# The Gegenpressing Deep Dive · Football Level 10: Professional

Football · Level 10: Professional · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/football/level-10/the-gegenpressing-deep-dive/)

The Gegenpressing Deep Dive in Football (Level 10: Professional) on Insporta: 100 sourced facts behind 10 tests. Covers: rangnick before hoffenheim; and more.

The pressing school in depth: Rangnick's road from Backnang to Red Bull, Klopp's Mainz and Dortmund, Liverpool's press, triggers, traps and rest defence, the coaching tree and how teams play through a press.

## Test 1: Rangnick before Hoffenheim

- Rangnick has often told how Dynamo Kyiv's collective pressing left his side barely touching the ball. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- The German press mocked the idea of a coach explaining tactics on a chalkboard in prime time. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Ulm then reached the Bundesliga in 1999, after Rangnick had left for VfB Stuttgart. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Hannover won the second division comfortably in 2001-02. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Groß, a bridge engineer and amateur coach, later worked as an adviser in Red Bull's football network. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Finke's Freiburg played a flat back four and short passing long before it was the German norm. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- He left Ulm for Stuttgart during the 1998-99 season and stayed until 2001. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- 2015, 2021 and 2022. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- The libero lasted into the 1990s; zonal back fours took over around 2000; counter-pressing defined the 2010s. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Two defenders followed the forwards man for man while a free sweeper covered behind them. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)

## Test 2: Rangnick's Hoffenheim and Schalke

- Plattner was another SAP founder; Kind ran Hannover; Mateschitz founded Red Bull. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- The village ground bearing Hopp's name was far too small for the Bundesliga. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Ba played alongside Vedad Ibišević and Chinedu Obasi in 2008-09. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- He tore a cruciate ligament in a friendly in January 2009 and Hoffenheim faded to seventh. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Rangnick said the sale went against everything agreed about the club's plan. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Schalke won 7-3 on aggregate before losing the semi-final to Manchester United. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Schalke beat MSV Duisburg 5-0 in the final in Berlin. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- 2004-05, 2006-11 and 2011. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- 2008-09, 2016-17, 2019-20 and 2023-24. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Newly promoted Hoffenheim were 'autumn champions' in 2008-09. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)

## Test 3: Red Bull football under Rangnick

- He shaped recruitment, coaching and the style of both clubs until 2019. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Salzburg's pressing overwhelmed Ajax in the Europa League round of 32. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- They beat Benfica in the final; Rose went on to coach the first team. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Hasenhüttl later took his pressing game to Southampton. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Salzburg won 6-2; Haaland moved to Dortmund that winter. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Rangnick set a strict age profile, rarely paying for players over about twenty-three. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- UEFA cleared both after Red Bull changed Salzburg's governance and sponsorship. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- 2015-16, 2017-19 and 2019-21. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- 2014, January 2017 and January 2021. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Only Bayern finished above them in 2016-17. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)

## Test 4: Klopp at Mainz

- Klopp, then a Mainz defender, has called Frank the biggest influence on his coaching. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- With Mainz in danger of relegation, the club made its veteran defender coach overnight. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Buvač was with Klopp at Mainz, Dortmund and Liverpool until 2018. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- They had missed promotion on the last day in 2002 and again in 2003. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Germany topped the fair play table and Mainz were the nominated club. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- 2004-05, 2005-06 and 2006-07; they missed promotion in 2007-08 and Klopp left. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- The club moved to its new arena, later called the Opel Arena, in 2011. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- 2001-08, 2009-14, 2015-17 and 2021-23. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- 2002 and 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2007. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- His studio analysis made him known across Germany before his move to Dortmund. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)

## Test 5: Building Klopp's Dortmund, 2008-11

- Kagawa scored twice at Schalke in his first Revierderby and left for Manchester United in 2012. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Barrios scored sixteen league goals; Lewandowski was still mostly a substitute. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Dortmund conceded twenty-two league goals, the fewest in the division. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Şahin ran the midfield from deep before his move to Madrid that summer. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- A lifelong fan from the city, he played on the left of the attacking midfield. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Piszczek joined from Hertha in 2010 and became one of the league's best full-backs. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Steady progress came before the title in his third season. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Kehl to 2014, Hummels to 2016, Schmelzer to 2018, then Reus. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)
- Leverkusen finished on sixty-eight points, three ahead of Bayern. (Source: Club records; kicker and contemporary German reporting; published biographies of Rangnick and Klopp)

## Test 6: Dortmund at their peak, 2011-13

- Bayern beat it with 91 the following season. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Kagawa and a Hummels penalty completed the scoring in Berlin. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Arsenal, Olympiacos and Marseille had been Dortmund's group the season before. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Marco Reus and Felipe Santana scored after the ninetieth minute. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- He was the first player to score four in a Champions League semi-final. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Zorc held the job from 1998 to 2022; Kehl, a former captain, later succeeded him. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- The club had to sell and lease back its stadium and cut its wage bill. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Round of 16, quarter-final, semi-final and the final at Wembley. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- October and November 2012, then April 2013. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Dortmund won the Bundesliga and then beat Bayern in the cup final. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)

## Test 7: Klopp's Liverpool and its staff

- Buvač was called 'the brain'; Krawietz led the video and opposition work. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Lijnders took the Salzburg job in 2024 when Klopp left Liverpool. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Manchester City won the title with 98 points. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- The run had started in April 2017. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Watford were in the relegation places at the time; the defeat came at Vicarage Road. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Firmino pressed from the front while keeping the pivot in his cover shadow. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- City won the league by one point and Real Madrid won the Champions League final in Paris. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- 2016, 2017, January 2018 and July 2018. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- 60, 76, 97 and 99 points. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Firmino scored the extra-time winner against Flamengo. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)

## Test 8: Liverpool's European nights under Klopp

- It was Klopp's first meeting with his old club; they needed three goals in the last half hour. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Lovren met James Milner's cross in the ninety-first minute. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Liverpool led at half-time; Sevilla won the competition for a third year running. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Liverpool won 3-0 at Anfield and 2-1 at the Etihad. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Liverpool went 5-0 up before two late Roma goals; Roma won the return 4-2. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- The penalty was given for handball inside the first thirty seconds; Origi added the second late on. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- He saved Tammy Abraham's kick with his feet; Alisson was injured. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- 2016, 2018, 2019 and 2022. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- All three came before half-time at Anfield. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- The match was played at Beşiktaş's stadium in Istanbul. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)

## Test 9: The coaching tree

- Dortmund beat Eintracht Frankfurt 2-1 in Berlin before Tuchel left. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Schmidt had coached Leverkusen and PSV before winning the Portuguese title. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- He was the third foreign-born manager of England, after Eriksson and Capello. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- They lost 9-0 to Leicester in 2019 and to Manchester United in 2021. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- He moved on to Dortmund in 2021 and to Leipzig in 2022. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Leipzig lost to PSG in the one-match semi-final in Lisbon. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Hütter had coached Frankfurt before him; Glasner beat Rangers on penalties in Seville. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Southampton in December 2018, Chelsea in January 2021 and Leeds in February 2022. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- 2009, 2015, 2018 and 2021; Bayern followed in 2023. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Marsch took Canada to the Copa América semi-finals in his first summer. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)

## Test 10: Rangnick at Manchester United and with Austria

- He left instead in 2022 to take the Austria job. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- United won 1-0 at Old Trafford in December 2021. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- They qualified for the Europa League. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Solskjær had begun the season before Carrick and then Rangnick took over. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- The result added to the pressure on Julian Nagelsmann months before Euro 2024. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- The win in Berlin sent Austria through as group winners. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Bayern had been looking for a successor to Tuchel; they appointed Vincent Kompany. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- 17, 21 and 25 June 2024. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- 2014, 2016, 2021 and 2022. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)
- Atlético drew 1-1 in Madrid and won 1-0 at Old Trafford in the round of 16. (Source: UEFA and club match records; contemporary match reports; club statements)

Sources: IFAB, FIFA and UEFA regulations and reports / club and federation statements / published coaching literature / peer-reviewed studies / contemporary reporting

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