Rangers' ambitious Tottenham approach an indication of van Bronckhorst's intent

“We want to make sure we develop ourselves in the way we press and attack,” the manager said following yesterday’s 2-1 defeat against Spurs, specifically referencing his side’s ambitious approach out of possession.

“We used this game to work on it against a good-quality opponent. For me, the result today wasn’t that important, we could have been very defensive in a 5-4-1 and waited for the moment to attack but I wanted us to have the same movements we always attack with against a big opponent.

“That’s how you will get stronger. We saw today you have less time on the ball, you have to think faster, that’s the quality of the opposition and a good environment to develop yourself as players.”

Speaking following a 3-1 win against David Moyes’ West Ham last Tuesday, it was Rangers' approach with the ball that pleased their manager.

“Once you surpass that press, the whole pitch is open,” he said referencing Ryan Kent and Rabbi Matondo’s goals, both of which finished off team-wide passing moves.

“Instead of playing long, sometimes you need the bravery to pass to your teammates. The goals we scored were all about that – building from the back and making sure the opponent is stretched. Then you will find the pockets like Tom [Lawrence] did, also with the speed we have with Rabbi and Ryan [Kent]. We can be very dangerous.”

Pre-season may not tell us how well a team will play over the course of a campaign, but it can inform how they will try to play. The Premier League double-header this week showed a continuation of the bold approach in Europe last season; developed by a full pre-season and summer transfer window.

Against one of the best transitional sides in the world yesterday, Rangers played a high line and man-marked aggressively. Spearheaded by Harry Kane and Heung-min Son and coached by the notoriously meticulous Antonio Conte, Spurs can count on numerous rehearsed patterns of play and elite attackers to break down any defence.

By the fourth minute at Ibrox, one such moment played out.

Below, Rangers have pushed up the pitch aggressively. Borna Barisic is tracking Emerson Royal at right wing-back, allowing Ryan Kent to press Christian Romero at centre-back. Glen Kamara marshals Rodrigo Bentancur, Antonio Colak is close to Eric Dier and on the far side, Rabbi Matondo marks Davinson Sanchez.

It takes Spurs just one pass to bypass six players, as Kane reverses a ball into Dejan Kulusevski.

Kulusevski manages to escape the clutches of John Souttar and only an Allan McGregor stop keeps the score level.

Here’s another example late in the first half. The home side have again positioned themselves in a high block, pressurising Hugo Lloris and marking up man-for-man.

The keeper finds Kulusevski, who Souttar follows into the offensive half, akin to Calvin Bassey’s high defending last season.

However, the Swede manages to turn and reverse the ball infield, with Lundstram and Tom Lawrence clashing as they seek to track their respective men.

The visitors again break through the block and take out the majority of Rangers’ outfield options, but spurn a chance.

The man-orientated approach certainly showed its high-risk element throughout, but the reward of an aggressive defensive structure was also clear. Rangers were able to start attacks high up the pitch with players ready to launch counterattacks. In addition, they didn’t grant the visitors ownership of the pitch, instead competing for control.

Here, Kent’s aggressive positioning allows him to intercept a pass and nearly send Matondo through on goal.

In this example, Lundstram twice gets in front of Kane to intercept a pass and launch an attack. The first of which sees Kent stopped in the penalty box…

…And the second results in Lawrence winning a free-kick in a promising area.

Antonio Colak’s goal was a further instance in which van Bronckhorst’s side played on the front foot and took control of the game.

Here, Glen Kamara wins the ball back initially from Kane, with Connor Goldson stepping into midfield. 

Although the team is slightly deeper in this example, the whole midfield is ahead of the ball, ready to spring into attack. Following Kamara’s interception, the hosts build possession and push Tottenham backwards. Eventually, the ball is worked wide to Matondo.

His pace forces Ryan Sessegnon to adjust his body position, leaving a gap wide enough to squeeze through a cut-back into the box. James Tavernier has rotated infield and arrived in the box unmarked, able to get a crucial touch and divert the ball into Colak’s path.

After the interval, the visitors were far less wasteful as Kane twice took advantage of space in the defence to score. It’s hard to criticise any individuals despite mistakes contributing to both concessions. As van Bronckhorst said, his players had “less time on the ball” than they were used to and were forced to “think faster”.

After all, this was a Tottenham front three that put on a masterful counterattacking display against Man City in a 3-2 away win just months ago. The few moments in which they punished mistakes shouldn’t overshadow Rangers’ competent performance against an elite opponent overall.

Against West Ham on Tuesday night, it was the team's structure on the ball that impressed.

Van Bronckhorst wanted his men to be brave, play through pressure and open up the pitch by taking out the opposition’s attack in the process.

Rangers have looked fluid in possession this pre-season, with a period of uninterrupted training time allowing the coaching staff an opportunity to iron out creases that last season’s busy schedule did not afford.

It was the build-up play into the final third of the pitch that often proved problematic in domestic fixtures, particularly when van Bronckhorst played a 4-3-3. To address this, the manager is playing with two No.6s who drop deep and help progress play instead of one, outnumbering the opposition’s first line of pressure.

Against West Ham, Ryan Jack and John Lundstram constantly dropped deep creating a four-vs-two against the visiting centre-forward and attacking midfielder.

This allowed the hosts to build play into the attacking third, but it wasn’t until the arrival of Lawrence, Matondo and James Sands that an end product arrived.

Lawrence’s early goal forced West Ham to increase their tempo and sit higher up the pitch, allowing Rangers the opportunity to invite the press, play through it and capitalise.

The move to make it 2-0 starts with Barisic faking a pass to his goalkeeper, before turning on the ball and lofting it over Jarred Bowen’s head to find Sands.

The American plays a quick one-two with Lundstram, attracting Declan Rice, before finding the feet of Lawrence.

Six visiting players have been taken out by this pass but crucially, Rangers have players who can take advantage of the space they’ve created. Lawrence spreads the ball wide quickly and Tavernier brings the ball forward before returning possession.

The summer arrival plays in Kent and he finds the back of the net.

Sands was at the root of Rangers’ third goal too, taking out five West Ham players with one punchy pass through the lines.

Lawrence’s first touch allows him to turn and play in Matondo, suddenly, Rangers’ composure has stretched their opponent and created a three-against-three.

Tavernier’s run soon makes that a four-against-three and after fluid interplay on the right Matondo adds a third.

Rangers went toe-to-toe with Tottenham on Saturday. Van Bronckhorst predicted gaps would open against an incisive opponent, but saw the match as an opportunity to develop the way his side “pressed and attacked”.

Earlier in the week against West Ham, the benefit of summer transfer additions and improved structure allowed the Dutchman’s side to “play with bravery,” “surpass the press” and exploit “dangerous” moments in attack.

Pre-season may not foretell the events of the season, but this week's fixtures offer a clear indication of how van Bronckhorst intends to approach it.