Xavi Hernández wants to press where Koeman failed

While the Dutch national team under Ronald Koeman at the 2026 World Cup barely applied pressure and recorded the lowest average distance covered of all participating nations, the new head coach Xavi Hernández promises a radical turnaround. He wants the attackers of the Oranje to become the first defenders.

Attackers as the first defenders

Under Koeman, pressing was rarely successful; the players covered few meters and could not put the opponent under pressure. The average number of meters covered per player was the lowest of all countries, a fact that clearly signals a problem for the Dutch football strategy.

Xavi Hernández has specifically designated three players to fulfil this new role: right winger Crysencio Summerville, striker Brian Brobbey and left winger Cody Gakpo. In his view they form the first defensive line and must constantly chase their man.

“For the Oranje the attackers must become the first defenders,” declared Xavi. He emphasized the importance of ‘effort’, a topic that Ronald Koeman often complained about because attackers at the time did not take responsibility to track back on their man.

Koeman’s tactical choices

Koeman long gave confidence to Memphis Depay and used Donyell Malen on the right flank, but both players received few instructions to press. Frimpong was sometimes deployed as a right winger to stop an advancing left back, and Frenkie de Jong appeared as a fifth defender in the back line.

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In a match against Morocco Koeman chose a 5‑2‑3‑formation, causing the team to often set up defensively instead of pressing forward. These choices underscored a cautious approach to pressing in top matches.

Xavi Hernández wants to break this pattern, but he does not aim for a man‑on‑man‑system across the whole pitch as Peter Bosz once did. He studied the pressing of Gian Piero Gasperini at Atalanta and was impressed by the work of Hansi Flick, who succeeded him at Barcelona.

“They apply pressure from the wing attackers and the backs go all the way forward,” explained Xavi. He makes clear that there will be no exceptional positions any more; even the decision not to call up Memphis Depay is seen as a signal that everyone must run for the team.

The coming weeks will show whether Xavi Hernández’s new mentality truly leads to more meters, more pressure and a more effective defensive contribution from the attackers. The contrast between Koeman’s cautious approach and Xavi’s aggressive vision makes clear that Dutch football is undergoing a fundamental course change.