The term high press is up there with the most-used phrases in football, but what exactly does it mean?
It is a tactic used by the majority of top teams, and how well one is implemented is often the difference-maker in a title race, so it is essential to understand how a high press works.
Read on to discover what a high press is, how it works and which teams use one.
In this article we’ll cover:
What is a high press?
Pressing in football is the process of working as either a collective or an individual to win back possession for your team. The difference between a normal press and a high press is the location.
A high press is implemented in the opposing team’s defensive third. This is done in an attempt to force an error in a dangerous position or make the opponent surrender possession by playing a long ball, allowing the pressing team to launch a fresh attack.
It is certainly a risk-versus-reward strategy. If a team’s high press is successful, they will regain possession in a dangerous zone, will have to travel a shorter distance to create a goalscoring opportunity and there will be less chance of the opposition being in their correct defensive shape.
However, if the opponents play through the press, there will be fewer players back to defend the counter-attack. A high press often comes with a high defensive line, so there is usually space for the opposing team to fire long balls into.
There are three key factors to an effective high press, the first being collective buy-in.
An individual player could force an error by pressing alone, but a team will have much more success if they can move as a collective. It allows them to close more passing lanes or lock play to one side, likely forcing a long ball or a high turnover as opposing defenders become flustered.
Think of Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. Their gegenpress was the most intense form of press and it required everyone from Mo Salah to Jordan Henderson to press as a unit – it is fair to say it was successful.
Dovetailing with a collective investment are the triggers, otherwise known as the signs to begin a press. These are usually a backwards pass or a specific player having possession, as they may be deemed the weak link when it comes to passing, increasing the chance of an error.
Finally, stamina is vital, not only for implementing the press but for working back to cover the big spaces left by a high line. That is why pressing forwards such as Kai Havertz are able to nail down starting spots even if their goal records leave a bit to be desired.
Is it still relevant today?
The high press first came to prominence under legendary Ajax manager Rinus Michels in the 1970s. It was also a big feature of Arrigo Sacchi’s all-conquering AC Milan side a couple of decades later, yet it is arguably more relevant today than ever.
Football is played at a much higher pace now and a lot of that is due to most teams aiming to emulate the hyper-successful sides of Klopp and Pep Guardiola.
The majority of Premier League teams now use a high press, highlighting its importance. There are also managers who have carved out careers by becoming synonymous with extreme versions of the tactic, including Marcelo Bielsa and Gian Piero Gasperini.
Read more:
- Premier League predictions & tips
- Premier League outright odds
- Latest football news
- Best betting sites
- Best free bet offers
- Football accumulator tips
Latest Features
