Is that quite right? Or it is a seemingly obvious/reasonable conclusion but the wording of which gives us a slight problem?
If 'space' is primary - which would seem to validate 'shape' - then Roy Hodgson would be a football genius. What does the opposition need to create a goalscoring opportunity? The ball - obviously. 'Space', in that they need to be in those spaces on the pitch (the final third) that provide goalscoring opportunities. But don't they also need 'time'? - to spot a run, identify space, pick a pass, prepare a shot.
The 'disruptive' nature of our game (and Spurs) would suggest we give opponents less time to do those things around the box. We may not always protect 'space' particularly well, and we're certainly not as shape-focused as most teams. Though notably in both our and Spurs maps, you can see that defenders fall to the left (interceptions/shape/space) of an 'average' line, and midfielders to the right (recoveries/press/time).
How do you measure how much time you give (more to the point, don't give) to the opposition? It's probably implied in recoveries vs interceptions, but perhaps 'distance covered' gives us a clue too (as long as it's not entirely aimless), as a measure of 'busy-ness' and disruption to the time the opposition are allowed.
Sorry, yes that was really badly worded on my part. Iīll think on how to word that properly.
However how we defend is about defending space, which we do by attacking the ball carrier.
For example, we play a high line (to compress teams vertically) and we play in a compact shape (compress further vertically and also horizontally). We also have a layered formation (e.g. 4-2-3-1) rather than straight lines. Also even within any formation Klopp uses he does so in quite assymetric ways. One full back will be higher than the other. One CB attacks threats the other covers threats. Our 3 midfielders will all be at different depths on the pitch too. The one place this leaves spaces on the pitch down our sides and behind that people can play into. We encourage the ball wide and then use pressing traps to try and regain possession. E.g. ball to centerback, we press from the front and the side, the ball goes to the full back and we continue to that press from the side and also from the front.
The then canīt go back the way the ball came, so he has a dangerous ball to play over or past the press from that side. He also canīt go forward without a dangerous pass over/past the press from the front. Likewise diagonal. The ball then tends to go backwards (where our forward who is pressing the side then presses the keeper) or they take the least risky but more attacking ball usually down the channel into the area of the full back/dm (hence an explosive full back is important), a high long ball where your DM and CB need to attack (hence why height at DM is important).
As for protecting the space behind, we have two things going on.
1. Offside trap
2. Pressing
One without the other doesnīt work. If you press without a high line in means there is far too much vertical space on the pitch between your lines (we see City using this to draw team out and then crush them between the lines). High line without a press is even more dangerous. For example look at the Vardy chance from Saturday. There is no pressure on the full back, that means he has time and space to play a ball to Vardy. In our system is the full back has no pressure on him it means we are exposed over the top so you have to drop and cover. Klavan instead pushes up for an offside that wonīt be coming. Likewise go back and watch that Crystal Palace 3-3 and you see the same thing. We donīt press the ball and yet play a high line and it costs us a goal.
So while you are trying to win the ball, pressing is more about trying to control the options the carrier has and make them play into areas you want them to play - typically down the sides. There they have only 180 degrees of passing options rather than the 360 degrees in a central area. The touchline counts as a defender in pressing them too. If you want an example of this being used masterfully - the 1-4 vs United. We encouraged balls to Ronaldo where Aurelio, Lucas, Masch, Riera would all be pressing that side of the pitch at different depths making Ronaldo have two options.
1. take on Aurelio (but this resulted in one of Carra, Lucas, Masch stopíng him)
2. play into midfield (but that meant playing around or through Lucas/Masch)
3. Go back (but Riera was shutting that option down).
We effectively used their best player against them in a pressing trap. Everytime the ball went out there that day we looked odds on to get possession back. Itīs a brilliant game to rewatch and also shows pretty well how controlling the space on the pitch can be the key to defending.
Hodgsons problem is that his players maintain shape but donīt control space. Staying in shape means you can be overloaded easily. There is spaces between your lines. Switches of play stretch you out. etc.
Hopefully that makes more sense and explains what I mean when I see that controlling space is more important than trying to win the ball. For me, pressing is more about trying to control where the ball goes and making sure itīs into spaces we have more control over than the opposition rather than as a means to win the ball directly.