What the high press is in football and when to use it
The high press (or pressing) means going to win the ball back in the opposition half, closing down the defenders the moment they have it, to steal it near their goal.
Pressing high means not waiting for the opponent: when the other side tries to play out from the back, your forwards and midfielders hunt the ball to force the mistake. Win it there and you are a few yards from goal. The risk is that if the opponent beats the first line of pressure he finds space behind your defence, and it is physically brutal: a side that presses for 90 minutes gets tired.
In ELDT high press is one of the tactical styles you choose in the line-up. The line-up guide presents the 4-3-3 as an attacking formation that presses high. The style is separate from the mentality, which runs from very defensive to very attacking.
Before choosing a pressing plan, check your squad's fitness. Players carrying high fatigue perform worse and get injured more.
See it in the game: the manager's guide.
Related terms
More on Tactics
See also: online football manager · guides on the blog