Florian Kohfeldt pursued a courageous match plan in the cup against RB Leipzig – Werder Bremen’s tactics in the analysis.
© nordphoto / gumzmedia
Bremen – Florian Kohfeldt dared to flee forward against RB Leipzig. His line-up was offensive on paper. In practice, thanks to Kohfeldt’s game system, Werder Bremen managed to mate their opponents for a long time, writes DeichStube tactical analyst Tobias Escher.
For Florian Kohfeldt it went against RB Leipzig not just about making it to the DFB Cup final. His bosses demanded nothing less than a reaction from the team, otherwise the coach threatened the SV Werder Bremen the end. In view of this starting position, Kohfeldt’s offensive line-up was surprising: he put three strikers in his starting line-up. But the coach was only taking a calculated risk: His line-up was supposed to reveal the opponent’s weaknesses – and did so over long stretches of the game.
Tactical analysis: Werder Bremens 4-3-3 with Davie Selke as hanging tip
Davie Selke, Niclas Füllkrug, Joshua Sargent: On paper it can Florian Kohfeldt hardly set up more offensively. The three strikers primarily took on defensive tasks against RB Leipzig. All three attackers were often found in their own half. They helped to create a high degree of compactness against the possession-oriented Leipzigers. Especially Davie Selke stood out: he gave a mixture of hanging tip and tens. If Leipzig had the ball, he covered the opposing six Kevin Kampl. Sometimes he let himself fall far behind. The gap between midfield and storm remained small thanks to Selke; Leipzig found hardly any rooms in which they could play.
Selke did his part to ensure that Werder Bremen controlled midfield. Behind Selke, a three-axle axle helped create a high level of compactness in the center. Christian Groß acted as six, Maximilian Eggestein and Jean-Manuel Mbom acted offset in front of him. Werder defended in one 4-3-3that was especially focused on the center. Leipzig shouldn’t be able to produce an excess here.
The DFB Cup semi-finals from Werder Bremen in the tactics analysis: RB Leipzig with little train
This high degree of compactness in the center was sorely needed against Leipzig’s game system. Trainer Julian Nagelsmann tried to outnumber the center with his tactics. On paper, his formation was a 5-3-2. In addition to the three-man midfield, Dani Olmo also repeatedly dropped into the tens, RB Leipzig created a diamond here. Werder Bremen countered this diamond with the three-man midfield plus Selke. In view of the crowded center, Leipzig was often left with only the wing. They built the game over a page. They then tried to move the game to the opposite wing.
Werder Bremen However, prevented these relocations extremely effectively: Füllkrug and Sargent worked rigorously backwards. They closed the feed paths from the wing to the center. Leipzig could not move the game over the center. Instead, they had to choose straight high balls. In the first quarter of an hour these arrived a few times, but Leipzig’s full-backs could only rarely use them. This route of attack in Leipzig was also discontinued later. Overall, the guests lacked breadth and depth. Werder presented them with the compact system in the middle matt.
The basic tactical order of SV Werder Bremen in the DFB Cup semi-final against RB Leipzig.
© DeichStube
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The tactics of coach Florian Kohfeldt in the analysis: Werder Bremen with high balls on Davie Selke
Davie Selke was Werder’s key player not only defensively but also offensively. Bremen rarely tried to open flat against Leipzig’s aggressive pressing. Instead, they often chose the long ball. Those long balls should go straight to Selke. He positioned himself as a hanging tip so that he could head into a duel against Leipzig’s midfield. He showed his physical advantages against Kampl and Marcel Sabitzer. Selke extended the balls, Füllkrug and Sargent should run the extensions. Selke was so much in focus that he played until shortly before the end of the game Statistics of the ball contacts led; extremely unorthodox for a striker. Especially in the later phase of the first half that went tactics of Werder Bremen full on: Selke prevailed against his opponents, Sargent ran behind the opposing chain. Werder benefited from a Leipzig defense that made some mistakes in a direct duel.
Werder Bremen against RB Leipzig in the tactics analysis: Consistent to the end
Little changed in the tactical situation in the second half. Julian Nagelsmann tried to give his team a little more tension towards the gate. Sabitzer now moved far forward, RB Leipzig gave up midfield. But the crosses from the wings were mostly too imprecise. Florian Kohfeldt however, stopped at his Matchplan firmly into the extension: Werder Bremen closed in 4-3-3 the center and hit the ball long on Selke. Only in the last quarter of an hour did Werder venture further to attack the opposing three-man chain man against man. The Bremen team carried out the match plan with great passion.
In the extension, however, Werder’s strength dwindled. The people of Bremen still defended with body and will. However, the gaps widened. It was no longer possible to block Leipzig’s pass from the wing to the center. Both goals were conceded after Leipzig was able to initiate an attack relatively unhindered from the center. The Matchplan of Werder Bremen worked for 90 but not 120 minutes. Leipzig won 2-1. Despite the late defeat, Werder’s appearance is positive: Florian Kohfeldt catalyzed the team’s passion into a smart match plan. So Werder was able to keep the opponent cold for long stretches of the game. Bremen missed their entry into the cup final. For Kohfeldt, the playoff was still a victory.
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