Football Manager offers football enthusiasts the opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of tactical brilliance. If you’re looking to implement an intense, high-pressing style, Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpressing is the perfect choice. In this guide, we’ll delve into the intricacies of FM23’s gameplay tactics and expertly set up Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpressing tactic for dominating the virtual football world.
Setting Up Jurgen Klopp’s Gegenpressing Tactic in FM23
| Key Aspect | FM23 Gegenpressing Tactics | Real-Life Inspiration |
|---|---|---|
| Formation | 4-3-3 | Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpressing favored formation. |
| Team Mentality | Attacking | Emulates Klopp’s proactive and aggressive style. |
| Team Instructions | High Pressing (Pressing Intensity: Extremely Urgent) | Relentless pressing to win back possession quickly. |
| Defensive Line | Much Higher | High defensive line to compress opponent’s space. |
| Line of Engagement | Higher | Cohesive press closer to the opposition’s goal. |
| Width | Slightly Narrower | Emphasis on compactness and denying spaces. |
| Tempo | High | Quick transitions and rapid ball movement. |
| Time Wasting | Rarely | Discourage slowing down the game. |
| Player Roles and Duties | Specific roles to fit gegenpressing style | Players with attributes to execute gegenpressing. |
1. Formation: 4-3-3
Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpressing approach has seen immense success with a 4-3-3 formation, which serves as the foundation for his tactics. In FM23 tactics, set your team’s formation to 4-3-3 to ensure a balanced attack and defense, similar to how Klopp’s teams functioned in real life.
2. Team Mentality: Attacking
Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpressing relies on a proactive and aggressive mentality. Set the team mentality to “Attacking” to encourage your players to push forward assertively, mirroring Liverpool’s relentless attacking intent.
3. Team Instructions: High Pressing
The core of Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpressing lies in high pressing. Set the team instructions to “Pressing Intensity: Extremely Urgent” to ensure your players relentlessly press the opposition, trying to win the ball back as soon as possible. This is a hallmark of Klopp’s successful fm tactics at Liverpool.
4. Defensive Line: Much Higher
Liverpool’s and Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpressing thrives on a higher defensive line that compresses the space for opponents. Set the defensive line to “Much Higher” to push your players up the pitch when out of possession, forcing turnovers and counter-attacks, much like Klopp’s teams.
5. Line of Engagement: Higher
Maintaining a cohesive press is crucial to gegenpressing. Set the line of engagement to “Higher” to ensure your players initiate the press closer to the opposition’s goal, similar to how Klopp’s Liverpool used to suffocate opponents high up the pitch.
6. Width: Slightly Narrower
Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpressing tactics emphasize compactness and denying spaces to opponents. Set the width to “Slightly Narrower” to enhance your team’s defensive organization and reduce the gaps for opponents to exploit, similar to Liverpool’s defensive setup.
7. Tempo: High
Quick transitions are a hallmark of gegenpressing. Set the tempo to “High” to encourage your team to move the ball quickly and exploit any disorganization in the opposition’s defense, just as Klopp’s teams did with their rapid ball movement.
8. Time Wasting: Rarely
Gegenpressing is an aggressive tactic that aims to win back possession quickly. Set time wasting to “Rarely” to discourage your players from slowing down the game and instead maintain a high tempo, just like Liverpool’s relentless style under Klopp.
Implementing Jurgen Klopp’s Gegenpressing: Key Considerations
| Category | Key Consideration |
|---|---|
| Strengths | |
| High Ball Recovery | Winning the ball high up the pitch allows for quick transitions into attack, catching the opposition off guard. |
| Disorientation | The constant pressing leaves the opponent disoriented, forcing them into mistakes. |
| Counter-Attacking | Quick recovery and transition create opportunities for devastating counter-attacks. |
| Weaknesses | |
| Physical Toll | The tactic is physically demanding, requiring high levels of stamina and work rate from players. |
| Tactical Intelligence | It requires players with high levels of tactical intelligence and positional awareness. |
Player Roles and Duties: Key Players for Jurgen Klopp’s Gegenpressing
Discipline and carefully listening to your instructions about roles and football player positions are very important for success in this football formation philosophy.
| Player Role | Description |
|---|---|
| Sweeper Keeper | Alison Becker is ideal due to his quick reflexes and excellent distribution. |
| Complete Wing-Backs | Trent Alexander Arnold & Andy Robertson are crucial for providing width and delivering crosses. |
| Ball-Playing Defenders | Virgil Van Dijk and Joel Matip are essential for building play from the back. |
| Defensive Midfielder | Fabinho’s role is to break up play and distribute the ball to more creative players. |
| Deep Playmaker | Thiago orchestrates the play from deep, often being the link between defense and attack. |
| Box-to-Box Midfielder | Jordan Henderson provides the energy in midfield, often contributing both defensively and offensively. |
| Inside Forwards | Luis Diaz & Mohammad Salah cut inside to either shoot or play intricate passes. |
| Pressing Forward | Darwin Nunez leads the line, pressing the opposition’s defenders and acting as the focal point in attack. |
Mastering Jurgen Klopp’s Gegenpressing in Football Manager: Fast Tactical Tips
- Understand Your Squad: Assess the strengths and weaknesses of your players. Make sure they have the attributes required for gegenpressing, such as stamina, work rate, and tactical intelligence.
- Tactical Flexibility: Adapt your tactics based on the opponent. Sometimes a more conservative approach may be needed.
- Rotation is Key: Due to the physical demands of gegenpressing, squad rotation is crucial to keep your players fresh.
For more in-depth tactical insights, don’t forget to check out our Football Manager Hub.
Gegenpress – FAQ
1. Can I use the gegenpressing tactic with any team in FM23?
Yes, you can apply the gegenpressing tactic to any team in FM23. However, it works best with teams that have players with high work rate, stamina, and aggression, similar to real-life teams managed by Klopp.
2. What is the role of the goalkeeper in the gegenpressing tactic?
The goalkeeper in the gegenpressing tactic should be set as a “Sweeper Keeper (Support).” This role emulates Alisson Becker’s abilities to act as a sweeper and launch quick counter-attacks.
3. How do I ensure a cohesive press in FM23?
To maintain a cohesive press, set the line of engagement to “Higher.” This will ensure your players initiate the press closer to the opposition’s goal, similar to how Klopp’s teams suffocated opponents.
4. Can I use the gegenpressing tactic in a defensive-minded team?
While the gegenpressing tactic is more suited to proactive and attacking teams, it can be adapted for a defensive-minded team. Adjust the team mentality and pressing intensity accordingly to maintain defensive solidity while still pressing effectively.
5. Should I focus on specific attributes when selecting players for gegenpressing?
Yes, when choosing players for the gegenpressing tactic, prioritize attributes such as work rate, stamina, aggression, and pace. These attributes will enhance the effectiveness of your high-pressing strategy.
6. How important are the wingers in the gegenpressing tactic?
Wingers play a crucial role in the gegenpressing tactic. Set them as “Inside Forwards (Attack)” to cut inside, create goal-scoring opportunities, and press the opposition’s full-backs, similar to how Mane and Salah excelled in Klopp’s Liverpool.
7. Can I use gegenpressing in Football Manager 23 to replicate Jurgen Klopp’s real-life success?
While FM23 provides an immersive and realistic experience, replicating Klopp’s real-life success with gegenpressing will also depend on your managerial skills and tactical adaptability.
Conclusion
Mastering Jurgen Klopp’s gegenpressing tactic in Football Manager requires precise setup and expert understanding of gameplay tactics.
By adopting the 4-3-3 formation and setting high pressing intensity, a much higher defensive line, and a slightly narrower width, you can emulate Klopp’s intense style of play. Remember to choose player roles and duties that complement gegenpressing’s high-energy demands. With the right tactical approach, you’ll experience the thrill of dominating the football world with relentless gegenpressing tactics, similar to Klopp’s successful real-life managerial career.
