Heavy Metal Football ala Jurgen Klopp

sportschau.de

Although sometimes inconsistency still often alighted, Liverpool appearances under coach Juergen Klopp rated experiencing significant growth.

Improvements took place regarding the mentality that is proven by several times Liverpool left behind and won. That mentality once again looked at the game against Borussia Dortmund at Anfield (15/2). Twice behind two goals, the Reds could get up and catch up becomes back ahead 4-3 after Dejan Lovren scored in injury time.

In addition to the matter of fighting spirit, many people also consider the tactics using by Juergen Klopp in Liverpool also improve the performance of foster children.

If some of the previous season we often saw Liverpool with a style of possession football ala the Maestro of Northern Ireland, Brendan Rodgers, but this season is obviously very different. Under the command of Klopp, Liverpool appeared more spartan and violent.

Heavy Metal Football, that this German guy called it. Indeed, no particular sense of the term, but if we refer to the heavy metal music which became a favorite of Juergen Klopp, we can imagine that the heavy metal football as a tactic for a simple, rapid, progressive, and without further ado.

And in a fact that the Liverpool play we see today. No, not gegenpressing, it's just a part of football heavy metal itself. Due to heavy metal football coverage broader than just gegenpressing.

Heavy Metal Football meant by Klopp is a game of attacking football without giving the opponent a chance just to breathe or feel safe. There are at least four (4) points at the core of the heavy metal football, namely high pressings, gegenpressing, umschaltspiel, and a direct pass.

High Pressing

The basic principle of heavy metal football is pressings and attacking football, as simple as that. And the role of high pressing is taking over the control of the ball as quickly as possible, and as close as possible to the defense territory or goalkeeper opponent.

With high pressing, Liverpool will advance its defense line (defensive line), and trying to hit an opponent in the opponent's defense or as close as possible to the opponent's goal.

With the advancing line of defense, Liverpool will automatically minimize the distance between the players line per line, and increase the number of people to do the pressing.

Gegenpressing

There are three (3) phases in football, attacking, defending, and the transition between the two. When Liverpool were in a phase of attack, and then the ball successfully captured by opponents, then Liverpool will make changes from the attacking phase to the transition phase then to the defense phase. Gegenpressing function or can be called counterpressing is to break the cycle of the phase change.

Gegenpressing work when Liverpool lost the ball, then Liverpool should not go to the last phase, but instead, do the pressing against to the opponent right after the ball had been captured by the opponent.

More easy it is when the ball captured by opponents, we reclaim by tapping with one or several players. This will break the cycle of phase change at the top, and of course, this was done according to the rules.

There are time rules in gegenpressing that must be adhered to suppress opponents. Rules of time allowed to do gegenpressing is 5-6 seconds.

Why? because according to Juergen Klopp (also understood by Pep Guardiola and others coach), the best time to do gegenpressing when we lose the ball is 5-6 seconds, because at that time the opponent was being in a transitional phase and is looking for associates, or where the ball will be passed.

If within 5-6 seconds Liverpool failed to regain the ball with gegenpressing, then Liverpool could be fall back soon (enter the transition phase, and then to the last phase), or at least the Liverpool players back to the defense post respectively.

Umschaltspiel

Umschaltspiel is a word of German which, when translated, umschalt is the transition, and the spiel is a game, then the meaning of umschaltspiel is a game transition.

What is the game transition that desired by Klopp in his heavy metal football? In heavy metal football, Klopp wants a rapid transition from the defensive to the offensive. In easier language, when Liverpool won the ball from an opponent, Liverpool immediately direct attacks without delay or playing tempo.

Unlike Barcelona that playing ball possession, Liverpool will attack directly, quickly, and without further ado.

Reading of the situation and understanding of tactics needed by every player, of course. Because the game by fast attacking transition, requiring the player to understand their respective positions and movements that must be done within a relatively quick to make decisions.

Of course, if you see the explanation above, Liverpool clearly need players who have speed and good technique. And the possibility that will get next season.

But if you look at the squad that exists today, and see the development of the Liverpool game to date, it appears that the Liverpool players have been able to adapt gradually to the tactics of Juergen Klopp, including adapting to the rapid transition desired by Klopp.

Direct Pass

With this pattern of rapid transition from the defensive to the offensive, a direct pass is a right thing to do. With a direct pass, the Liverpool player is required to release the pass immediately without a delay of game (when possible).

With a direct pass, the ball will flow more quickly reach the advanced area (front area) and increase the likelihood of effective attack.

The weakness of direct pass is reducing the success of the pass and possession, also, trigger a rise in the game tempo. So it is natural that the tempo of the game that presented by Liverpool is a fast game tempo oriented to goals.

In addition to the above, another drawback of a direct pass is faster draining of player's stamina. This is the reason why we often see the tempo of the Liverpool's game decline late in the game.

it should be admitted that the four core of heavy metal football has not been entirely successful run by Liverpool perfectly, both individually and as a team player. But so far, Liverpool have shown a significant development with the Klopp pattern.

Although draining the stamina, heavy metal football, in fact, is not impossible to be implemented in Liverpool. Naturally, Juergen Klopp own views and consideration in this matter. And Klopp surely already have some names of players who will be spending targets by Liverpool next season, in order to enhance heavy metal football.