First of all, Simeone's 442 uses the traditional four-back formation with a double defensive midfielder formation, and then increases the backcourt passing points to disrupt the opponent's high-pressure formation.
When there is the ball in the backcourt, Simeone will let one of the defensive midfielders retreat to the arc of the penalty area to form a local three-center-back formation with his own two center-backs. At the same time, the other defensive midfielder will retreat to the middle with the left and right full-backs to form a midfield support point.
This is equivalent to a large triangle with a small triangle inside. This is not a simple diamond stranglehold, but a double triangle stranglehold.
Compared with a simple diamond stranglehold, this stranglehold formation has a stronger sense of hierarchy and is more three-dimensional. It can also better maintain the balance of the overall formation. When it comes to defense, it immediately starts strangling, and when it comes to counterattack, the midfield line immediately recovers and moves into the frontcourt.
Therefore, Simeone's 442 may seem simple, but it is actually complicated.
Simeone's requirements for formation tactics are simply too simple to be simpler than Guardiola's passing and controlling flow. Guardiola's passing and controlling flow has a very complex system, and each player's triangle movement needs to be repeatedly practiced and adjusted. If there were no big-name stars, no youth training academy that specializes in triangle coordination and passing and controlling, and no overall football environment and atmosphere in Europe, it would be difficult for Guardiola's Barcelona to succeed.
Simeone does not care about the details of the formation. He just expresses the core concept and then fully develops and taps the potential of the players.
Of Simeone's two defensive midfielders, one must be able to play as a central defender, and the other must be able to play as a full-back or wing midfielder.
Simeone's central defender must also be able to play as a defensive midfielder, and Simeone's two full-backs must also be able to play as a midfielder.
The left and right full-backs move to the center line, almost parallel to the opponent's second line of defense. This not only expands the passing angle to ensure that the ball can be quickly advanced to the midfield, but also restrains the overall forward pressure of the opponent's second line of defense, increases the distance between the opponent's forwards and midfielders, disrupts the opponent's high-position pressing, and increases the team's backcourt advantage. At the same time, the inward movement of the left and right wing forwards also protects and fills the space behind the full-backs.
In this way, Simeone's 442 formation can maintain a high degree of unity.
As a head coach who mainly relies on defensive counterattacks, Simeone seldom sends one of his own players to guard the opponent's players alone, because there is no need, because Simeone's double triangle stranglehold defensive counterattack strategy can kill almost any enemy star.
In other words, if even Simeone's all-purpose players + double triangle stranglehold tactics cannot defend against the opponent's stars, then sending a single player to defend against the opponent's stars will be even more difficult. On the contrary, the absence of a player will lead to the lack of corners and collapse of the entire 442 formation.
This kind of tactical detail actually goes far beyond the 442 position itself.
In order to accurately execute this tactic, you need players who are specifically designed for the details of this formation.
Simeone's supporting tactics place extremely high demands on the four midfielders.
It is not just about personal ability, but more about positional diversity.
In the past, players were all different: the left midfielder was the left midfielder, the right midfielder was the right midfielder, and the striker was the striker. However, with the development of the times, the change of tactics, and physical strengthening, many B2B-type stars have emerged in modern football.
B2B-style stars also greatly promoted the rise of classical tactics.
If the left midfielder can only play as left midfielder, the right midfielder can only play as right midfielder, the forward can only play as forward, and the defender can only play as defender, then from a tactical formation point of view, 442 should have been eliminated and thrown into the trash can long ago, and 352 even more so.
However, it is precisely because modern players can run longer and kick a wider range than previous players that even the outdated 442 tactics can shine again and revive.
Times are a cycle, and the stories in the world are still the same stories, but because the people in the stories have changed, even if times are a cycle, the stories are new stories. So, even if the tactics are still called 442 or 352, the most core factor, the players are already players of the new era. Therefore, the 442 of this era is a brand new 442.
There are no outdated tactics.
Just older players.
At the same time, players such as Saul, Koke and Llorente are particularly outstanding, and Simeone has transformed them into all-round players who can play on the wing or in the middle, and can attack or defend.
The high degree of integration and adjustability between players and tactical formations is the most obvious highlight that distinguishes Atletico Madrid from other teams.
The same midfielder can take on multiple position roles on the field, which undoubtedly increases the tactical variability of Atletico Madrid in both offense and defense.
When the ball is in the midfield and backcourt, a defensive midfielder with high tactical qualities and long pass ability can directly cross the opponent's midfield defense line to connect with his teammates at the high point of the front line. At the same time, other central players and another forward can surround the high point to complete the second-point ball fight and attack.
This tactic, which seems simple and crude and cannot even be called advanced, is supported by Atletico Madrid's all-round midfield.
Of course, Simeone's 442 tactics also need time to run in. Now he has just taken over Atletico Madrid and he still needs to sort out the team and help Atletico Madrid to run in. Atletico Madrid's midfield and frontcourt pressing and backcourt defense are still somewhat disconnected.
This is also Southampton's only chance in today's game.
It is better to meet Atletico Madrid in the group stage earlier than waiting for a while until Simeone has thoroughly sorted out Atletico Madrid before meeting Atletico Madrid.
With the referee's whistle, the first round of the Europa League Group G officially began.
This match was also the focus of Group G. It not only attracted a large number of fans, but also was broadcast live by sports media from all over the world. Scouts from major clubs came to watch the match on site, and even many celebrities from Madrid sat in the boxes of the Calderon Arena.
Many people came not to watch this Europa League group match, but to see the legendary Gu Ran.
Gu Ran's fame was already very big at this time.
Southampton is a small club and a weak team, but Gu Ran was able to pull Southampton forward on his own and win the English Football League One, English Football Championship, English Football League Cup, FA Cup and Community Shield titles consecutively.
This set of awards alone is enough to make all the wealthy families in the world interested in Gu Ran.
and……
It's not just football awards. Gu Ran's scandals were also flying around during this summer transfer window: Oscar winner Water Queen proudly said at the press conference for Iron Man 2 that she had slept with the most powerful man in the world; at the press conference for Batman 2, Anne Hathaway angrily denounced Water Queen, saying that she was shameless and that she, Anne, slept with the most powerful man in the world; during a concert, the little queen Taylor Swift directly said that the person she loved most was Gu Ran...
Hollywood is in chaos.
This summer, the whole world is eating Gu Ran's melon.
But at this moment, Gu Ran was playing football seriously.
…
(End of this chapter)