How WSL teams play through the press
High blocks and player-for-player pressing are now standard in the WSL, but so too are the tactical solutions designed to bypass them
Pressing is arguably one of the most important facets of today’s game. It is a way to keep the opposition as far away from your goal as possible, control the game offensively and defensively, regain possession and create chances. It is an ever-changing game of cat and mouse, as teams are always looking for new ways to press and simultaneously looking for ways to play through that press. Before we look at how teams have played through the press, we have to talk about how teams press in the WSL in general.
Most teams look to start in a high block; Manchester United, for example, set up in a 4–4–2 diamond shape. It is prominent these days, with Manchester City, Brighton, Tottenham Hotspur and Aston Villa all having used it at various points in the season.
The aim is to either force play long, so defenders can contest the ball with attackers (teams will look to have at least one more defender than the opposition has attackers), or wide, where the pressing team locks on player-to-player.
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