⚽ Oliver Glasner: The Playing Idea Behind the System

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1. ⚽ Oliver Glasner: The Playing Idea Behind the System

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⚽Oliver Glasner: The Playing Idea Behind the System

Oliver Glasner has made an immediate impact at Crystal Palace. In a very short period of time, the Austrian coach has transformed a team that had been stuck in the lower half of the table into a side capable of causing serious problems for top teams. In a revealing interview, Glasner shared insights into his football philosophy - insights that are highly valuable for coaches at every level.

Principles Before Formations

“I’m constantly asked about my 3-4-3,” Glasner explains. “But formations aren’t nearly as important as many people think.”
For him, success is not determined by what’s written on the tactics board, but by how consistently the team applies its playing principles. The key is that every player knows exactly what to do in every situation.

In practical terms, this means having clear answers to fundamental questions, such as:
How do we occupy the box when attacking?
How do we organize ourselves behind the ball?

The Opponent-Plus-One Rule

His defensive rest structure follows a simple rule: opponent plus one. Glasner deliberately ensures that the last line always has one more defender than the opponent has attackers.

A concrete example: if the opposition plays with one striker, Glasner positions two defenders in the last line. This guarantees numerical superiority in direct duels and significantly improves protection against counterattacks.

In addition, Glasner emphasizes the importance of controlling the central zone:
“When we’re attacking, we have to control the center of the pitch. The faster we regain control of this zone after losing the ball, the less vulnerable we are on the wide areas, where there is a lot of space.”

Crucially, this organization starts during the attack, not after possession is lost.
“You organize your counter-press while you’re attacking,” Glasner explains. “The structure is built behind the ball.”

The moment possession is lost, immediate counter-pressing is triggered. At the same time, players on the ball-far side must sprint back to restore defensive balance. This synchronization between attacking and defensive movements is a core element of his playing model.

Learning from Barcelona – With the Right Mindset

When asked about his tactical influences, Glasner points to Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, but with a realistic perspective:
“You can’t copy a playing idea one-to-one. Barcelona’s midfield with Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets was exceptional because those players were on a completely different technical level. That’s not something you can simply replicate.”

What Glasner has adopted, however, is positional play. The triangles and diamond shapes that Barcelona constantly created across the pitch in their 4-3-3.
“Especially with Messi as a false nine, they were able to play diagonal forward passes all the time. That’s an aspect I’ve integrated into my game model.”

The Advantage of the Diagonal Pass

Glasner also explains why diagonal passes are often more effective than vertical ones:
“With a diagonal pass, you receive the ball in an open body shape - you’re half-turned and can immediately play forward.”

By contrast, vertical passes are usually received with the back to goal. This makes it easier for the opponent to press, because the receiver first has to turn before progressing the play.

Glasner’s midfielders are trained to play these diagonal passes one-touch and immediately look to penetrate in behind. This speeds up the attack and makes it much harder for the opposition to defend.

The FA Cup Final vs. Manchester City: Tactical Discipline

The FA Cup final against Manchester City offered a fascinating insight into Glasner’s tactical thinking. City’s plan was to lure Palace into pressing. Once Palace’s holding midfielders stepped out to press a center back, space would open up behind them for City’s highly technical players in the half-spaces.

Glasner’s response was deliberate restraint.
“We didn’t just jump into the press,” he explains. “Our three forwards were tasked with occupying their four defenders. We wanted to maintain numerical superiority at the back, a 5v4.”

The key objective was to control the half-spaces in midfield, where City usually initiates its most dangerous actions.

The trade-off was clear: more space on the wings for technically gifted dribblers like Doku and Savinho. “There is no system that covers everything,” Glasner admits. “Our two attacking midfielders had to put in enormous running effort and help defensively so we could create overloads on the flanks.”

It was a calculated risk - prioritizing control of the half-spaces and defending the wings as a consequence, rather than the other way around.

This approach highlights Glasner’s tactical clarity: he identifies the opponent’s biggest threats and aligns his structure accordingly, even if that means accepting compromises elsewhere.

Conclusion: Clarity Drives Execution

Oliver Glasner’s success at Crystal Palace is built on a clear playing idea that is implemented with consistency. His key message is simple: formations are secondary. What truly matters is that players understand the underlying principles and can apply them in different game situations.

Glasner’s approach shows that successful tactics don’t have to be complex. They have to be clear. When every player knows how to position themselves in possession, how to react after losing the ball, and how to exploit space, a system emerges that works even under pressure.

Perhaps this is the central takeaway: modern football doesn’t require sophisticated formations, but players who have internalized principles and can apply them situationally.

Which principles are already clearly defined in your team?
And where is there still room for greater clarity?

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