Exploring the effects of deep-defending vs high-press on footballers’ tactical behaviour, physical and physiological performance: A pilot study

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of a deep-defending vs high-press defending strategy on footballers' tactical behaviour, physical and physiological responses, when in numerical difference. Methods: Nineteen elite professional footballers (outfield players) participated in this study, playing an 11vs10 match (simulating an early dismissal) for two halves of 10 minutes on a full-sized regulation pitch. The 11-men team was instructed by the head coach to defend closer to goal in the first half (deep-defending) and then defend higher up the pitch in the second half (high-press). Players' positional data were used to calculate the distance between team centroids, players' distance to own and to opponent centroid, teams' effective playing space (EPS), teams' length per width ratio, distance covered and player velocity. Heart rate was measured via short-range radio telemetry. Results: Relative-phase analysis of teams' EPS showed 61.6% of anti-phase synchronisation pattern (i.e. the values change in opposite directions) in the deep-defending game. In the high-press game, teams' centroid distances were closer (% difference in means; ±90% CL,-21.0%; ±9.5%), while players' distances to own and opponent centroids were 20% more regular. Distance covered (-19.8%; ±2.5%), player velocity (-20.0%; ±2.5%) and heart rates also decreased in the high-press game. Conclusion: These findings suggest that, adopting a high-press defending strategy can elicit closer centroid distances, more regular movement patterns, decreased synchronisation patterns of EPS, lower distance covered, lower player velocity, and lower heart rates. Coaches may also consider adopting a high-press strategy, when in numerical superiority, to decrease players' physical and physiological demands.

The impact of ball recovery type, location of ball recovery and duration of possession on the outcomes of possessions in the English Premier League and the Spanish La Liga

“…Consequently, this data implies that greater attacking success can be achieved by adopting a high-pressing defensive style (Low et al 2018). This supports the findings of Sarmento et al (2018) and Hughes and Lovell (2019) who both found a strong relationship between regaining the ball in attacking zones and positive attacking outcomes.…”

“…The most frequent locations of ball recovery in both the EPL and La Liga were the defence zone (EPL = 32.4%; La Liga = 31.8%) and pre-defence zone (La Liga = 32.4%; EPL = 30.6%), highlighting a preference towards recovering the ball closer to their own goal. This could be due to a compact, deep-defending style of defensive play before regaining possession, attempting to win the ball in deeper positions (Low et al 2018). These results are consistent with those highlighted by both Barreira et al (2014b) and Almeida et al (2014), where they both observed possession to be most frequently recovered in the pitch zones positioned closer to the goal that the team is defending.…”

Illustrating changes in landscapes of passing opportunities along a set of competitive football matches

“…4 ). Perhaps these results were due to the opponent team adopting a high defensive pressure strategy 30 which decreases the space available to create these passing opportunities. Consequently, the heatmaps display a high concentration of penetrative and support passing opportunities in a short area of the field (please see Fig.…”

Identification and Preference of Game Styles in LaLiga Associated with Match Outcomes

“…Recovering the ball closer to the opponent's goal increases the chance of scoring [26]. In addition, although the %KM indicator has not been part of any of the components, these teams could have a lower physical requirement associated with high-pressure defending [27]. It would be in a sense logical that the use of EA/HD would require playing in smaller spaces and therefore, the importance of %KM could be relativized.…”