Erik ten Hag's pressing system against Brighton was Jürgen Klopp-esque. Manchester United may have lost, but the high pressing was the best we have seen since ten Hag joined the club. Let's take an in-depth look at how United pressed in ten Hag's new-look 4-4-2.
The entirety of United's pressing centred around managing Brighton's centre backs and #6 at the base of their 4-3-3. As part of United's front 2, Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount had to lead the press. They had to alternate their movements to manage the 3v2 in a variety of ways.
In this example, we see the same situation with Brighton having a clear 3v2 in the build-up. They play to the left-hand side which is the cue for Mount to jump to the centre back whilst shadow marking the #6. Typically, this is when Bruno drops onto the #6, but he stays high.
Bruno instructs Mainoo to jump from midfield onto Gilmour in the #6. However, as a consequence of doing that, Mainoo vacated Brighton's #8, Milner. In previous seasons, United's centre backs did not jump to make up the numbers, but Lisandro did to make the press man-to-man.
his was one of three ways in which United pressed and it marked a clear improvement on their pressing in yesteryear under Erik ten Hag. It is MIGHTILY encouraging to see him make direct improvements to issues that his team used to have. It shows he recognises & addresses them.
The second way in which United applied central pressure to Brighton's build-up which via 'aggressive zonal shadow-marking'. We can see that here as Mason Mount aggressively sprints at the ball carrier as opposed to being passive and sitting on the #6. Bruno does the same.
As a consequence of the intelligent arcing of the pressing actions to block the passing lane into the #6 in tandem with the intensity in the press, Mason Mount and Bruno Fernandes effectively apply pressure to the ball, force Brighton to one side, and United match-up.
The third way in which United pressed was from the side (often through Diallo). Once again, we see United set up the press in the 4-4-2 base with Mount and Fernandes leading it. Brighton try to use a third man combination to play around Fernandes and find Gilmour in the #6.
Bruno is intelligent to recognise the upcoming pattern so drops onto the #6 to block the passing lane and to force Brighton to recycle. Once they do, that is the cue for Mount to apply pressure to the ball-side centre back & for Amad to invert to press the far-side centre back.
Once again, United transition from a zonal block into a man-to-man block. However, this time, as opposed to a centre back stepping into midfield to make up the numbers, Mazraoui jumps to the left back as Diallo intelligently instructed him to jump. United force Brighton
This was not the only time in the game United pressed using this method. In this moment, Amad instructs Mazraoui to back up the press as Amad inverts to press the centre back after United force Brighton to recycle. Steele tries to play out through Dunk and United trap Brighton.
United pressed in a variety of methods, all of which were executed to a top standard. One thing that ten Hag's team were NOT last season was compact. However, to start this season, they have been much better from a defensive perspective. This was most evident against Brighton.
However, it is important to acknowledge that United's press was not flawless. Sometimes Mainoo jumped to the #6 and Brighton found Gilmour through a third man pattern because Lisandro was pinned back by Welbeck. Or Brighton found Gilmour through a different 3rd man variation.
Or Gilmour dropped into the first line of the build-up and Brighton overloaded United's front 2 with a clear 3v2 as opposed to one that Mount and Fernandes could shadow mark. It's important to acknowledge that Brighton are a top team, though. They cannot be nullified in full.
Heck, Fabian Hürzeler's team pressed in similar fashion to United as they used a 4-4-2 base and often transitioned into a man-to-man press with Minteh inverting from the wing and Veltman backing up the press from right back. But... United used third man patterns to exploit that.
Or they dropped Casemiro into the first line of the build-up to overload João Pedro and Welbeck in the front 2. Both teams were really well coached and used pre-rehearsed patterns to play around each others pressing. That can only be applauded for both Hürzeler and ten Hag.
Manchester United may have lost to a last minute goal, but it was the most well-rounded pressing performance we have seen from Erik ten Hag's team to date. We have seen United defend resolutely in a mid-block against elite teams, but not press like this. This is very promising.