What do all the successful teams of recent years, such as Bayern Munich, FC Barcelona, and Borussia Dortmund, have in common? They all have a functional mechanism after losing possession, which is the fastest possible ball recovery - counterpressing!

The term counterpressing has been established in recent years and is an indicator of a modern and fully integrated philosophy. For many years, tactical training has been trying to answer the question of how to express attack during the possession phase and how to defend when the opponent is in possession. The approach has changed significantly in recent years, focusing on the transition from attack to defense and vice versa.

This book combines ball possession strategies with counterpressing strategies. For the simple reason that successful counterpressing requires the foundation of possession. In addition, it describes the options that arise after a successful ball recovery and what the alternative plan is if counterpressing fails.

The practical part presents 25 exercises and special training sessions, with an emphasis on immediate ball recovery.