Pellegrino Matarazzo’s engrossing Stuttgart

Pellegrino Matarazzo and his brother were standout footballers in the New Jersey high-school scene as Matarazzo earned a scholarship to Columbia while his brother made it all the way to the New York Red Bulls U23 side. He earned a degree in mathematics before embarking on a career in the lower leagues of German football to become a youth coach after his playing career. He worked his way up at Nurnberg, where he finished his career, before moving to Hoffenheim and excelling with their youth side before being promoted to the first team, forming part of Julian Nagelsmann’s brain trust with Alfred Schreuder. Nagelsmann’s ideologies and style of play form some of the philosophy he preaches at Stuttgart in his first senior Head Coaching role, but he has a similar initiative in adapting to his playing staff while trying to develop players by putting them in the best positions to succeed.

Build-up

Since taking over in January, Matarazzo has utilised a three-chain and two-chain build-up shape as his side will regularly change in between the two during games as he seeks to have variety and interchange in build-up. Like Nagelsmann, he places creative responsibilities on the centre-backs encouraging them to push into the opposition half with possession to work long-range shots or play balls into the attackers. He also prefers to have his centre-backs pushed up high to the halfway line where they have direct access into the midfield line or for through balls to attackers in the half-space or nine-space.

In the situation above, Materazzo’s side are looking for passing angles to the six-space as the deepest-lying midfielder will constantly be on the move, looking for possession. If the central centre-back moves possession into the wide left-centre-back, his ball-near midfielder will move into the half-space to receive possession while the wing-back or attacker positioned in the half-space will drop deeper to receive flick-ons from the half-space from wide vertical combinations. The opposition are pressing as a front three as if they mark the centre-backs in a 3v3 situation, the keeper instantly becomes active moving inside his box to the ball-near side to receive possession as Stuttgart will work a routine where they will shift the ball to the wide centre-back to move the line of pressure before playing the ball to the goalkeeper who will work a central pass to the midfielder in the six-space.

In the situation above, the central centre-back who is Atakan Karazor managed to play a direct pass to Orel Mangala in the six-space who turned and managed to progress play. Holger Badstuber and Karazor are both astute ball-players and have no fear in pushing up with possession but the latter who is younger, quicker and has experience in a centre-back/midfielder hybrid role will be perfect for the ‘Kevin Vogt Quarterback’ role. Stuttgart will normally look to work the ball through in the centre before going to the wide route as the central striker will also drop deeper into the channels to receive possession as the centre-backs can work the direct ball in between the lines or shift the ball into the wide areas to play passes to midfielders in the half-spaces. Another favoured routine of Matarazzo is to shift the line of pressure to one flank for the wide centre-back to work a pass into the midfielder in the half-space before the midfielder will turn and play a pass to the midfielder in the ball-far half-space to switch the point of attack while beating the first line of pressure so Stuttgart can attack the weak side. 

 If Matarazzo’s side start with a two-chain and seek to switch to a three-chain, the Italian-American will take a page out of Tim Walter’s book, allowing Pascal Stenzel to move inside from a fullback role when the central centre-back receives the ball in order to utilize his talents in distribution. Matarazzo will also use Clinton Mola who normally plays as a left-back in an auxiliary wide centre-back role as the winger or attacker positioned in the half-space will drop back into a wing-back role with the wide midfielder moving out to the flank to form a triangle to progress with possession. Matarazzo’s side can take up a 3+2/2+3 shape in possession as one of the midfielders in the double-pivot will drop back into the three-chain to progress possession with the other midfielder moving into the six-space. If the midfielder is specifically, Gonzalo Castro, he will drop in as an auxiliary centre-back to work combinations and progress play moving his possession with ball progression as once the ball is moved into the midfield line, Castro will move into the midfield line with possession and once the ball is moved into the final third, Castro will either take up a possession in the centre as a deeper passing option or if the ball is in the wide areas, in the half-spaces to work wide combinations.

Back-three circulations consist of Nagelsmannian traits like the ball-far wide centre-back having positional play responsibilities in pushing forward to create numerical and spacial superiorities while acting as a passing option for midfielders in the second-line. For instance, Stuttgart will move the ball to one flank to attract opposition pressure before working a flat pass to the ball-far centre-back to entice the centre-back to push up into the space available and distribute possession. Stuttgart will have sequences where they actively search for the open half-space as they will work the ball to one wide centre-back to play the ball to the half-space where their midfielder will be marked to lay-off for the centre-back who will play the ball back to the central centre-back to play a pass to the ball-far wide centre-back who will work another pass to the half-space. The body position of the midfielder in the half-space is also crucial as in the deeper areas, he will be facing his centre-backs to lay-off for a wall-pass or to scan and flick the ball with the outside of his boot to the flank to trigger one-touch passing interchanges. However, if Stuttgart are in the opposition half and the centre-backs are pushed up high to the halfway-line, Matarazzo will preferably have his midfielder in the half-space receiving the ball on the half-turn to have a better view of his passing options in the next line or to turn out pressure and drive the ball forward.

In build-up, Stuttgart will normally utilize a 3+2 shape in a larger 3-2-5/3-2-4-1 or more of a 3+3 in a 3-3-4 shape. The second one was used towards the end of the season as it granted them spacial superiority behind the first line of opposition pressure as the central midfielder could drop into the six space while two wider 8s could drop into the half-spaces, spacing out opposition pressure and preventing them from marking the centre-backs in a 3v3 situation and forcing them to close down cover shadows thus creating more passing access to the six-space for the centre-backs. As possession progresses into the opposition half then one of the midfielders, probably the ball-near midfielder will move into the half-spaces to work connections. It also gives them more variations after beating the first line of pressure as they can move the ball to the half-space on one flank, for the deeper 8 on the ball-far flank to push higher for a direct vertical pass in between the lines or for the midfielder in possession to work a flat pass to the ball-far centre-back who will push up with possession.

When Stuttgart are employing a two-chain, their fullbacks will maintain deep positions as passing options as they can interchange in between a 2+4/2+3 while they will progress with play as Stuttgart move forward. Stuttgart will also have the wider midfielders playing closer to the centre-backs as if Matarazzo’s side are facing a low block they will switch to a three-chain, employing different variations with players moving into predetermined roles in almost a Tim Walter-like fashion. They will move the ball from flank to flank as they create passing lanes into the centre for the central striker who will be dropping deep to receive the ball.

In the situation above, the fullbacks have maintained deeper positions to drop to create a three-chain while they are also in the process of pushing up into the final third to create a front five in a 2-3-5 attacking shape with the midfielders forming a midfield three. The player spacing allows the centre-backs to push into the midfield line to work a pass in between the lines as Stuttgart use a compact attacking shape with the centre-backs playing closer to the attackers. The central striker in the nine space has dropped deep to receive possession from a direct pass from the centre-backs as Stuttgart can move the ball wider to create space before working a pass into the centre. The front will employ blind-sided movement in between the lines as the central attacker will push forward and the two attackers in the half-space will drop deep to receive possession as Nagelsmann also used this method with his Hoffenheim side.

The player spacing allows Stuttgart to circulate possession and move the ball in between the lines through short vertical passing patterns as if the ball is moved to one of the fullbacks, the ball-near midfielder and winger will move wider to work combinations for crosses while if the ball is played to the midfielders in the half-spaces or six-space, they will look to turn and work the ball into the strikers to utilize quick passing combinations to move the ball into the box. All the players, except the central striker who has dropped deep to show for the are positioned with a half-turned body shape to scan for teammates movement as well as turn when they receive the ball to shift the ball into the final third at a much quicker pace.

Stuttgart can also employ a 2-5-3 shape as their midfield three will be supported by wing-backs/fullbacks on either side as this shape allows for more fluid movement in the second line. For instance, a fullback can receive possession in the wide areas to dribble inside and work a pass to a ball far centre-back or a pass into the next line to a midfielder pushing higher. In this shape, if one of the centre-backs is in possession and is driving the ball forward then the two midfielders in the half-space to for a 2-3-2-3 as well as giving the centre-back more space to drive into and passing options in between the lines. Matarazzo’s side can also use a 2+4 shape where the fullback receives possession and the ball-near midfielder moves high to receive the ball in between the lines to drive forward at the opposition defence.

Stuttgart will also utilize rotations in the six space with their three midfielders being in the same vertical line as one of the centre-backs can work a pass to the six-space to lay-off before pushing higher or wider as the ball-near midfielder will then move into the six space to receive the ball. Like at his former club, Matarazzo’s side will use wall-passes as the centre-back will be positioned in the wider areas of the pitch as he will work a pass for his ball-near six who will lay-off to him for him to pass to the ball-far six to receive the ball behind the first line of pressure.

Positional Play

Matarazzo’s favoured attacking shape is a 2-3-5 as he will supplement this shape by having Castro move from a wide centre-back role into a central midfield role while in the latter stages of the season, he also used Marc-Oliver Kempf in a wide centre-back-midfielder hybrid role. Kempf would play as a wide centre-back in the deeper areas as once possession progressed forward, he would move into the midfield line and drive into the opposition half while also having counter-pressing responsibilities as a midfielder. The Italian-American manager prefers to have one of his centre-backs move into midfield as Marcin Kaminski has also occupied this role as when his side work back-passes from the higher areas and the opposition move into a higher pressing phase, pressuring the two-chain, the wide centre-back will drop next to his centre-backs to create a three-chain and receive the ball in space to recycle it into the midfield line.

In terms of their positional play, Matarazzo prefers his side to move the ball through short-passing vertical connections in the opposition half with constant movement to create space in the opposition defensive chain. Matarazzo’s positional play has some tendencies with Nagelsmann but Stuttgart will be more elaborate about their build-up, moving the ball from flank to flank, looking to open passing lanes in the centre with off the ball movement or create crossing opportunities in the wide areas. In the situation above, Stuttgart are in their 3+5 attacking shape in the opposition half as the midfield line is staggered. The midfield line is staggered as after the playing the ball, the most central midfielder is looking to move higher to draw a marker and open a passing lane in the centre. If he manages to draw his marker out of position by pushing higher than the ball-far midfielder in the half-space will drop deeper to receive the ball triggering a run in behind from the central striker.

There is some space in between the midfield three and the front five as the space will be negated by passing sequences with the midfield three passing, moving and attracting pressure with the front five making timed drops into space to receive possession. The ball has been worked to the wide midfielder as the opposition defender in his zone is pushing up to press him which will create space for ball-near half-space attacker to receive the ball and work a pass into the wide areas for his fullback to make a low cross for the striker or the attacker in the half-space will try and work a through ball for the central striker who will make a run in behind.

In his final full season at Hoffenheim, Nagelsmann used Joelinton and Andrej Kramaric as connectors in the half-space while Matarazzo uses Nicolas Gonzalez and Philipp Forster in similar roles at Stuttgart. They will receive possession in the half-spaces and work rotations in the box to create high-quality shooting opportunities as Forster showed his abilities at roaming around the pitch to connect with teammates under Walter. The Stuttgart Head-Coach has also repurposed Silas Wamangituka as an attacking wing-back as the young Congolese attacker showed some promise in more attacking roles but his shooting and decision-making need refinement while he is a strong dribbler and has an engine with the ball at his feet. As a wing-back, he can use his assets to drive the ball forward and stretch play while Matarazzo has granted him the freedom to interchange with Forster and move into a more central role as he will have the ball-near half-space attacker and midfielder underlapping him to counter-press if Stuttgart loses possession.

Blind-sided movement is a major facet of Stuttgart’s positional play as the central striker will drop deep into the open zones to receive possession as once he drops deep, one of the wide attackers will make an inverted run into the centre to receive a through ball or a lobbed pass. At times the attackers in the half-space will drop deep with the central attacker will push higher as there will be constant movement among the attacking three till there is an opportunity to work a pass through the lines to them or a lobbed ball in behind. There will also be sequences where the central striker will drop extraordinarily deep for the midfielder to work a pass to him and continue his run to receive the ball from the attacker and try a play a through ball for one of the other Stuttgart attackers. Stuttgart will especially work blind-sided movement routines in the wide zones as they will use rotations to open passing lanes to move the ball into the box.

In and around the box, Stuttgart use third-man rotations to create high quality shooting opportunities inside the box as even when they work crossing opportunities, the striker receiving the cross will try to work a lay-off or a flick on to a teammate, so they can have a clearer opportunity on goal. If a teammate works a lobbed pass into the box, Stuttgart will normally have two runners making movements into the box as the player receiving the ball can either work a flick on for a teammate behind him to have a shooting opportunity, lay-it off for a cross into the box or take the shooting opportunity himself. A pass from a deeper player to one of the attackers around the box while either trigger third-man runner in behind or the player making the pass will continue his run into the box in the hopes of receiving a flick-on to have a shot on goal.  

In Stuttgart’s attacking setup with their central striker being flanked by two attackers in the half-spaces and the wing-backs having passing options that include the ball-near half-space attacker and midfielder, third man interchanges are prevalent in how they generate shooting opportunites. Even if a midfielder makes a mazy dribbling run into the box, he will have two passing options to shift the ball to. Third man interchanges around the box also give Stuttgart the opportunity to work shooting opportunities from the wide areas as a midfielder or half-space attacker can work a pass into the wing-back before continuing his run into the half-space, clearing a path for the attacker to have a direct passing lane to a central attacker or for the attacker to dribble inside and lay the ball off to a central midfielder while the player in the half-space will move to the wide zone for a teammate to make a third man run into half-space to have a low crossing opportunity or a shot on goal.

The players positioned in the half-space also facilitate the better use of crosses as they can receive longer crosses from deep by making runs at the near post to cut deliveries back to teammates at the top of the box or flick them on to strikers inside the box. Stuttgart will switch the ball through vertical connections as the wing-back will receive a pass on one flank to play a ball to the half-space attacker who will work a low cross into the box or flick for his wing-back to continue his run into the box and have a high-quality crossing or shooting opportunity.

Counter-pressing

Counter-pressing is an important facet of Stuttgart’s play as in the latter stages of the season when they utilised Wamangituka as an attacker they will have the ball-near attacker in the half-space underlapping him while the wide centre-back will also act as cover. If Stuttgart lose possession on Wamangituka’s flank, in order to prevent him from dropping deep into the defensive shape, only to have to cover ground again when regaining possession, Matarazzo will task Wamangituka with directly counter-pressing the man in possession with the attacker in the half-space covering him or marking the nearest passing option while the ball-near wide-centre-back will act as press security. This support allows Wamangituka to maintain his high position as if Stuttgart regain possession in the opposition half then they can stretch the pitch by playing passes for the Congolese international in the wide areas.

In the counter-pressing phase, it is highly important for the player who loses possession to lead the counter-press by pressing the man in possession as the rest of the team will follow their lead as the nearest players will focus on closing the passing lanes and marking the opposition players in the area. If the first player doesn’t counter-press, the opposition player who won the turnover will have space to drive into and time to shift the ball. If the first player is counter-pressing and caught in shoulder to shoulder tussle with the opposition player, then the nearest player will push up to create a 2v1 situation to regain possession. The first player’s role is to try and regain possession or to challenge the player in possession to allow for enough time for his teammates to organize their defensive shape in the zone for a teammate to join him in order to regain possession.

If Stuttgart lose the ball in or around the opposition box, they will counter-press to regain possession with the midfield three pushing forward and the ball-near attackers dropping back to squeeze the space to regain possession as close to the opposition box as possible. The defence will also push up to regain loose passes as if they are in a three-chain, each centre-back’s focus will be on covering their specific zone. If the ball moves into the central centre-back’s zone, he will push up to regain possession while if the ball moves into any of the wide centre-back’s zones then they will push up to win the turnover. Stuttgart will also continue their counter-press even if the opposition are switching the ball as the players in that area will push up to win the turnover and constrain the space. Sometimes Stuttgart will force the opposition to switch the ball with the knowledge that the centre-back in that zone will push up to make the interception or turnover. Stuttgart will counter-press ferociously to regain possession to create quick opportunities while denying the opposition to construct counter-attacks which could leave them vulnerable.

Pressing

Matarazzo’s side press in many different ways as they adjust to the opposition as they can press in a 4-3-3, against Hamburg they chose to maintain a medium block to mark Adrian Fein with their two strikers in a 4-4-2 while in the latter stages of the season they used a 5-3-2 shape which the Italian-American manager is familiar with from his time at Hoffenheim. They normally look to press high to force turnovers and long-balls, also pressing the keeper while maintaining a rigid shape in behind the first wave.  Stuttgart can operate with a high press, targeting the opposition from goal-kicks or can use specific triggers to apply pressure as if they are in a 4-4-2 medium block, they will use back-passes as their triggers while if they are in a 4-3-3, the front three will be marking specific defenders and will be triggered into action whenever their marker receives possession.

In the situation above, they are pressing the opposition from a goal-kick in their favoured 4-3-3 shape as the front three are ready to attack the box in case of a short goal-kick situation. If the opposition move the ball back to the keeper, then the central striker will push forward to press while the two wide players will move closer to the centre-backs, only directly engaging them if they receive the ball as their main role is to mark the fullbacks and close the passing lanes from the centre-backs to the fullbacks. If the central striker is pressing the keeper and the ball is shifted to one of the centre-backs, then he will move to directly press the centre-back to force the long-ball or loose pass for the turnover. He has left his midfield responsibility to focus on pressing the goalkeeper and centre-backs while cutting out the passing lanes to midfield as if the opposition manage to move the ball to the opposition midfielders then the midfielder who is closest to him will push up to regain possession.

The most interesting facet of Stuttgart’s press is the use of the fullbacks and deeper-midfielders as they will maintain a close distance to each other for cover and press security. If the ball is moved out to the fullback, the attacker will lead the lateral pressing phase by pressuring the fullback while the ball-near midfielder will track his opposition midfield marker to the wide zones with the fullback pushing up as cover as sometimes the fullback will push up to press the opposition midfielder with Stuttgart’s ball-near midfielder dropping in as cover. The Stuttgart defence will also slide across as their lateral pressing will normally force loose balls into the channels which Stuttgart centre-backs will move to regain at the opposition half-way line to regain possession and drive the ball forward to create the next attack. Stuttgart’s press is largely man-orientated as in the picture above, every player in the centre of the pitch is marked as if the midfielder has to push up to mark the midfielder at the top of the box, the fullback will cover his marker as Matarazzo side have perfect coverage to force the long ball.

In the latter stages of the season, Stuttgart also pressed in a 5-3-2 shape similar to Hoffenheim’s pressing shape with two attackers pushing high and marking the centre-backs with a midfield three as two higher midfielders will push up to press the opposition’s deep-lying midfielders. There would still be a focus on moving up to press the keeper if the opposition utilized back-passes while if they moved the ball into the wider areas then Stuttgart wing-back would push up to close his direct marker with the rest of the defence sliding across to cover. Stuttgart will also situationally switch to a 4-4-2 shape to move up and press while denying the opposition access to the midfield and the pockets in a high and rigid defensive shape. In their 5-3-2, high press, they will deliberately leave opposition defenders free to lure the opposition into pressing traps as if they move the ball to a free-player, a marker from the midfield line or the wing-backs will push up to make the key turnover to regain possession and try to work a shooting opportunity.

Defensive Shape

Even when Matarazzo is deploying a back four, his side will normally drop into a back five in the defensive phase in a 5-4-1/5-3-2 shape as they seek to deny the opposition access to the central pockets, forcing them into back-passes which will trigger a higher press from Stuttgart or into the wide areas. If there are in a 5-3-2 shape, then the front two will be high as the midfield three will maintain a deeper position in front of the defence as the front two will drop deeper as the opposition move further into the Stuttgart half. Pellegrino has also used a 4-4-2/4-1-4-1 medium block with two banks of four in front of the box while the strikers will mark the opposition deeper-lying midfielder.

In the picture above, Stuttgart have maintained a rigid shape as they have worked an offside trap for the opposition central striker as if the opposition try to work a cross to him, it would be ineffective.  Stuttgart are utilizing a 4-1-4-1 shape as they can switch to a back five with the midfielder dropping in between the centre-backs allowing them to support the fullback and winger if they push out wide to close down crosses. The back four are maintaining a tight line as the midfielder, Mangala pushed up to mark the opposition midfielder but will move across to mark the opposition winger in a 3v3/3v2 situation to regain possession and lead a break. The Stuttgart striker has maintained a higher position as he will lead the pressure phase if the opposition work a back-pass while he will try to anticipate when the opposition retreat to regain the ball with an interception or tackle to lead the break. At times, he will also move into the wide areas, to provide numerical superiority so his side can regain possession and break.

If Stuttgart manage to regain possession, then they will try to work the early ball into the highly positioned striker who will hold it up and lay-off for a deeper player as Matarazzo’s side are closely positioned to work quick connections for the wingers to push and drive the ball on the quick breaks. The Italian-American has used ample centre-backs as he will need to settle on his centre-back partnership if Stuttgart are to thrive in the Bundesliga.

Conclusion

Matarazzo has become the first American born coach to ply his trade in the Bundesliga as Schalke’s Head Coach, David Wagner is American but was born in Germany. He has had a long arduous route to make it to the Bundesliga as his appointment at Stuttgart was initially a shock. However, Thomas Hitzlsperger and Sven Mislintat showed tremendous foresight to hire him as early signs look encouraging for his prospects as a top-level Head Coach. The COVID-19 pandemic has hit Stuttgart especially hard, depleting their transfer war chest as they will need to have a frugal approach while promoting players from an academy side that were in the finals of the German U19 division last season, losing to Borussia Dortmund. Matarazzo has shown initial signs of being a manager who can put players in positions to improve and succeed as giving Mola more game time and playing Wamangituka at wing-back proved to be a masterstroke. He becomes yet another enticing managerial prospect in a Bundesliga already filled with masterminds.