“From every area of the team, I want productivity,” is the view of Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag - and Roberto De Zerbi has implemented a similar style at Brighton.
The two go head-to-head at Wembley on Sunday in an FA Cup semi-final that is sure to offer a scintillating game of entertainment for fans of both sides, as well as the neutral. The mantra for both is the same, defence is the first line of attack.
Ten Hag has previously stated his intent to implement his pressing philosophy since taking to the dugout last summer. “We want to press and that has to be the intention all day. It's about the Man United football and about the Man United identity and philosophy.
"From every area of the team, I want productivity. That's the most important thing, that players take the initiative on and off the ball, in offence and defence.”
For De Zerbi, it is his intelligent set-up that entices the opposition to press his Brighton side deep into their own half, allowing them to counter attack without losing possession of the ball - and that has seen his side become successful this season.
Essentially, De Zerbi’s football has been about a battle for space. Effective when in transition, the Italian manager invites the other team to press and play higher up the pitch.
In order to do this, Brighton’s patterns of play will often see the ball at the feet of one of their defenders near or inside their own 18-yard-box. When the opposition attacker comes towards him, leaving a Seagull shirt in more space behind him, the defender will play it around him into the midfield and then forward - beating the first line of opposition defence with one to two passes.
From there Brighton's forwards tend to drop deep, dragging their centre-backs with them and allowing central space for their wingers to exploit - either by over the top balls into the space, or through an indirect passing route with their forwards.
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This system has allowed for attacking output to be very effective, with five players contributing to 10 or more goals this season. Leading the line is both Kauro Mitoma and Solly March, with Pascal Gross also impressing. World Cup winner Alexis Mac Allister and 18-year-old Evan Ferguson provided even more attacking intent, as well.
Their hopes of breaking through the Manchester United back-line have taken a major boost in recent weeks. An injury plagued United side have been without centre-back pairing Raphael Varane and Lisandro Martinez since their clash with Sevilla on April 13, and neither will feature on Sunday.
There have also been questions about the fitness of Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Scott McTominay - as well as a certain Marcus Rashford. All of whom have faced a recent spell on the sidelines culminating into the latter stages of this week.
Brighton have had injury issues of their own in recent weeks. ““We are losing too many players. Sarmiento, Lallana, Lamptey and now Ferguson and [Joel] Veltman,” said De Zerbi following last weekend’s 2-1 win at Stamford Bridge, which saw both Ferguson and Veltman leave the pitch in the first-half.
“But I am very lucky to be the coach of Brighton, and we have many solutions. We can change the position of a lot of players, like Pascal [Gross] and Solly March and we believe in ourselves.”
Ferguson making way gave an opportunity to Julio Enciso, who scored what would prove to be the winner in magnificent fashion, but his coach had questions about the players mentality in his post-match interview, reiterating what he expects from his side.
“Wonderful goal, and Enciso played a wonderful game until the goal and that has finished the game, and it is not a surprise. He is a young player, and a good guy but he has to progress he has to improve - first of all in [his] mentality. The importance of the last 10 minutes. We concede a goal, and his goal is not important if you don’t win.”
“Demanding” ten Hag has revolutionised his Manchester United side to compete in multiple fronts this season by bringing a new philosophy to the Red Devils.
“His ideas are different to a lot of what we’ve been used to, I must say. He was a defender as well," Harry Maguire told talkSPORT. “This season, he has proven that it works and it has worked in the past as well. He has brought a philosophy and ideas on how he wants us to play.
“He’ll probably tell you that there is still a lot of improvement that we need to do. He’s so demanding in everything that he does and everything that he says. Whether it’s on the training pitch or whether you’re having a passing drill at the start and you miss a pass – he’s on you straight away and that’s the demands he sets. He wants high standards."
With both sides setting out to outscore their opponent, while maintaining their defensive rigidity, it promises to set up an end-to-end affair.
