3 tactical secrets employed by Xabi Alonso
Soccer is simple. The objective is for one team of 11 players to kick more balls in that rectangular net than their opposing team of 11. And so coaches around the world stay up, late at night, ponder over game footage, and steal ideas that would make for a better plan of attack. While several philosophies try to pin point how to play the game, some would argue, "if you can control the center of the field, you can control the game."
Xabi Alonso, newly appointed coach to Bayern Leverkusen, has just succeeded in winning the Bundesliga, stealing the crown from the reigning German powerhouse, Bayern Munich. Leverkusen’s ball busting dominance has also spread to the Europa League, and they are now scheduled to play against Roma for the semi final on May 2nd .
And yes, you guessed it, Xabi Alonso's Leyverkusen lads control central space better than a dining room.
Here are 3 secrets of Leverkusen's tactical approach to the game:
In Possession, short build up, numerical superiority in the middle
Leverkusen is mostly known to play a 1-3-2-4-1 system of play in attack. If you’re thinking “wtf?” you’re not alone. Systems aside, there is a greater emphasis on style to overload the middle, versus a commitment to strict shape, hence the 3 center backs.
On April 18, Bayern Leyverkusen played West Ham for the second leg of the Europa League Semi Final. Their intention to break West Ham's first line of defense with short 10-20 yard passes through central attacking midefielders was most notable. Outside backs positioned themselves inside half spaces to break lines and short passes bounced between center backs and central defensive pivots, executed calmly, patiently, and deceptively, as Leverkusen succeeded to engage and expose their opponent.
When it comes to style of play, Leverkusen reveal a real habit to create diagonal and vertical lines. They do this with the purpose of finding a 3rd or 4th man pass to break lines and get forward.
Ultimately, this is exciting because advancing forward, in central spaces, through short passing combinations, at the highest level, is a dangerous concept, but Alonso believes that short passes, and a more compact shape lead to a higher retention of the ball.
2. Minimum Width
As players, how many times have we been told to create an attacking shape, using maximum width? “Get your boots on the line!” the old club coach used to scream. But we live in a different age, an age of electric cars, stem cell research, and you guessed it, smarter soccer players. Maximum, balanced width, occupied by fullbacks and wingers, is no longer necessary. Whether the influence came from Diniz’ concept of relationism with Fluminense, or Rydstorm’s Malmö in Sweden, it is an important concept that players are grasping. We only need to be wide enough, in relation to the opponent, wide enough, to overplay the opponent, and maybe even wide enough, to promote shorter passing options.
When players certain players are just wide enough, teams can also explore the idea of overloading the opposition, with the goal to find a numerical advantage on the opposite side of the field. Or in Leverkusen’s case, width (and height) are actually occupied, only by the outside backs. Here’s a diagram for reference:
This doesn’t mean that wingers are only allowed to receive inside the field, this means they have the opportunity to decide where to receive.
3. Emphasis on transition moments
Some call it a gegenpress.
It’s been around for decades, and was notorious in English football in the 80’s. (Sorry, Klopp did not invent it. However, he is responsible for bringing it back to England, evident in Liverpool’s style of play.)
History lessons aside, it’s a development that prioritizes winning the ball back as soon as a team has lost it.
A fast transition upon losing the ball, highlights just how vulnerable the ball carrier is upon winning it.
And because Leverkusen is also known to keep a compact, highly occupied shape in the middle of the field, it is only an advantage that players are pressing collectively, as soon as losing the ball. They’re already there, why not press?
This accounts for Leverkusen’s impressive stats in ball retention and ball possession.
At the end of the day, it’s important to say that these ideas are not my own, but have rather have been re-communicated and explained at another angle. I’d like to thank @Gaurav on twitter for his work on tactics.
