Abrir Klopp Pressing & Counter Pressing Rondos

Jürgen Klopp’s
Pressing and
Counter-pressing
Philosophy
Direct from
Jürgen Klopp's
Training Sessions
107
©SOCCERTUTOR.COM JÜRGEN KLOPP: PRACTICES FROM KLOPP’S SESSIONS
Jürgen Klopp’s Pressing and Counter-pressing Philosophy
PRESSING AND COUNTER-PRESSING
PRESSING COUNTER-PRESSING
Pressing is when pressure is applied Immediate pressing around the ball
by the defending team on a player or area just after losing possession to win
team that has possession of the ball. the ball back as quickly as possible.
Pressing is used to rush the opponent’s By using counter-pressing, your team
next action and limit the time and space are pressing a transition from defence
available for good decision making. to attack or counter attack from the
opposition without retreating back, thus
The aim is to force the ball away from stopping their attack before it starts.
dangerous areas and win the ball from your
opponents. Counter-pressing Tactics
However, pressing is not only a defensive 1. Overload the space around the ball.
tactic used to stop your opponent from
creating chances and scoring goals. 2. Press the ball carrier while he is receiving
and/or controlling the ball with one or two
Pressing, counter-pressing and counter players.
attacks provide defending and attacking 3. Block passing lines for potential receivers.
tactics for a team, with the aim to apply
pressure, win the ball and then launch a 4. Be compact around the ball area.
quick counter attack to score. 5. Try to force a mistake or at least force the
The higher a team recovers possession, the play wide.
nearer the opposition goal is and the faster
the ball is recovered after its loss.
In addition, the opposition may be

unbalanced with limited time to cover
space, which leaves gaps and lines
available. In this way, counter attacks
become a natural consequence of ball
recovery.
108
Jürgen Klopp’s Pressing and Counter-pressing Philosophy
PRESSING AND COUNTER-PRESSING

FOCUS IN LIVERPOOL’S TRAINING
Jürgen Klopp: “We want to attack the POSSESSION GAMES
opponent non-stop when we have
the ball, when we lose it and when the Liverpool’s possession games are
opposition have it.” focused on immediate fast transitions
and making sure to never pause or
delay after losing the ball, even for a
RONDOS second.
The emphasis of Rondos is normally Pep Lijnders explains that “The players
expected to be about possession, but first have to understand the importance of
at Klopp’s Liverpool the focus is on counter-pressing to our team - that element
pressing and counter-pressing. comes back in every exercise.”
As Klopp has talked about, defending is “When a team lose the ball in training, you
Liverpool’s first attacking action. Their will hear me, Jürgen or Pete (Krawietz)
playing style is with a high line and pressing screaming: ‘Go! Get it back! Don’t stop!”
with high intensity to win the ball as quickly
as possible. When observing Liverpool’s rondos
and possession games in their training
Klopp’s Assistant Coach Pep Lijnders has sessions, the following is clear:
explained how rondos and possession
games are all about pressing in Liverpool y The players keep count of the passes to
training sessions, explaining that they must maintain a high level of competition.
“stimulate our counter-pressing vision y In the rondos, the motivation to win the
where we try to disrupt the build-up of the ball within 6 passes increases the speed
opponent inside their first few touches.“ and intensity of the pressing to replicate
When referring to the Rondos which are Liverpool’s non-stop running counter-
part of all of Liverpool’s training sessions, pressing philosophy.
Pep Lijnders remarks that the 5v2 rondo is y The Liverpool players react immediately
a Pressing Rondo. He goes on to say: to press the new ball carrier.
“Our game is about movement and speed, y The Liverpool coaches and players
and with only five players, those five have to really focus on the counter-press, to
run non-stop.” act collectively as a team and try to win
“The two guys in the middle are encouraged the ball back immediately after losing
to intercept within the first six passes. If possession.
they succeed, they can both go out at the
same time. Otherwise, only the player who
intervened is allowed to leave the middle.”
Pep Lijnders Quotes from: Renard, A - The Guardian. 2019. Interview with Liverpool’s Pep Lijnders [Online]. [Accessed 30th October].
Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/dec/02/liverpool-pep-lijnders-jurgen-klopp-assistant-paddle-tennis-james-milner
110
Pressing Rondos
and Possession
Games
Direct from
Jürgen Klopp's
Training Sessions
111
“Attack the opponent
with, but especially
without the ball - a chasing
attitude over 95 minutes.”
112
Jürgen Klopp: Pressing Rondos and Possession Games
7. 4-Team 2+2+2 v 2 Rondo with

Fast Pressing and Transitions
Practice Description y The 2 inside players work together to

press, close the angles for the potential
y In this 6v2 Rondo (2+2+2 v 2), the
passing lines and win the ball.
players work in groups of 8 in a 10 yard
square. There are 4 teams of 2 players y RULE: If the defending team win the ball,
they switch roles with the team that lost
y There are 2 players on 2 sides of the
it and move to the outside. The team
square and 1 player on the other 2 sides.
that lost the ball become the defending
They are positioned on the outsides but
team in the middle.
must still play within the area.
y The 6 outside players (3 teams of 2) aim
to keep possession of the ball and are
only allowed to use 1 touch.
Source: Jürgen Klopp’s Liverpool training session at AXA Training Centre, Liverpool - October 2021
119

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Jürgen Klopp’s

PRESSING AND COUNTER-PRESSING

In addition, the opposition may be

PRESSING AND COUNTER-PRESSING

7. 4-Team 2+2+2 v 2 Rondo with

Practice Description y The 2 inside players work together to

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