Great tactical read on FC Bayern's pressing

You read fast as shite

Also off topic-- Franck is out Wednesday. But it also looks like Wilshere is out too

You're right about van Gaal laying down the basic framework for this style of play to be possible. However, this pressing/counter-pressing system is uniquely Jupp.

Klopp has said in interviews that BVB didn't do well in the CL last season because they ran too much. I think they've gone a long way in fixing some of their problems but I think Bayern's pressing is a bit different from BVB's.

Bayern's entire system is predicated on highly intelligent players who are positioned perfectly 99% of the time. When other teams win the ball, they work hard to get it back but a lot of it is mental, like a safety setting up a qb.

Schweiny and Javi are able to kill a lot of counters by moving a few yards to either side and choking off the middle. With Kroos pressuring high, Mandzukic filling space and the high work rate of Muller and Ribery, teams are often forced to try to send a pass through the middle where undoubtedly Javi or Schweiny has been anticipating it. By them going in for the tackle right away, they're forcing other teams to make quick decisions.





The main thing I got from this piece is the way the backline works. The counter-pressing works so well because Lahm and Alaba are so good at shadow marking and the center backs have been very good in the tackle. Neuer's role is also laid out well in this piece. Because he's so good with his feet and so comfortable with the ball, he's able to assume a sweeper role and put immediate pressure on any striker who gets through the backline, giving the fullbacks ample time to recover.


The whole thing is very German in the way that it's almost machinelike fluidity.

My favorite comment on the reddit thread about Ribs being out:


JeppKay 8 points 5 hours ago
I don't speak German, but i imagine the article says Ribery doesn't matter when Bayern fricked Arsenal on home turf.

------- wumumo 39 points 4 hours ago
And Arsenal is a bit too old to get fricked by Ribery.

You're right about the press and counter being Jupp no doubt. Besides the added squad depth, which cannot be understated, I think the main for the higher level of success this year is due to the teams insistence that all 11 players play in the attack and defense. I'm not as tactically astute as some of you, so that may actually be what the article is referring to as the press. I always took that to mean the team is just more proactive in regaining possession after losing it.

Regardless, mandzo has emerged has first choice and there is no denying he's more active in defense and build-up play. Dante also consistently plays a lot of passes out of the back, further demonstrating the involvement of all 11 players in attack and defense. Neuer's distribution out of the back is the catalyst for counter attacks. Lahm's ability to be amazing 99/100 times is so underrated. He allows our CB's to move forward (most of the games it seems like Dante plays more of a CB/DM role) and allows Müller to tuck in on the RW by providing overlapping runs and superb crosses (I think he has 9 assists this year)
As always though, Bastian makes the team tick. His ability to win the ball and complete a long or short pass is matched by only a select few. So long as Robery/lahm/Alaba are thundering down the flanks the counter attack will always thrive. Clinical finishing is imperative in the Bayern system. If not clinical (UCl of last) then it doesn't matter what possession or shot stats look like.

I think the style is a Barcelona/BVB/Bayern hybrid. There are elements of other teams, but that's the nature of sport. Some teams are on the 'cutting edge' and others are not.