The Philosophical Difference Between Jurgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola
Different clubs have implemented different styles such as gegenpressing or tiki-taka and achieved a sustained period of success. It all goes down to how well the teams are able to implement their style of football on the pitch. Today, Germany English clubs’ coaches are the hottest property in the radar.
Rangnick’s arrival at Manchester United is expected to bring a combination of skilled players and strategic contests to the EPL. Rangnick, seen as the “god of gegenpressing,” has been warmly welcomed by his fellow Germans.
We are going to look into 2 styles: Tiki-Taka football, the benchmark style of Pep Guardiola and Gegenpressing style of football, used by Jürgen Klopp.
First things first, both Gegenpressing and Tiki-taka are attacking based football. They both rely on winning the ball high up the pitch rather than being on the defensive. Though there are differences in the way they tried to shut down the opponent, there was no doubt that they made sure the opponent was dispossessed as fast as possible so that they could start their attack.
READ: Echoes From The Past.
Tiki-Taka Style
This possession-based play relies on short passes to work into the opposition penalty area. Pep Guardiola honed this style of football at Barcelona with some of the greatest players, delivering a mesmerizing gameplay.
Pep Guardiola Formula
He formulated 3-man triangles nearby who would exchange passes to move the ball in between the defensive lines of the opponent. There was no hurry to get the ball into the back of the net, the emphasis was on ball possession. As long as there is no clear-cut chance, Tiki Taka philosophy would mean players keep playing passes, moving the ball around to create an opening by moving the opponent players.
Tiki Taka had its origin from Spain which meant that it was majorly passing football. The goalkeeper initiates the “build-up” with a pass to defenders who are aided by a midfielder for example, Sergio Busquets. The wingbacks were given the freedom to venture forward and provide the width while the forward players came inside and engaged in the passing exchange with the midfield line-up.
Tiki-Taka Mechanism
It was such a fluid mechanism, short passes and one-touch football in triangles. Sometimes, there were periods of 30-40 passes until they were stopped temporarily. They kept on passing, frustrating the opponent until they saw a gap in the defense which they could exploit. At Barcelona, they used the speed of the forward players Viz. Eto’o, Messi, Pedro, Henry to beat the offside trap and go one-on-one with the keeper. This was possible because all that passing forced the opponent defenders to come out of their defensive line to break the passing chain, leaving holes in the defense.
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Tiki-Taka Implementation
Being a style in which the manager wanted the team to stay on the front foot on all times, they needed to be able to win the ball back within the attacking area, thereby avoiding the necessity to lose space due to retreat. This they achieved by deploying the counter-pressing tactics. For example, when Barcelona lost the ball, what they did was block the forward channels through which the opposing player could start the counter.
The important job was to cut down the passing channels as much as possible while the presser tries to hurry the player with the ball. You can see that soon as the presser wins the ball, there are teammates positioned in channels free to receive the ball. If the opponent tries to pass, the players blocking the channels can intercept and keep the ball. The beautiful thing about the closing of channels was how they took up the position so that when Barcelona won the ball back, they could maintain the triangular or diamond like structure which was critical for their Tiki-Taka and again started the cycle of short passes and one-touch football.
Gegenpressing Style
Jürgen Klopp has based his team formations over the most on this style of football, which is also loosely called “Heavy Metal” style of football for the sheer aggressive nature of counter-pressing. Generally, Klopp doesn’t stick to any particular rigid style of play. He likes passing, aerial attacks, headed goals, long-rangers, doesn’t matter to him how the goals come. But what’s important to him is how and where he stops the opponent. Klopp’s style is aggressive and based on counter-pressing when losing the ball, allowing quick counter-attacks. Klopp also doesn’t like dropping back and losing space when he doesn’t have the ball. Rather, he uses the aggressive counter-pressing strategy, which is the “GEGENPRESSING” philosophy.
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Gegenpressing Implementation
When a player in Klopp’s team loses possession, the closest players suffocate him and block his passing lanes. The rest of the players have 2 jobs. Defensive players position to intercept long-balls, while attackers position to penetrate opposing defense. Klopp’s thought process behind Gegenpressing is when an opponent player has the ball, he has to decide whether to carry the ball forward or pass it to someone. Klopp wants players to press the opponent quickly to disrupt their rhythm and force errors. Klopp stated that counter-pressing is better than playmaking, as the best moment to win the ball is after losing it. The opponent is still looking for orientation where to pass the ball. Making a tackle or interception requires looking away from the game and expending energy. Both make him vulnerable.
Gegenpressing Pitch Formation
Klopp deploys 4-3-3 with inside forwards Salah and Mane. Firmino links midfield and forwards. Klopp’s midfielders press, retrieve, supply and support. Midfield trio press and forwards take good positions.
Ready Attack on Gegenpressing
Salah, Mane, or Firmino attack immediately on gaining possession, preventing counter-attacks and increasing scoring chances. The full-backs are the ones providing the width, but they are also supposed to track back as much as needed. Central midfielders support central defenders who are tasked with guarding the space in front of the goal.
