Klopp and Guardiola_ Tactical Duels and Careers / its impact on our FM tactics

Welcome to this special analysis. Today, using the resources you sent us, we're discussing two modern football geniuses: Jürgen Klopp and Pep Guardiola.
Yes. Their tactical evolution is truly fascinating.
Exactly. We're thinking of drawing some useful conclusions, especially for football manager players like yourself.
Great idea.
What's our focus? How did Klopp's "gegen pressing" begin? How did it evolve? And Guardiola's journey from "tiki taka" to positional play,
and, of course, your famous "calm force" tactic.
Yes. Yes. We'll look at that too. So, we'll try to understand what we can draw from the philosophies of these giants into your own tactics in FM. Let's get started then, shall we?
Let's get started.
First, "klop gegen pressing." What exactly is it? You know, in its simplest form. Let's put it this way: You lose the ball, but you immediately press as a whole team. Wherever you lost it, you do it.
Uh-huh.
So, the goal is to stifle the opponent's breathing space, to win the ball back immediately. You could say Klop turned this into an art form at Dortmund.
He was very energetic during his time at Dortmund.
Absolutely pure energy, a bit of chaos, a suffocating pressure. At Liverpool, he developed this even further. So, there was still pressing, but it felt like the ball was more structured after winning the ball.
We saw more diverse attacks. Yes.
Exactly. Not just pressing, but pressing, quick transitions, attacking sets—these were more prominent at Liverpool.
The basic ideas, though, remained the same, I think. High energy, teamwork, forcing the opponent into mistakes. Liverpool's early years were a perfect example of this. Yes. Their strengths are very clear. You prevent the opponent from building up play. You win the ball in dangerous areas and immediately create a scoring opportunity.
But of course, they had their weaknesses too.
Isn't that so? First of all, it requires incredible physical effort. It wears the player down. Fitness management is very important in this system, for example, in FM. That's why
it's true. And if the opponent breaks through that initial pressure,

things change. They can find huge gaps behind the defense. I remember Sir Alex Ferguson's criticism after that Europa League final. Yes, he emphasized the physical cost.
That's exactly what he was talking about. He clearly saw that weakness.
So, let's move on to Guardiola. He didn't start with the Tiki Tak at Barcelona. Short passes, possession, those famous triangles.
Yes. But Guardiola didn't stop there. That's his genius. He's constantly evolving. The change began at Bayern. At City, it took him to a whole new level.
What kind of evolution is this?
For example, it's not just possession anymore. I mean, that's important too, but the main thing is establishing both numerical and positional superiority in those critical areas of the pitch.
I think this is what they call positional play. Huego de position.
Exactly. You see it at City, when they're playing, you see them go 3-2, then 2-3-5. It's so fluid.

It's very interesting. The goal is always the same: to get the ball to the right player at the right time, in the right place. To unbalance the opponent.
The tactical flexibility at City is sometimes unbelievable. Those false fullbacks, for example, what they call inorted fullbacks.

Hah. Yes. The fullbacks enter midfield. They act like playmakers. Or that half-space utilization—the spaces between the defense and the wings—they exploit those pockets in such a way that they practically manipulate the opposition's defense. They create constant imbalance.

Well, the clashes between these two giants, especially those Liverpool-City matches between 2018 and 2023, were breathtaking. They were pure tactical chess. Klop's vertical, tempo, and direct play countered Guardiola's patient, controlling approach.
"Every match was a different story."
Guardiola responded by changing his midfield setup. It's a constant movement of moves and countermoves. It's as if they were reading each other's minds.
The sources already emphasize this constant adaptation.
Yes, exactly.
Okay, let's get to your tactic, Calm Force. In the notes we received, you say that on paper, it's four, one, two, three, but when we have the ball, it changes to two, three, five.
Yes. It's a pretty bold structure, actually.
One of the full-backs cuts inside. The midfielder is between the defenders. It's a pretty fluid structure. How do you fit that into the Klop and Guardiola axis?
When you look at it this way, it's an interesting mix. Klop doesn't have that predatory pressing style. For example, he has a more controlling approach, closing off passing channels and patiently forcing the opponent into mistakes.
Calmer, as the name suggests.
Exactly. He seems to be aiming for a more vertical, more direct game compared to Guardiola's early tic-tac-toe exchanges. But like at City, that structural attacking setup—that 2-3-5 formation and positional intelligence—are very prominent.
So, does he inherit Guardiola's structural intelligence rather than Klop's urgency?
You could say that a bit. Guardiola's patience and structural intelligence, but combined with a more direct attack. Your philosophy of beating the opponent without overwhelming them speaks to this.
By the way, that comeback in your Frankfurt career was incredible. In 20 matches, the only defeat was a 5-2 victory against Dortmund, coming back from 2-0.
Yes, that match really showed that tactics aren't just on paper; they're an understanding. It happens when the players believe in it.
You say "plan" and not panic. It kind of sums it up perfectly.
Exactly. Staying calm and sticking to the plan. Let's shine then. What did we get out of this? Klop's energy, Guardiola's control, the ever-evolving tactics of both. Your calm strength seems to have struck a unique balance between the two.
Patient playmaking, intelligent positioning, calculated risks—a good starting point for creating your own FM philosophy.
You've definitely forged your own path.
Let me leave you with one final thought, then. So, how does this calm strength work, especially against teams that press intensely? Defensive help from wing forwards, or moments when you're out of possession?
Hm. Yes. Yes, there are potential risks there.
So, what could be the next step to maintaining that calm control even in the most pressing, most chaotic moments? Maybe you'll discover a new setting, a new role in FM. Who knows?
Maybe the answer will come at that crucial moment in the next match. I'll think about it.
 

Is there a link to download the tactic?

Let me give you a new link where you can download the tactic 

https://sortitoutsi.net/content/74014/i-am-revising-my-legendary-calm-force-tactic-which-wins-trophies-upon-request-and-offering-it-to-enthusiasts-again

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