In recent years, the Bundesliga team's use of data analysis has been gradually improving. At Bayer Leverkusen, real-time data provided by the DFL translates into important information in the hands of two top analysts, Simon Lackerman and Marcel Daum, to help manager Geraldo Cebane gain insight into the situation on the pitch.
Match Day:
Lachman would sit under the roof of the stadium, while Daum would sit in the coach's bench, next to assistant coach Encinas and sporting director Raulfis. 45 minutes before the start of the game, the two will test the line and communicate through the headset. Lachman uses the match analysis software Sportscode in the observation position to provide clear information. On the bench, Daum will also be equipped with a tablet to receive real-time match information.
For example: Is the team performing in line with the coach's expectations? What does a defender need to pay special attention to when an opponent is attacking? Which piece of the attacking opponent is the most threatening? For effective communication, key terms are used in everything. At half-time, specific data is also formed in time for Cevane, which is then shared with players to improve and provide effective advice in the dressing room. For example, against the Celtics, Andrić's performance in the second half benefited from this.
Of course, the duties and analytical scope of the two are not just for the midfield of the game. Record player details, such as Diaby's special skills, and give the player detailed notes. So, about three and a half hours before the start of the game, the coaching team meeting requires this expertise. Helping coaches present the core content in a condensed manner is also the responsibility of both of them.
On the first day after the race day:
After the video material recorded during the game is processed, join the team for training the next morning. The head coach will take the assistant coach and write them a final debriefing, and then show the team's tactical problems and the players' individual fulfillment problems, as well as the perfect improvement plan. Of course, the focus of all scenarios will be on the next match, so it is important to have one sheet three days before the next round of matches.
Three days before the match:
Start the preparations for the game analysis section, hand over insights from the previous game, and make minor adjustments after consultation with the assistant coach.
Lachman said: "We always repeat our work in the next game, which means we are always more focused on the next game. ”
Back in the league, the first thing to do is to query and collect basic information about the opponent in the next game, build an effective database, and the role profile of the opponent's key players.
For example: Will a team play against a team that is mainly about possession? Then discover the characteristics of your opponent, such as when counter-pressing, counter-attacking, set-piece, or physical distribution.
Leverkusen set up its own database 18 months ago, called "DataBay" internally, with dedicated staff to compare and correlate raw DFL data, and monitoring this work is also one of their KPIs. But at the heart is still their evaluation material, as the assistant coaches come up with solutions based on their options.
Preparing for the next game is not their main job, as dealing with each player takes up more of their time. Since 2009, the two have competed in about 800 games as analysts.
"We're working on 20-30 percent of our work on our opponents and 70 percent on our own teams, and we're going to turn each training session into data and then segment it by area, which means we're going to show coaches the best results and where we need to improve," Daum said. ”
Two days before the match:
Strengthen the analysis phase. It is also common to allocate different proportions of working hours according to the opponent, while designing graphics to show the core insights about the opponent and reflect the problem with the video clip. For example, the facts and figures show that Leipzig is the second best team in the Bundesliga to do anti-pressure, so they have to collect evidence videos. Only then can the coach ask the question: How can this be used in the game?
That's how advanced European football works. Tactics led to victory, and Several of Wertz's key passes and goals came from weaknesses they found, such as the opponent's full-backs finding space by not playing the popular way and were accustomed to entering the box in unusual ways. But analysts don't quantify their impact, and making a game plan is an ongoing process, as is the individual analysis of each player in a video clip.
The day before the match:
Conduct the final pre-match meeting. Fine-tuning the implementation of the game plan tactics through each training session, and checking the players through the final training session to see if the players have absorbed the tactical requirements, as the players have received basic information from Daum and Lachman about the opponents, as well as specific information about the players who may be in the opposite position. Some players will find them and say their analysis results, and then they filter out the information and feed it back to the manager, so that the manager can better observe and understand the players.
Sevane and the assistant coaches also get the results of the opponent's analysis and carry out the final research work, the details of which even include: Which direction does the opponent prefer to attack? How sensitive is the defense? A player performs best at a certain time period? What set-piece tactics will be used? Everything is about preparing for the game.
It can be said that Bayer Leverkusen can always develop young players, and always maintain the competitiveness of the Bundesliga Champions League zone is inseparable from the analyst duo.