Counter pressing is a tactic traditional to Barcelona, as Pep Guardiola used it in his dream team at Barca. The idea is to immediately press the opponent with the ball while the rest of the players swarm around him. This allows quick regaining of the ball.
Possession football and why it has become too predictable
Before Hansi Flick’s arrival, Barca was playing with a style that allowed them to enjoy most of the possession. However, there was more emphasis on keeping the ball rather than attacking. This often allowed teams to predict their next move, as only when a clear chance arrived would Barca attack. After losing the ball, the players were not intense and fast enough to close down spaces, resulting in being vulnerable to counterattacks.
Hansi Flick’s Golden Balance
Hansi Flick introduced a possession-based style to Barca after his arrival. However, it was much different from what had been the Barca style before him. Hansi Flick placed strong emphasis on progressing the ball as quickly as possible and attacking the goal. Moreover, Hansi Flick keeps most of the play in the opposition’s half and gives his players freedom in the midfield and final third. This allows unpredictable combinations by the midfielders and forwards that confuse the opposition defense.
When the ball is lost, Flick’s men apply intense counter-pressing to regain possession as soon as possible. After regaining possession, Barca immediately initiates a counterattack, catching the opposition off guard. This system has allowed Barca to score a lot of goals, resulting in the big scorelines we’ve seen this season.
