Cracking the Code: The Unique and Effective Pressing Structure of Mamelodi Sundowns under Rulani Mokwena

Superb off the ball structure in Africa

Mamelodi Sundowns are one of the best sides to watch tactically and it's not only in how they use the ball but also when they look without the ball, especially since the appointment of 36 y.o Rulani Mokwena.

Their out-of-the-possession structure is unique, and interesting and though risky as is any high-pressing structure, it comes with a high reward for Masandawana (Mamelodi Sundowns’ nickname) as they can force high turnovers which leads to goal-scoring opportunities.

Rulani Mokwena, the head coach of Mamelodi Sundowns: IMAGE by Supersport. 

There were questions if Sundowns will adjust playing their high-risk high-reward playing style in the continental competitions (CAF Champions League) to play more cautiously especially away from home, but that hasn't been the case, as Rulani maintained the same style his team use domestically even against the most decorated football club in Africa Al Ahly.

Sundowns usually use a 4-3-3 man-oriented pressing structure which morphs into a 4-3-1-2 with narrow strikers pressing opposition centre-backs (CB) while an attacking player (usually Zwane) behind two strikers has an eye on the opposition’s holding midfielder.

League game vs Kaizer Chiefs

The above image was against Orlando Pirates in the league game, the below image was against Al Ahly in the champions league 

With strikers having an eye on opposition centre-backs, the three midfielders have a special task, and the centre midfielders (CM) are required to quickly jump to opposition full-backs (FB), to close them down if a pass is played to them

It’s important to note that if the opposition team is operating in a double pivot, it would be a shift between those three midfielders, one of them will move and adjust to cover the pivot and the wide midfielder keeps jumping to full-back if the ball is being played on the outside.

Against Al Ahly, Sundowns used the same principle to make sure that Egyptians could not benefit from using their narrowness to progress the ball freely on the outside with Sundowns using a narrow 4-3-1-2.

Sphelele Mkhulise(CM) was jumping to close down quickly Ali Maaloul (full-back) as it was for Marcelo Allende (CM)  to Mohamed Hany (FB).

Al Ahly is renowned for using their full-backs to attack and create wide overloads, Rulani had to come up with something to avoid those  2v1s in wide areas,

He sticks with the idea but wide midfielders were required to be aggressive in the way they will support full-backs to avoid such situations from happening.

Sundown’s pressing system requires a lot from the 2 lines of 3, especially from three-man midfield, which is aggressiveness and being ready to jump and adjust according to the build-up of the opposition. It also requires them to cover a lot of ground shuffling across while staying compact to deny the opposition progression centrally or advantage on the wings (space to progress into).

Shuffling across to deny progression

if the midfielders don’t shuffle from one side to the other in time or stay compact while doing so then it can cause problems for the full-back if the opposition moves the ball fast and play is switched to the other side as it can create 1v1 (qualitative superiority) or 2v1s (numerical superiority) which leaves the Full-back in a disadvantageous situation.

Midfield is not compact and as such Dieng (DM) drives through which creates space wide for FB

The system is flexible as it's able to deal with an opponent who can switch from a 3-1 buildup shape (single pivot, 2 centre-backs + goalkeeper) to a 3-2 buildup shape (double pivot, 2 centre-backs + goalkeeper) by dropping one of their centre midfielders alongside the DM to form a double pivot.

Given the system naturally invites one player to keep an eye on the DM, dropping a midfielder deep causes a dilemma for Zwane (the player in charge of keeping an eye on DM) as he's caught in a 2v1 and has to decide which to man-mark.

Zwane is seated out of position by CM who drops deep. This creates central space for Dieng (DM) to attack and play a line-breaking pass.

If Zwane stays with one of the midfielders, the other has the freedom to drop deep, collect the ball and advance into space created by their other centre midfielder pulling his marker from the central area which can lead to line-breaking passes into midfield (as shown above).

This is also the case when the opposition buildup with a back 3 (without the goalkeeper) as the central centre-back (above photo the DM)  can drive centrally if the defensive midfielder pulls Zwane out of position. 

Sundowns try to fix the problem by using a  cover shadow from the striker to deal with the fullbacks so one of the midfielders can keep an eye on the CM who dropped deep but if the opposition makes it a little tweak in their build-up, it means one of the midfield three can't jump to press as it will open central area.

With this system, Sundowns have benefited from both winning the ball higher up on the pitch by forcing misplaced passes from the opposition as it is difficult for opposition players to pass to a teammate due to the aggressive man-making.

As shown in the images below, where they rushed the centre-back’s decision-making, forcing him into an error. Which led to the opening goal.

Sundown pressing in their usual 4312 structure

The defender wasted time on the ball and is pressed aggressively and forced into playing a pass 

The inward pass is intercepted which leads to the opener for Sundowns

The above images show Sundowns forcing the opponent into an error against Coton Sports de Garoua (away from home) while the image below shows them creating a trap against Orlando Pirates (away from home) in a recent league game.

Sundowns also use traps where they force the opponent to play passes into an area they are ready to press aggressively and in numbers. This was the case against Orlando Pirates where they forced the centre-back to play inwards to a ‘supposedly’  free player only for them to be intercepted.

As soon as CB receives that ball, 2 players already jumping to press FB

The Sundown CM realizes the opposition CM in space halts keeping relative distance between the opposition CM and FB. With the striker pressing the FB, this forces the CB to pass inwards

Pass inwards in intercepted and lead to the open enter for Sundowns

“Mamelodi Sundowns are a very good team and they have a playing philosophy that you rare to find in Africa," said  Marcelo Koller (Al Ahly’s head coach) their pressing structure is just one of the things that make them unique as they're able to deny use space centrally and easy progression down the wings.