Thread by @cfc_eoin, Julian Nagelsmann’s Tactics at RB Leipzig

Julian Nagelsmann’s Tactics at RB Leipzig

| A THREAD |

RTs appreciated

Julian Nagelsmann is not a one formation manager or isn’t set on a back 4 or back 3. He has used multiple different formations throughout his career, most commonly are the 3-4-3, 3-5-2, and 4-2-2-2, the latter he only began to use at Leipzig.

Nagelsmann key principles are:

- fast Vertical possession play
- High intense pressing
- playing attacking football (on the front foot)

DEFENCE:

Nagelsmann tends to have numbers high up the pitch with only the back 3 and one of the midfielders not extremely high. In the event of losing possession in the opposition final third the pivot of Sabitzer and Laimer will press high.

If the initial press is bypassed the back 3 will look to slow down the attack, which may mean resulting to tactical fouls. This allows the rest of the team to move back into defensive positions. The pivot will cover the back 5 but may step out and press the opponent if needs be.

The front 3 press in certain ways against specific opponents. It depends on wether the opposition are good playing through the middle or down the flanks. If the opposition are good building through the centre the front 3 will form a V shape with one deep forward blocking the

Pass through the midfield and the two higher forwards pressing the centre backs forcing them out wide, where the wing backs, forwards and pivot wait to press heavily and cut off passing angles to win the ball back.

As we see below poulsen is pressing the right centre back, blocking the pass into midfield. Olmo has made the pass to the other centre back extremely risky. The only viable option is to pass to the right back. You can see the V being formed between Poulsen, Olmo and Nkunku deep.

This is how it goes:

Augsburg Play it wide but are forced to hit a hopeful ball down the channel where Leipzig have Halstenberg waiting. The ball is immediately hit back in to Olmo who sets up Poulsen for a superb goal.

When forcing the opponents central Leipzig’s forward will push up and cut off the pass to the players to the left and right of the player in possession. This forces him to look ahead to the midfielders. Once the pass in played one of the pivot will press aggressively the receiver

This either forced the receiver back to the centre back where the forwards can converge on the receiving defender or into a mistake, winning Leipzig the back high up the pitch, with less opponents ahead of them.

BUILD UP PLAY:

Leipzig’s defenders are encourage to play the forward pass whenever possible and side to side passing is only used if no forward pass is available. Leipzig tend to build up in a 2-2-3-3 of sorts, see in the image below.

Leipzig Wing backs push high and are used in the transition form midfield to attack more than the transition from defence to midfield. However by moving high up the pitch they push the wingers back and leave space for the midfield to exploit by moving into to receive the ball.

The pivot of Laime and Sabitzer is staggered. Sabitzer will advance high up the pitch in between the opponents’ defence and midfield lines, while Laimer will move back in between the opponents’ midfield and attacking lines. This makes it harder to stop passes being played into

Them when further up the pitch and also allows have someone in between the lines further forward, who may be joined by a target man presence in Poulsen. The pivot is never in line so when both stay deep it is extremely hard to stop them with a singular no.10.

Upamecano will often move into the midfield to allow this move forward by Sabitzer. He can dribble into midfield or move into midfield off the ball to help Laimer progress the play up the pitch. You can see below Upamecano step into midfield, they were playing 4-2-2-2 this game.

Of course Leipzig can often resort to route one if needs be. Hitting the ball over the back 4 of the opposition and having their forwards run onto it. Or of course they can whack it up to Poulsen to knock down to Sabitzer, Werner or Nkunku or Olmo.

A key element of Leipzig’s game are lay-offs. This is when a player comes deep for a 1-2 pulling his man out of position to create space for others to run into or passes to be played through. Here we see Adams come deep play a 1-2 then exploit the space himself, also Upa in mid

The two wide forwards ofte make themselves available to receive the pass in the final third between the lines to give Leipzig a foothold in the final third. They can then begin the quick vertical passing w/ other attackers that are distend to get the ball in behind the defence.

Below we see Yusuf Poulsen make himself available for a vertical pass from Upamecano. He plays it back to Werner who then pass the ball between the centre back and full back into Sabitzer who’s shot is saved but Poulsen scores the rebound. This vertical passing is very common.

Crossing is extremely common in Nagelsmann’s Leipzig. Low and high they are often used when a player is played in behind but on the flanks such as a wing back or wide forward. Werner often when played on the left uses his pace to get past his man and hit the ball across the box

The wing backs often are on the back post for these sort of crosses with Mukiele below getting his head on the cross from Werner.

Werner here drives at the full back and hits the ball across the box something we’ve already seen him do at Chelsea, with no success yet. This is also a strategy used by Pep Guardiola who will often have his wingers fizz multiple low crosses across the box for tap ins.

The wide forwards can often come dele and assist with moving the ball forward by taking a position in the half space as we saw Poulsen do earlier. Leipzig will look to overload the central areas and play quick vertical interchanges to get a player in behind.

I’m going to leave it at that anyways, could go on for ages about Nagelsmann but for now that’ll be it. Hope I did a good job describing Leipzig and their style of play and tactics. RTs Appreciated.

END OF THREAD

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