Pressing can be a very effective tool in Football Manager 2024. If done right, it allows you to not just win back the ball quickly, but also to launch lethal counterattacks and pepper the opposition goal with shots. However, there are fine margins when it comes to implementing pressing, and it’s a high risk – high reward strategy. In this Football Manager 2024 Pressing Tactics guide, let’s take a look at some key areas you need to account for when trying to setup a cohesive pressing unit.
If you want more guides on Football Manager 2024, check out the following:
- Football Manager 2024: Best Tactics for Counterattacking
- Football Manager 2024: Best Tactics for Possession
- Best Free Agents to Sign in Football Manager 2024
- 4 Best Save Ideas on Football Manager 2024
- Best Young Players to Sign in Football Manager 2024 (Wonderkids, Hidden Gems, High Potential)
Tactical Style
The Gegenpress is characterized by the players’ intent to win back the ball as soon as it is lost. Essentially, everyone will press like a pack of hungry wolves to force an error from the opposition players, thus causing a turnover in possession. This usually happens in the attacking half, and thus your team can launch counterattacks from extremely favorable areas.
However, if the opposition is skilled enough to beat the initial press, there’ll be large spaces to exploit in behind the defense. If the right pass is played, this could mean a highly convertible chance for the opposition striker. That’s why it’s important that your players have the lungs to implement the Gegenpress. They should have pace and stamina to be able to cover lost ground throughout the game provided the opposition pass is successfully played.
Gegenpressing is the only right option here.
Formation and Roles
Next up in this Football Manager 2024 Pressing guide, let’s consider the formation to be used. We have found the 4-3-3 DM Wide able to execute the press very well for this year’s edition.
There is more significance in the roles, however. In the midfield, we have a Regista who not only excels in functioning as a deep lying playmaker but also moves higher up the pitch to initiate the press. There is also a Ball Winning Midfielder in the middle of the park who, as the name suggests, will be a workhorse constantly looking to charge the opposition players to overturn possession. Up front, the Pressing Forward will lead the press from the front by not giving the keeper a moment’s rest. I also like to use an inverted wing-back to cut inside and create more space for my forward on the wings.
4-3-3 DM Wide works like a charm.
In-Possession Tactics
Once you win back the ball through Gegenpressing, you’ll want to move quickly and create space for your attacking players to capitalize on the structural weakness of the opposition. Accordingly, do the following:
- Set attacking width to fairly wide to stretch the play but leaving enough attacking outlet through the middle as well.
- Keep the tempo slightly higher to attack quickly while opponent is out of shape.
- Set time-wasting to never and shoot on site to keep the opposition in the cooking pot.
Adjust the others to your liking. For example, I personally prefer my right-back to make underlapping runs by cutting inside. freeing up space for the right-winger. You can also activate the Pass Into Space option if you have pacey forwards in your team. We don’t recommend you to play for set-pieces since these can disrupt play and give the opposition a chance to catch their breath.
You need to maintain a high tempo.
In-Transition Tactics
What you do in transition is an integral part of this Football Manager 2024 Pressing Tactics guide. The key is to act quickly so that no momentum is lost whatsoever. This can be achieved by doing the following:
- Activate Counter-Pressing to get your players to crowd the opposition and force turnovers.
- Counter quickly once you win the ball to surprise the disoriented opposition.
- Get goalkeeper to distribute quickly to keep the tempo of attack up.
Getting your goalkeeper to distribute to the flanks by long throw-ins can be very effective option. Kicks tend to take longer while throws can be done quickly and often more accurately.
Win the ball back quickly!
Out-of-Possession Tactics
How high or low you set your Line of Engagement and Defensive Line goes a long way in determining the effectiveness of your Gegenpress. Additionally, you need to know how often to trigger press and whether to set traps inside or outside. Ideally, you should go with the following approach:
- Keep your Line of Engagement at High Press so your forwards and attacking midfielders start the press up high, forcing opposition defenders to play long balls which can then be won by your strong centrebacks.
- Keep Defensive Line at Higher to reduce the distance to the line of engagement and thus suffocate the opposition for space.
- Trigger Press more often, this is pretty self-explanatory.
- I like to trap players inside to turn the ball over in central areas which are usually more advantageous for starting counterattacks due to the wider passing options.
These settings need to complement the Gegenpress.
Mentality
Before concluding this Football Manager 2024 Pressing Tactics guide, let’s consider the mentality of your team. Usually, teams that like to play with the Gegenpress expect to beat the opposition rather than play for a draw. As such, you should select an Attacking mentality to reflect this hunger to win. Very Attacking is another option but generally not recommended as it can be very risky, especially against teams with fast forwards.
On the other hand, if your team is still making its way slowly to the top of the table, a Positive mentality can do the trick for you as well. Just remember that your players need to know the importance of attacking the ball relentlessly for the Gegenpress to work.
Go in there expecting to win!
Conclusion
That covers everything you need to know about setting up pressing in Football Manager 2024. It’s one of the best tools you can have in the locker and works against a wide variety of styles. After all, no one likes being bullied into losing the ball! So go out there and put your opponents straight into the melting pot with your Gegenpress!
