bayern to switch through Thiago. We can see how this staggered positioning stretches Hertha s line. Lewandowski s positioning in between two Hertha players leaves an open gap in between the CBs for Gotze to run into. They move across using a series of short passes to guarantee Ribery support, a long switching pass is only necessary when there is a chance of penetration or isolating the opposition fullback. Positional Staggering 9- Here is an example of how playing along four lines in attack causes the opposition problems, as well as helps Bayern in defensive transition. Vidal takes his time on the ball, attracting Dortmund s second line towards him. Here we can see Bayern s shape. Line 1: The two centre backs, Line 2: the fullbacks and #6, Line 3: the two #8s positioned in the halfspaces in between the lines, Line 4: The two wide midfielders and centre-forward. The aim is to find passes in between the lines to de-stabilise Dortmund s As soon as the pass is played to Müller, Lewandowski anticipates the space on the final line opening up and looks to move into it. This type of anticipation from the #9 is key. Dortmund have now been forced into a four at the back. Vidal then plays the ball to the flank in an attempt to stretch this back four. As the ball is cut out, we can see how Alaba s positioning in the halfspace on the second line allows him to counterpress and cut out the counter attack. Backwards Passing 10- Here, Bayern use backwards passes to open up space in between the Dortmund lines before playing a pass into this space. Müller moves on to the last line and Lahm moves into this space. This clip also demonstrates how inverted fullbacks can be used to create overloads in central areas, helping Bayern to attack through the centre of the field. Using the Halfspaces 11- Timed runs from the inverted fullbacks into high positions in the halfspaces allow them to receive passes in between the lines on the half-turn with a full vision of the key areas of the field. Having the ball advanced in the halfspace poses the opposition defence difficult questions as a short pass can initiate two completely different sort of final phases (central combinations/ or ball played into space in front of

4 winger.) Therefore playing into the halfspaces engages both the central and the wide players of the opposition, and distorts the opposition s defensive spacing as they cannot simply shuffle over to deny the threat. Finding Zone Bayern s main aim in this phase is to reach the central area in front of the opposition penalty box. They use passes along the second line between the two fullbacks (in each halfspace) and the #6 not only to switch play to the opposite flank but also to find gaps in the opposition s midfield line so they can make these dangerous vertical passes. As the third clip shows, you can also use ball-carriers to dribble the ball into this area when there is space. Luka Modric does this consistently for Real Madrid. When the opposition midfield line has been stretched, Bayern use one-twos to eliminate isolated players in the midfield line. The fourth clip shows this. Inverted fullbacks 13- This shows Bayern s structure during possession in the final third. The fullbacks are supporting the wingers, offering a switch of play, and only making underlaps/overlaps at the optimum moment. When the fullback moves forward, someone moves back to create the backward option. The #8s are moving to create an option in between the lines. #9 Dropping Movements 14- The #9 should drop off the last line to show for the ball and create spaces for himself or the wingers to move into, if he is not followed by the opposition CB, he should turn and attack. Attacking: Penetrating the Last Line Final Ball From the Halfspace 15- The halfspaces are the most effective area to play a final ball into the penalty area from. Crosses from the flank are in the air for long and the angle of them makes them easier to clear, while central lofted balls are extremely difficult for a forward to bring down over his shoulder.

5 Final Third Switch 16- They build up with combinations on one side of the field, draw the opposition in, and then play a quick switch to the other side of the field to a player in space. It is better to have wingers in this wide space rather than fullbacks as wingers cause more attacking threat so utilise this space better. This clip also shows importance of having occupation in halfspaces in final third. A ball from flank to flank will be slower so gives defence time to shuffle over, if Ribery played a first time ball from halfspace Douglas Costa would have had more space. Also notice as Costa receives the ball, Bayern look to overload the penalty area, in anticipation for a cross. Wide Play 17- Quick distribution and decisiveness from Vidal, moving the ball wide before the defence have a chance to shuffle over. This allows Costa to receive the ball and turn to run towards goal. Lahm recognises a potential 2v1 situation and overlaps, allowing Costa to cut inside. Müller s classic stalled run allows him to pick the ball up in space on the edge of the penalty area. 18- Thiago, the left #8, makes a late run into the penalty area to finish from Coman s cross. Bayern here making sure they have a 3v3 situation in the penalty area before the cross comes in. The #8s should be encouraged to make this kind of run. 19- Thiago spots the 1v1 isolation. Wingers should be confident enough to beat an isolated defender and encouraged to drive to the byline to play cut-backs. Again, Bayern see the crossing opportunity and load the penalty area. Defensive Transitions Counterpressing 20- Here they aren t passing for the sake of it. They are moving the ball from side to side, looking to progress up the field as a team. Guardiola talks about needing 15 passes for his side to get into a shape in which they can properly defend a counter attack. In this still we can see how Bayern have presence in the flanks, centre and halfspaces and also on different vertical lines, meaning several players can surround the ball when possession is lost.

6 Guardiola uses a passing-lane orientated style of counterpressing. The players will move to block passing lanes of the first man s options. 21- Bayern s vertical staggering means the opposition will struggle to play backwards to keep possession during their attacking transition. The opposition are therefore forced into rushed attacks with Bayern always applying pressure to every opposition player to receive the ball, anticipating who the ball will be played to next. Defending: Pressing the Opposition s Build-up 22- Bayern are tight to forward options into midfield and always applying pressure to the player on the ball, preventing him from playing a long pass over Bayern s high defensive line. As the ball goes wide, Bayern position themselves in between Dortmund s players so they can react according depending on where the ball is played. Bayern force and anticipate a mistake and can regain possession. As soon as the ball is won, Bayern disperse and transition into an attacking shape. 23- When the opposition have possession wide areas, Bayern are tight to all of the ball-player s options, stopping them from being able to receive the ball on the half-turn. As the ball is played back we see how Bayern use their #8s to prevent central passes into the second line meanwhile Lewandowski is using body position (cover-shadow) and body shape to force the ball to the isolated player. The use of cover shadows when pressing on the final line is vital to diminish any overload the opposition may have when using their goalkeeper in possession. Bayern remain tight to all potential ball-receivers and regain possession. Defending: Defending the Penalty Area 24- Even in their own half, Bayern still maintain pressure on the ball at all times when defending. When their back four is stretched as it is here, Alonso will drop into the backline as the opposition near Bayern s penalty area. When the opposition have the ball in the middle third, Bayerns #6 will be in between the defensive and midfield lines, allowing Bayern s front five to pressurise the opposition while not leaving lots of space behind them.

7 Conclusion: Aspects of even the best teams can be replicated at all levels of soccer. You can work on some of Pep Guardiola s tactical concepts without the players having to be able to recite every facet of Positional Play. FC Bayern s style of play is a great example for youth teams to follow as it is not only very successful in achieving results (and very attractive) but it also gives players lots of touches of the ball under pressure and teaches the tactical fundamentals of shape, possession and the creation of space. Schooling young players in some of Guardiola s concepts also gives them tactical knowledge that will be relevant for years to come due to the innovative and visionary nature of his ideas.

SUBJECT: Seminar 1 Defensive Concepts

SUBJECT: Seminar 1 Defensive Concepts Slide 1 Intro Slide 2 Contents- first focus on individual defensive concepts then move on to team concepts. Slide 3 4 Ds: - Delay: Step out the back line and slow