In this football language post we look at the phrase ‘to press‘. You can check out our football glossary and football cliches pages for hundreds more explanations of the language of football/soccer. If you have questions or comments about this or any other phrase then email us at: admin@languagecaster.com.
Football Language: To press
This verb has been increasingly popular over the last few years in football. This is when a team without the ball rushes towards the opposing player who has the ball to try to make them make a mistake. Even if the opponent passes the ball, the next player is also pressed. Basically, it means the defending team hurries the opposition and tries to close down their options for passing or running with the ball. A high press is when a team tries to win the ball back from the opposition as close to their goal as possible – the idea is that if they win it near the opponent’s goal there is a better chance of scoring.
Another meaning of press in football is when a team tries really hard to do something – usually in a positive manner. So, for example, a team that is pressing for the winner means that this team is on the front foot and trying to score. A team that presses for another goal is not going to sit back and defend but instead keep attacking (See also press for an equaliser)
- Example: Celtic pressed high up the pitch in their game against Manchester City in the Champions League and earned an exciting 3-3 draw.
- Example: DB: Damian is your team, Tottenham, a pressing team?
DF: Most definitely! The manager of Tottenham, Mauricio Poccetinno, likes his players to press high up the pitch – to try and force the defenders into making a mistake – so they can win the ball back again. Not all teams can play this kind of style and not all teams can play this kind of style all the time as players will become exhausted very quickly. - Example: They had a brave formation and set up but we had a super solution for that. Our high press was outstanding but when we lost the ball in the wrong moment it was really difficult (BBC.co.uk September 2019)
- Even though the team were wining, they continued to press for a third goal.
- The team wanted to press home their advantage by scoring another goal.
Related Vocabulary
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