FC Twente won tactically against Feyenoord in their mutual match. How did Joseph Oosting manage to beat the shrewd Arne Slot?
“Defensively, Twente does what has worked great in home matches since the period with Ron Jans: putting pressure with the three attackers,” Pieter Zwart opens his analysis for Voetbal International. “Oosting’s team tempts opponents to play the first pass short towards the central defenders. Then Manfred Ugalde starts chasing. As soon as the striker moves towards one side, a wing attacker has to tackle the other central defender.”
As a result, Feyenoord has to think in different ways about how to break out. “There is a lack of space in midfield for Feyenoord, because Sem Steijn (with Ramiz Zerrouki) and Michel Sadílek (with Mats Wieffer) are close to their direct opponents. The free man in these types of situations is the wing defender. However, due to the intensity of the pressure from Twente is often difficult for Feyenoord to achieve.”
What is also striking is that the Tukkers immediately want to scare the visitors: with success. “Twente’s tactics: as soon as the first pressure from Feyenoord has been avoided, depth must be sought as quickly as possible. That plan paid off in the tenth minute with a goal from Ugalde.”
