Football matches last ninety minutes, but for Andoni Iraola, his teams often seem to play only forty-five of them. If you look at how his high-intensity pressing squads operate, consistency across both halves remains an elusive puzzle. Managers live and die by control, yet Iraola frequently finds himself staring at stark contrasts between dominant opening periods and chaotic collapses after the break.
The core issue comes down to pure physical expenditure. Iraola demands an aggressive, suffocating press that ranks among the highest in the Premier League. Players hunt in packs, cutting off passing lanes and forcing opponents into hurried clearances. It is breathless, exhilarating to watch, and completely exhausting to execute. When legs tire around the hour mark, the defensive structure inevitably stretches. Opponents who spent the first half trapped in their own third suddenly find acres of space between the lines. For another look, see: this related article.
Take recent matches where his sides surrendered comfortable cushions. In the first half, tactical discipline wins the day. Midfielders jump to intercept, wingers lock down the flanks, and the opposition looks entirely devoid of answers. Then the second half begins. Substitutions alter the opponent's shape, fatigue blunts the initial trigger of the press, and chaos ensues. Iraola has admitted himself that adapting to mid-game tactical shifts from clever managers can leave his side scrambling.
Fixing this disconnect isn't about telling players to run less. That strips away the very identity that makes his system effective. Instead, the solution lies in game management and selective pressing. Teams cannot sprint at maximum velocity for an entire match without paying a heavy price in the closing stages. Learning when to drop into a compact mid-block rather than chasing the ball high up the pitch gives squads the breathing room they desperately need. Similar reporting on this matter has been published by NBC Sports.
Until that balance is found, expect more roller-coaster scorelines. Iraola possesses one of the sharpest tactical minds in modern football, but bridging the gap between a brilliant first half and a nervy finish remains his ultimate test. Stop burning out by minute seventy, and the results will finally match the ambition.
