The High Press Revolution... and Its Decline
Between 2015-2019, the high press became football's tactical obsession. Jürgen Klopp's "gegenpressing" Liverpool, Pep Guardiola's possession-suffocation Manchester City, and Mauricio Pochettino's relentless Tottenham established a new orthodoxy: press high, press constantly, dominate through territorial superiority and immediate ball recovery.
The metric that defined this era was PPDA (Passes Allowed Per Defensive Action)—essentially, how many opponent passes a team permits before engaging defensively. Lower PPDA = more aggressive pressing. At its peak in 2018/19, elite teams averaged PPDA scores of 7.2-9.8, meaning they allowed fewer than 10 passes before pressuring opponents.
Fast forward to 2023/24: Those same elite teams now average PPDA scores of 10.8-14.3. The high press isn't dead—but it's dramatically less intense. What changed?
PPDA Trend: 2019 vs 2024
+51% increase in passes allowed before defensive engagement — indicating significantly reduced pressing intensity
Why Elite Teams Are Pressing Less
1. Physical Sustainability Crisis
The modern football calendar has become unsustainable. Elite players face 55-65 competitive matches per season (league, cups, European competitions, international duty). High-intensity pressing at Klopp's Liverpool 2018/19 levels required:
- 11.2km average distance per player per match
- 890+ high-intensity runs (>20 km/h) per match
- 72-hour minimum recovery between matches to maintain performance
The problem: Fixture congestion means teams often play every 3-4 days. Maintaining constant high pressing across 10-month seasons leads to injury epidemics (Liverpool 2020/21 suffered 14 defensive injuries attempting to sustain their pressing intensity).
2. Tactical Counter-Evolution
Opponents adapted. By 2021, teams facing high presses developed sophisticated counter-strategies:
Goalkeeper Distribution Evolution
Keepers now average 28 long passes per match (vs 12 in 2018), bypassing pressing traps entirely
Third-Man Runs
Coordinated runs behind pressing lines exploit space vacated by aggressive pressers
Progressive Goalkeepers
Alisson, Ederson, Raya: ball-playing keepers provide numerical superiority in build-up (11v10)
Quick Restarts
Exploiting disorganized pressing structures through rapid throw-ins and free kicks
3. Risk-Reward Analysis Shifted
Data analysis revealed that constant high pressing doesn't correlate with success as strongly as believed. Key findings from 2019-2024 seasons:
- Teams with PPDA <8.0 (extreme pressing) 1.92 PPG average
- Teams with PPDA 10-13 (selective pressing)
- Teams with PPDA >15 (reactive defending) 1.61 PPG average
Conclusion: Situational pressing (knowing when to press intensely vs when to hold shape) outperforms constant aggression.
The New Paradigm: Situational Pressing
Elite teams haven't abandoned pressing—they've become dramatically more selective about when and where to engage. Modern pressing systems focus on:
Trigger-Based Pressing
Instead of pressing constantly, teams identify specific triggers to activate intense pressure:
- ✓ Poor first touch by opponent
- ✓ Pass into congested area
- ✓ Backward pass to center-back
- ✓ Goalkeeper under pressure
Game-State Pressing
Pressing intensity varies based on match situation:
- ✓ Winning: Lower intensity, conserve energy
- ✓ Drawing late: Increase press to create chances
- ✓ Losing early: Maintain shape, avoid gaps
- ✓ Post-goal: 3-5 min high intensity window
Real Madrid's 2023/24 Masterclass
Carlo Ancelotti's Champions League winners exemplify modern situational pressing:
Real Madrid allowed opponents to pass freely in their own half, then activated coordinated pressure when the ball entered the middle third—conserving energy while maintaining defensive solidity.
Rest Defense: The Unsung Hero
As pressing intensity declined, rest defense (defensive positioning when not actively pressing) became the differentiator between elite and average teams.
Compactness Over Aggression
Elite teams now maintain 18-22m vertical compactness (distance between defensive and attacking lines) even when not pressing, making through balls extremely difficult.
Counter-Pressing Still Vital
Teams press less before winning possession, but press immediately after losing it. Counter-pressing (5-second window) remains hyper-aggressive.
Transition Defense Prioritized
Modern systems emphasize preventing dangerous transitions rather than winning the ball high. Defensive actions per transition increased 31% (2019-2024).
Recruitment Implications
The shift from constant to situational pressing changes player profiles teams should prioritize:
De-Prioritized Attributes
- ↓ Absolute sprint speed (less long-distance pressing)
- ↓ Maximum distance covered (volume less critical)
- ↓ "Workhorse" mentality without tactical intelligence
Newly Prioritized Attributes
- Tactical awareness (recognizing press triggers)
- Acceleration (short bursts to close space)
- Positioning discipline (maintaining compactness)
- Transition defense awareness
Scout's Analysis
The high press isn't dead—it's evolved from constant intensity to intelligent selectivity. The PPDA increase doesn't indicate defensive regression; it reflects tactical sophistication and physical sustainability.
Teams that succeeded in 2023/24 weren't the most aggressive pressers—they were the smartest about when to press and when to hold shape. Real Madrid's Champions League triumph with a PPDA of 14.2 (would have been considered "passive" in 2018) proves this paradigm shift.
For recruitment: Prioritize players with tactical intelligence and positional discipline over pure physical workhorses. The modern game rewards smart defensive decisions more than constant running.