However, while the total number of shots from counter-attacks fell, the quality of shots taken following counter-attacks rose. From the defensive point of view, on free kicks, how important is it to play a high line on the edge of y CT: The former MLB and NFL superstar revealed he made a previously anonymous donation to cover costs for grieving families. Nevertheless, the probability is high that Leicester will finally experience a breakdown next season. On July 13 2015, Leicester City, who had barely escaped relegation from the Premier League the season before, announced him as the clubs new manager on a three-year contract. In an offense with two strikers, he has the higher defensive work rate of the two. No matter against whom they play, Leicester stick to their strategy of constant wing attacks. Their skill sets certainly suit Leicesters defensive approach, although a lack of speed hinders them from playing a higher back line to squeeze the space between them and the midfielders even more. When Ranieri came in, he insisted that he didnt want to change too much but just give the Italian tactical way to his new players. The Austria international is one-dimensional, yet has almost perfect attributes to serve Ranieris system well, given his durability and solid speed compared to other full-backs. The 25-year-old does all the little things right like dropping a few yards back, after the ball moved to one of the wingers, to offer a passing option in backfield, avoiding the threat of an immediate loss of possession. Or, as you said, it may just be statistical deviaton. It would be disastrous later in the season, once players tire and begin to pick up injuries such as Drinkwaters hamstring concern this week, if Leicester cant play with the same energy that has taken it to the top. In contrast to both full-backs, Mahrez and Albrighton dont hesitate when it comes to making quick runs to initiate these counter-attacks and therefore overwhelm the opposing team, whose defenders stand with their backs to their goal and have to start out of static positions. Speaking of alternatives, crossed passes belong to their style, yet Leicester use these only when it is situationally required. The publicly most discussed person is, however, Vardy. After winning the ball, both full-backs usually stay deep for a moment, protecting the advancing team-mates and offering passing options in backfield. His passing percentage is poor, but Leicester prefers having the ball far away from its goal so it can press high. The midfield line, meanwhile, moves in regards to the ball position and always keeps the initial shape. Instead, what Leicester has is one of the most clinical forwards in Europe so far this season and an ability to spring attacking players quickly after regaining possession.

This kind of control helps them intercept passes across the middle. Second, the opponents natural reaction by leaving the centre leads to Leicester dominating the middle. Speaking of which, before Ranieri was able to introduce the finer points of his tactical system he had to have a basic idea, a fundament on which he could build the house. Therefore, Leicesters strategist puts no emphasis on a half-space-dominated concept of space.

Drinkwater and especially Kant are the pivotal points in both defensive and offensive transition. To fix the poor form at the start of the season, Brendan Rodgers adjusted from his wing-heavy systems, that allowed both Harvey Barnes and Ademola Lookman to flourish, to a two-striker (and consequently three centre-back) system enabling both forwards Jamie Vardy and Kelechi Iheanacho to impact proceedings. Due to the diagonal staggering, their forward line occasionally offers one side, only to isolate the opposition near the touchline. In Leicesters case, the 4-4-2 serves very well as a base for their concept.

The Foxes arent usually the superior side on many occasions. Premier League teams are already primarily focused on wing attacks, so they lack the required structure to build up across the middle. Ranieris men blur the border between illusion and reality, competing with straightforward Premier League teams with an in-your-face-mentality and therefore with a tendency to walk right into traps without looking left and right. Ranieri himself sees the danger. Indeed, there is, yet it is not the moment of the interception or the turnover in general, but rather the moment prior to that already triggers certain mechanism thanks to the anticipation of the players upfront. Build-up structure shows lack of connection between Leicesters interior players. They have beaten all expectations, including their own. 2022 Minute Media - All Rights Reserved. Out of possession, the current Leicester displays similar tendencies, leaving little space for opponents to play centrally. All Rights Reserved. Leicester can play with two central midfielders against the 4-3-3 and 4-2-3-1 systems of the modern game and still keep opponents out of dangerous areas because of the concentration of numbers. von CE am 16.04.2016 in den Kategorien Premier League,Team Portraits mit 4 Kommentaren, They are leading the Premier League by a margin of seven points and seem to be the hottest thing in English football right now. Watch: Leicester's Vardy, Mahrez score great goals in win vs. Chelsea. Now they, as well as team-mate NGolo Kant are among the six nominees for the PFA Players POTY.

As far as counterpressing goes, Kant, as well as Drinkwater to some extent, has the intuition for rather chaotic situations. Even though it hasnt become easier to deploy these trademark balls, attacks that get through the press are still a dangerous threat to every defence. This Leicester team seem highly influenced by the legendary Arrigo Sacchi, who jettisoned man-marking and the libero in favor of a flat back four that defends zonally. He has taken 59 total shots, finding the target with 37 of them and scoring 15 goalsmeaning 41% of his shots on goal have ended up in the back of the net. Both strikers track the ball, while staying close to the opposing midfielders and making use of cover shadows. Although long balls are crucial elements of their attacking style, goalkeeper punts arent utilised effectively. I enjoyed your article very much, as you said rest attack is less talked about, so it's good to see that Paul McKillop: Every move happens in the light of three elements Leicesters players always keep in mind: the importance of pace and directness, plus the avoidance of pressure thanks to quick passes into open spaces. At this point, a coach in his sixties should probably think about retirement. Once the opponents are on the wing, it becomes hard to move the ball around Leicesters block thanks to the centre-forwards backwards pressing. After the opposing team played the ball down the flank, Leicester close the space near the ball, while both centre-forwards position themselves intelligently, so they have access to several opponents in the backfield. He took over an Inter Milan team lingering just above the relegation zone and rose as high as fourth, andSacchi commended Ranieri for his efforts in organizing and motivating the squad. Thats why he appears to be out on his own on many occasions. This could explain the higher number of tackles/interceptions. In my opinion, this is one of the most exciting times ever to be a football fan. Others, including Swansea City and Chelsea in the last two rounds, struggled to generate any opportunities. Is it a modern football fairy tale or just the consequence of circumstances? Unlike its results, the teams tactics are fairly typical. Overall, the transition within the process of pressing is very smooth. Then a diagonal pass into the space next to the opposing backline or behind the nearby full-back sets another play in motion, as the defence has to react quickly, often giving up the backspace which then is open for Drinkwater or the second striker who doesnt have to rush into the box in a predictable manner, even though these runs let the defenders eyes rivet on him. As Durant tries to get out of Brooklyn, Golden State general manager Bob Myers assesses his roster: I like our team.. Third and last, they penetrate the high wing zones next to the opposing penalty are.

Brendan Rodgers coach of Leicester City (Photo by Mikolaj Barbanell/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images). The Foxes defended lethargically in the second half against Arsenal, conceding three goals in a heavy loss, and couldnt stop the Gunners from building out of the back or through midfield. And, as youd expect, their expected goals per shot are about a third higher and also the highest in the league. (Dan Altman). But ultimately all players, except for the two centre-backs, move upfield to preserve a certain degree of compactness. The Italian head coach changed his teams shape only a few times, e.g. Ranieri continued his journey across Europe, managing six clubs in the next ten years. Otherwise, both full-backs keep their positions near the centre-backs to narrow the gaps for through balls. Comparison of Leicester Citys shots from fast and deep attacks in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016. Sacchi wanted a maximum of 25 yards between his defenders and forwards and a high line that would compress the playable area of the pitch to his teams advantage. His zone-orientated man-marking scheme paired with said focus on vertical compactness lead to spatial control in the middle of the park. Maybe Leicester are an underdog in the Premier League, where huge television deals provide money clubs in the rest of Europe, even in the Bundesliga, simply dont have. Having already turned to make runs before the players at the back can send the ball into the wider areas before or behind the offside line, it shows the good reflexes Leicesters attacking players, Mahrez and Vardy in particular, have. All advice, including picks and predictions, is based on individual commentators opinions and not that of Minute Media or its related brands. Over games 17 to 28 in the Premier League, their shots from possessions starting in their own half tumbled by 50%. Knowing they thrive in chaos, it can even be a goal to cause turmoil and destroy structures that otherwise could lead to a more conventional trial of strength which doesnt usually favour Leicester. Leicester is new to the party, but that doesnt mean they dont learn quickly, while maintaining their special style of play. As for Leicesters full-backs, they are usually positioned centrally and leave their position only occasionally, when moving towards the touchline after an opposing winger received the ball behind Leicesters midfield line or the opposing team played a quick transition attack through the wing. If opponents dont do them a favour in trying to determine the course of a match while in reality allowing Leicester to exploit openings, it has to be at least a chaotic match. For more information, please read our Legal Disclaimer. To achieve their aim of slowing down opposing attacks on the wing, as opponents move into dead ends, it is indispensable to transform the formation fluently. Both centre-backs are physically impressive, yet lack speed and agility. Newcastle clears relegation zone, Spurs blow opportunity, more EPL. The ball-near forward uses backwards pressing to apply pressure from behind, or he waits in the half-space next to the ball-carrier to close down two or three short-pass options and block passing lanes towards the opponents backfield. In accordance to their general strategy, Leicester appear to be sitting deep passively, but by employing little tricks they gain a huge advantage. Most of them stayed healthy and the Italian didnt change his winning system.

Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. This isnt a team designed to control the majority of possession.

To answer the question from the beginning, Leicesters success is a consequence of own achievement and external failure. 2022 ABG-SI LLC. Unlike his stint at Chelsea, where constant rotation earned him the moniker of the Tinkerman, Ranieri now seemingly likes to operate with a small circle of players. Only if opponents press with only one player upfront, one of Leicesters centre-backs dares to move a couple of yards forward. It was the time when Roman Abramovich became the man in charge at the Blues, and there was no room for a dinosaur such as Ranieri who could not keep up with young guns like Deschamps or Jos Mourinho, his eventual successor. Particularly if Vardy is asked to frequently drift to the right side, Mahrez can pick up layoff passes after moving diagonally towards the middle. 4 Kommentare New manager Claudio Ranieri has sharpened Leicesters focus, harnessing his players scrappiness to become a formidable defensive side paired with Englands in-form striker, Jamie Vardy. Fuchs ousted home-grown player Jeff Schlupp after the first phase of the season and has not lost his spot since. Statsbombs James Yorke recently mentioned on Twitter that Leicesters opponents had an average shot conversion rate of 3.4 percent in the matches against the Foxes from this seasons midpoint onwards. Leicester are the fifth-best Premier League team in this category.

As necessary, the fullbacks will step to prevent players from turning with the ball in midfield, and its not out of character for center backs Robert Huth and Wes Morgan to follow checking runners into the middle block because the teams compactness means theyre never far away. Having said that, Leicester have a relatively small roster that got even thinner in the winter when Ritchie de Laet and Andrej Kramari left on loan deals. In a Champions League semi-final encounter with Monaco in 2004, Didier Deschamps outcoached him roundly. The ball rarely stays centrally for very long before whoever is on it looks for a diagonal penetrative ball or at least a wide option. Okazaki was an important piece of the puzzle at Mainz before he joined Leicester. Currently, the Foxes have about the same expected goals total per match as Tottenham in a simple shots-based model. Thus, when building the game model its important to reflect what this means tactically and what the strengths and weaknesses of the oppositional systems are. (Spielverlagerungs Ren Mari in his piece on How to create a game model). Your email address will not be published. And their routine has led to an execution of their style on a consistent basis. Their build-up play is as stale as their defensive system is solid. Data via WhoScored. A clear-cut 4-4-2 with emphasis on spatial compactness is textbook Sacchi. His AC Milan teams were pressing machines, playing out of a 4-4-2 in which the highest players chased opponents in their own half and made it difficult to penetrate the lines separating them from goal. Some leagues vary a huge amount, others have teams playing in very similar systems. Its a simple system, but considering the players high-energy approach in attack, the defensive discipline Ranieri has instilled is impressive. In recent weeks, Leicesters matches gave the impression that opponents were more successful with pressing in midfield. Sanders is taking exception at the decision by a SWAC foe to move the game to a nearby NFL stadium. The Foxes statistically best formation is the 3-4-1-2, with James Maddison operating as the number 10 behind a strike partnership of Vardy and Iheanacho. This is not an unprecedented move for coach Bill Belichick or the franchise. A Europa League finish, maybe even a Champions League place, doesnt seem out of the question thanks to the quick start, but it will be very difficult to maintain the current pace of earning more than two points per match in the standings. In midfield, he has to protect the more attacking-minded Drinkwater, who sometimes tends to be overaggressive in offensive transition, which is, on the other side, a good aspect, considering Leicesters reliance on quick attacks after gaining ball possession. Diagram courtesy of Will Grpnar-Morgan. Sacchi wanted a maximum of 25 yards between his defenders and forwards and a high line that would compress the playable area of the pitch to his teams advantage. But they also take about a quarter fewer shots per match than Tottenham. Only 23.96 percent of Leicesters shots got blocked by opponents, far less than any of the other title contenders. As opposed to Drinkwater, Kant often chooses the safe option at first glance, yet ultimately helps his team to maintain the ball-circulation or simply helps his team-mates to make the right decision. Midfielders are two against three quite often, yet squeezing the space provides spatial compactness, which, as explained, forces the opposing midfielders to move back. The Foxes have also attempted the second-fewest total passes among the Premier Leagues 20 clubs. Almost everyone already expected a decline after Christmas a regression toward the mean, if you will. The Foxes squeeze the available attacking space and tend to leave opponents frustrated, even when the numbers would suggest that they should be outnumbered in the middle. Many of them flew under the radar prior to his season.

In a 3-2 win over West Bromwich Albion on Halloween, Leicester kept 52% of the ball; thats the only time it has had more than 50% this season. First, tight man coverage closes down passing options. The ball-near winger could pressure the ball-carrier on the wing by running towards him, although a strictly man-orientated approach doesnt appear to be part of Ranieris plan. The likes of Riyad Mahrez and Jamie Vardy didnt even play for first division teams before they came to Leicester. Because, on a downside, their build-up play is improvable, as they suffer from many losses of possession in static environments. Vardy and his colleagues from time to time can be great at improvising fast-attacking combination plays, without utilising any of the designed plays. In addition to Vardy, who always waits upfront, and Okazaki, his partner in crime, both wingers usually advance really quickly, so Leicester can overload the upper wing zone, that is the main area of a particular counterattack, with two or even three players. In a rather static environment, they dont feel comfortable. Ranieri consistently sticks to the system he introduced when beginning his stint at the club. In this context, both centre-midfielders are not only great at winning one-on-ones, but they also have the required spatial and positional awareness to sit back for a moment before rushing out of the backfield in order to surprise the opposing team.

Panthers head coach rips former assistant, now at Nebraska, for failure to run the ball effectively. Up front, Okazaki has secured his spot next to Vardy, after a close battle with Leonardo Ulloa in the first half of the season. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); badbeatbob: A short and lightweight striker, Vardy outpaces the vast majority of Premier League defenders with ease, which is important to Ranieris pivotal strategy. They follow opposite midfielders, who drop back to escape the tight zones, only to the own forward line and go back in position quickly after letting the opposing player leave the protected area. The biggest question surrounding Vardy and his club is whether the crazy run of form with which they began the season is sustainable. In the second phase of pressing, Leicester continue their ball-orientated shifting and zone-orientated man-marking, except for throw-ins where the far-side winger closes the distance to colleagues in midfield, so he could run into higher central zones in case Leicester win the ball.

Kant is the workhorse in a more defensive role, while Drinkwater, not less persistent, has become a box-to-box authority who links up with every team-mate on the pitch. Schmeichel almost always looks long out of the back. All picks and predictions are suggestions only.

But that doesnt necessarily mean the Foxes dont have answers if they cannot execute their initial plan. Speaking of him, Kant is the heart of the team. What is more, these frequent counter-attacks demonstrate a blind understanding between midfield and offense. The route between the centre of the pitch and outside lane has become a Vardy trademark move. Number of created chances declined after Matchday 17. Liviu Bird breaks down how Leicester City has risen from expected relegation candidate to first place in the Premier League under Claudio Ranieri. Danny Simpson on the other side of the back four possesses similar strengths. Even when considering their altered status, that doesnt necessarily mean that Leicester are forced to be more creative when in possession of the ball.

In terms of counter-attacking goals, Vardy is second over the past four years with 0.12. Out of possession, the current Leicester displays similar tendencies, leaving little space for opponents to play centrally. (Liviu Bird). All in all, Leicesters defensive approach is not spectacular, though it offers so many little details and group tactical aspects that make it tough to get in behind the back line through the middle and create high quality goal scoring opportunities. Afterwards, the Frenchman pitches in the passing lane explosively. It seems unlikely to carry on through May, although no team has finished outside the top four in the Premier League after being top following 16 matches. Vardy has become a superstar in England thanks to his clean finishing and fast-paced counter-attacking style. Both Huth and Morgan are normally at the end of an opponents attacking play, when Leicesters centre-backs only have to clear crossed passes in a best-case scenario, as the Foxes intend to contain central attacks at all cost. He can rush towards the touchline, but tries to stay within the half-space. Ranieris 4-4-2 provides more presence upfront, while it is also easy to maintain spatial compactness in defence. Only one of the wingers pushes a few yards forward if the opposing team move the ball to his side. Kant often drops back to get in front of the opposing block, escaping the pressure to screen the field, though the possibility of build-up play via ground passes is reduced. Flawed EPL favorites leading to congested table, fascinating title race. As the opposition builds out of the back, wingers Mahrez and Marc Albrighton pinch in toward the middle, enticing wide play. Am Ende ist bei mir die Notiz, das die Leicester Spieler mglicherweise gedopt sind, nach rechts verschoben und es steht jedes einzelne wort bereinander und ist somit mhselig zu lesen, vielleicht liegts auch einfach an meinem Handy. The ultimate goal is to set up counter-attacks. Leicesters fans now chant Ranieris name with passion.

It divides Leicester from the vast majority of Premier League teams. Vardy chases from the front, NGolo Kant and Danny Drinkwater protect the middle and all four in the back are comfortable defending one-on-one if the ball gets that far. From there they start moving vertically. Investigating the performances of Rodgers side in the multitude of formations since Justins injury has highlighted a few key principles the manager should follow with his return. Once it wins the ballLeicester has a league-high 357 interceptions, indicative of its pressing abilitythe club tries to get forward as quickly as possible. Even though from a pure tactical standpoint, it may seem to be unfair to put Vardy over Kant, many of his performances and consequently many of his numbers are impressive. He ended up in Greece, where the football association appointed him as national coach after the 2014 FIFA World Cup, only to fire him a few months later following a defeat against the Faroe Islands, of all teams.

Meanwhile, the expected goals from these possessions a measure of how good their chances were fell by 25%. (Sean Ingle, Guardian.com). Yet, Leicester proved forecasts wrong to the delight of Ranieri and his players. Leicesters centre-midfielders cover opposing players as long as they are positioned near them. And, moreover, both share common strengths, although on different levels. Typically, the keeper knocks the ball over the heads of both centre-forwards, without them as well as the midfielders being positioned properly and therefore compactly enough to win rebounds or force duels. Your favorite teams, topics, and players all on your favorite mobile devices. A crowded holiday calendar awaits, which will see the Foxes play three more times before the New Year and then four games in two weeks after Jan. 1, all with a shallow squad in which only 16 players have made five or more league appearances this season. To put it simply, the idea is solely about making transitions, from the principles of counter-attacks to the shifts between single phases of pressing. The midfielders hold their line of confrontation right around the halfway line, marking opponents and cutting off passing lanes to induce long balls. A resurgence in form since the international break, sees Leicester City win three games in a row beating Manchester United, Spartak Moscow, and Brentford to overcome a slow start to the 2021/22 campaign. Vardys overall open-play expected goals per 90 minutes stands at 0.26 by my numbers over the past two seasons, so over half of his xG per 90 comes from getting on the end of fast-attacking moves. (Will Grpnar-Morgan).