Marek Papszun usually plays a 1-3-4-3 system with the key role of the wing-backs attacking wide areas and creating a numerical advantage up front which makes Raków to attack with a 1-3-2-5 formation. If they try adopting a more defensive variant of play the wing-backs do not engage so much in offensive actions, their role on the wings is taken over by a pair of central midfielders and the team adopts a more moderate 1-3-5-2 shape.
Papszun’s team is characterised by long and patient holding on to the ball, but as the action develops the tempo of the ball increases while Raków owes its passing options to the high mobility of its players and switching positions in combination play. Looking for passing options to free spaces is also a recurring element of their game.
In defense the team sets a high pressing with the task of recovering the ball as quickly as possible including limiting the freedom of the opponent’s defenders. If they manage to regain the ball in the first phase of the pressing they do not wait to rebuild the structure but look for a quick direct pass to the free player, which is due to the high (in this phase of the action) position of the three offensive players (Lopez, Wdowiak, Gutkovskis). This positioning, however, determines a rather poor control of space by the players playing between the zones.
The dense midfield encourages rivals to widen the field of play, therefore, the key defensive players are the two central midfielders (Lederman, Papanikolaou), who exchange tasks depending on the development of rivals’ actions: attempts to receive the ball and/or blocking free spaces for passing.
The building of the action begins slowly and deeply with the active participation of the three defenders and the wide shuttle positions, with the action accelerating only in the second line. When the ball reaches the central midfielder (Lederman) on the one hand there is a clear forward movement of the wing-backs, on the other hand quite unpredictable movements of the pair of offensive midfielders playing behind the striker (Lopez, Wdowiak) on whom the further course of the action depends. Direct passes off the line are rare.
Papszun loves a fast transition to counter and most of their most dangerous attacks come from effective pressing actions in the middle of the pitch.
