Ferencvárosi TC Tactical Analysis - Weaknesses for Spurs to Exploit

Tactical Analysis: Ferencvárosi TC v Spurs - UEFA Europa League

On the back of a thumping victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford, this Thursday (October already), we travel to Budapest to face Ferencvárosi TC in our next UEFA Europa League fixture. 

As always under Ange Postecoglou, Spurs will play our usual high-intensity, possession-based style, looking to dominate both on and off the ball. 

Ferencvárosi TC might not be the strongest opposition on paper, but underestimating them would be a mistake, given their home advantage and potential to disrupt with a physical and structured approach. 

Here's a breakdown of our opponents and the areas where we can gain the upper hand.

Quick Rundown of Ferencvárosi TC for Spurs Fans:

Ferencvárosi TC, commonly known as Ferencváros, is a Hungarian club based in Budapest. They are historically one of Hungary’s most successful teams, regularly competing in European competitions.

About the Country, City, and Stadium

Tottenham will be travelling to Hungary, a country located in Central Europe, known for its rich history and vibrant culture.

Hungary has a strong footballing tradition, and Ferencvárosi TC is one of its most storied clubs. If you don't know Ferenc Puskás, you don't know football!

The country’s capital, Budapest, is the city we’ll be playing in, which is often regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, split by the majestic Danube River into the historic Buda and the bustling Pest.

The match will take place at the Groupama Arena, Ferencvárosi’s home ground. This modern stadium has a capacity of just over 22,000 and is known for its electrifying atmosphere during matchday. 

Hungarian fans are passionate and vocal and Ferencváros supporters, often referred to as the "Green Eagles", are no different. 

They are famous for creating an intimidating atmosphere with coordinated chants, loud drumming and vibrant displays of green and white, which can put pressure on visiting teams.

Spurs should be prepared for a lively reception and a passionate crowd backing the home team, making this away fixture as much a psychological challenge as it is a tactical one.

It is great to get the youngsters like Mikey Moore into this atmosphere, even if he plays no part as it's a part of the mental learning curve every youngster has to go on.

Who Was Ferenc Puskás?

Ferenc Puskás was a legendary Hungarian footballer, often considered one of the greatest players of all time. 

He played as a forward and was known for his extraordinary goal-scoring ability, incredible skill and leadership on the pitch. 

For today’s generation, think of Puskás as a combination of Lionel Messi’s skill and Cristiano Ronaldo’s scoring prowess.

He was a key figure for both the Hungarian national team and Real Madrid in the 1950s and 1960s. 

Puskás helped lead Hungary to the 1954 World Cup final and was part of the famous "Magical Magyars" team. 

Later, he became a star for Real Madrid, where he won multiple La Liga titles and European Cups. 

His impact is so profound that FIFA named the Puskás Award after him, which is given annually to the player who scores the most beautiful goal of the year.

Puskás is celebrated not only for his achievements but for revolutionising football with his style and vision, making him a name that endures across generations.

Ferenc Puskás and Ange Postecoglou

Ange Postecoglou: Ange shares a connection with Puskás through their roots in Australia, where Puskás coached South Melbourne Hellas, a club Postecoglou later managed and played for. 

Ange has embraced an attacking and expansive football style reminiscent of Puskás’ approach, making him an ideal fit for Spurs as we look to build a dynamic, forward-thinking team. 

Postecoglou’s journey and commitment to his football philosophy resonate strongly with Puskás' legacy of revolutionizing the game.

Ferencvárosi TC: Recent Form and Tactical Setup

Ferencváros have had a mixed start to their European campaign.

Their last five games have been underwhelming, with a record of three draws and two losses, including a recent 2-1 defeat to Anderlecht.

Defensively, they’ve struggled to keep clean sheets, conceding in most of their matches this season.

Let me delve deeper into that for you.

Breakdown of Matches:

1. Qualifying Games:
   Ferencváros played in the qualifying rounds for European competitions before reaching the main phase of the UEFA Europa League.
   
   Their qualifying matches include draws against Midtjylland (1st in Denmark Superliga) and Borac (FK Borac Banja Luka 5th in Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina), as well as a loss to Anderlecht​ (7th in Belgian Pro League).
   
   These fixtures were crucial in determining their position in European competitions for the 2024/25 season.

2. Domestic League Matches and Pre-Group Stage Fixtures:
   Prior to the group stage, Ferencváros had some challenging encounters in their domestic league and other European qualification games, contributing to their mixed form.
   
   This explains why their recent record might appear inconsistent despite being early in the group phase of the new format​.

3. Main Group Stage Matches:
   The match against Anderlecht (2-1 loss) was their first official group-stage game in the revamped 2024/25 Europa League format​ (UEFA.com).
   
   Thus, the rest of their record was accumulated from qualification rounds and not from group-stage matches.

The Hungarian side typically sets up in a 4-2-3-1 formation, which often transitions into a 4-4-2 when defending. 

Their squad includes a few standout players like 32-year-old Serbian international (1 cap) striker Aleksandar Pešić (wars #8), who provides a strong aerial presence (1.9m - 6ft 3in) and 28-year-old Ivory Coast (13 caps) defensive midfielder Habib Maïga (1.81m - 5ft 11in wears #80), who acts as the midfield enforcer, breaking up opposition play and transitioning the ball forward​.

However, their defensive line, especially when exposed to fast transitions, has been a major weakness this season.

Key Weaknesses to Exploit

1. Vulnerability to High Press and Fast Transitions: Ferencváros have struggled when pressured high up the pitch. Their centre-backs, particularly 28-year-old Frenchman Ibrahim Cissé (1,85m - 6ft 1in wears #27) and 27-year-old Danishman Stefan Gartenmann (1.87m - 6ft 2in wears #3), are prone to making errors under pressure.
   
   We should look to implement a high-press strategy, led by our attacking midfielders and wingers, to force turnovers and capitalise on mistakes in dangerous areas (FootyStats).

2. Weaknesses in Defensive Organization: The Hungarian side's defence often leaves too much space between the lines, especially when transitioning from attack to defence.
   
   This is an area where James Maddison (or creative replacement) can thrive, finding pockets of space to receive the ball and create goal-scoring opportunities.
   
   Our wide players, like Son Heung-min, Timo Werner and Brennan Johnson, should also be prepared to make diagonal runs into these gaps to exploit their disjointed defensive shape​.

3. Inconsistent Full-Backs: Ferencváros’ full-backs, particularly 30-year-old left-sided Ecuadorian international (21 caps) Cristian Ramírez (1.72m - 5ft 8in wears #99) and fellow left-back 28-year-old Bosnia and Herzegovina international (28 caps) Eldar Ćivić (1.82m - 6ft wears #17), have been caught out of position frequently.
   
   Our wingers and overlapping full-backs can use this to create 2v1 situations, pulling their defence apart. With Pedro Porro and Destiny Udogie’s attacking tendencies, we can create overloads and deliver crosses into the box​.

4. Lack of Speed in the Central Defence: Ferencváros’ central defenders lack pace, making them susceptible to quick forwards and direct play.
   
   We should consider deploying quick through balls and encouraging players like Brennan Johnson to run at their backline.
   
   With our front line’s pace, this could be a fruitful way to stretch their defence and open up opportunities.

Spurs’ Game Plan for Success

• High Intensity and Aggressive Pressing: Starting strong and setting the tempo will be crucial. If we press high and force their midfielders into errors, we can gain control early on and silence the home crowd.
• Wide Overloads and Swift Crosses: By using our full-backs and wingers effectively, we can create width and pull their defenders out of position. This will open up spaces in the central areas for runners like Maddison or Bergvall.
• Fast Counter-Attacks and Direct Play: Taking advantage of their lack of pace at the back, quick counters and direct passes over their defence will be key to creating goal-scoring chances.

Predicted Outcome and Approach

Given Ferencváros’ current form and Spurs’ strength, we should approach this game with confidence. Maintaining our typical style, we can exploit their vulnerabilities and apply constant pressure, especially in the opening and closing stages of each half.

With Spurs' attacking fluidity and strength in transitions, I’d predict a 3-0 or 3-1 win in our favour.

Let’s hope we bring back three valuable points and keep our Europa League campaign on track. 

If you haven't read the tactical analysis of our last opponents, Manchester United v Spurs, you can do that at the previous link and to see the evaluation of how accurate it was, click this link: Man Utd v Spurs - A demolition Job.

COYS