How Ridvan Yilmaz's press-resistant qualities allows van Bronckhorst to return to 'day one' ideals

Rangers fans would have been enthused by facets of their side's performance during the Premier League double-header with West Ham and Tottenham at Ibrox. The Gers cut David Moyes’ side open with meticulous patterns of build-up play in the 3-1 win over the Hammers, with Giovanni van Bronckhorst spelling out its merits in his post-match press conference.

“When you get pressed really quick and when you’re brave on the ball, once you surpass that press, the whole pitch is open,” said the Dutchman.

“Instead of playing long, sometimes you need the bravery to pass to your teammates. The goals we scored were all about that – building from the back and making sure the opponent is stretched. Then you will find the pockets like Tom [Lawrence] did, also with the speed we have in Rabbi [Matondo] and Ryan [Kent]. We can be very dangerous.”

It’s easy to forget that Rangers enjoyed initial success under van Bronckhorst by provoking the opposition’s high press before exploding into the gaps that it created. Ryan Kent’s strike in the 2-0 win over St. Johnstone at Ibrox in December last year was a perfect illustration of that build-up structure.

The square pass from Connor Goldson to James Tavernier prompts the St. Johnstone attacker forward.

The Rangers captain plays a pass inside to Glen Kamara, who swiftly moves the ball onto Ianis Hagi. The Romanian has dragged St. Johnstone’s left central defender high up the pitch and towards the touchline.

His reverse pass inside finds Alfredo Morelos, performing a similar function in drawing St. Johnstone’s middle central defender up to the halfway line.

The Colombian plays a give-and-go with Joe Aribo, running beyond the opposition’s high defensive line from midfield, allowing Rangers to attack into acres of space before squaring the ball across to Kent on the opposite flank for a tap-in.

It was arguably to Rangers’ detriment that, after the three-week lay-off during the winter break that presented van Bronckhorst with some much-needed time on the training ground with the squad, the team persisted with their patient build-up approach for the visit to Aberdeen. Van Bronckhorst’s men continually struggled to play through the Dons’ aggressive approach that evening, producing one of their most stale attacking displays of the season.

READ MORE: What is Giovanni van Bronckhorst's Rangers footballing philosophy?

Similarly, the 3-0 defeat at Celtic Park a few weeks later may have exposed the turbulent transition from a zonal to a man-orientated structure without the ball, but Rangers struggled to build periods of sustained possession with the ball to alleviate the incessant pressure from Celtic.

The Ibrox club ended last season six points adrift of Celtic, with a fair post-mortem of the campaign likely to conclude that successive defeats to Ange Postecoglou’s side after the winter break was responsible for that points gap.

That, more than anything, is what was driving van Bronckhorst’s desire to improve underdeveloped aspects of Rangers’ play in pre-season. Most teams that Rangers encounter next season will be reluctant to press high up the pitch in the sustained manner of West Ham and Tottenham, but the teams that do are just as likely to define the success or failure of the side next season as those who don't.

That's where Ridvan Yilmaz enters the equation, Rangers’ most expensive acquisition this summer.

The Rangers Review scouted the Turkish international extensively prior to his arrival, highlighting his supreme technical capacity in possession of the ball. The 21-year-old is superior in his ability to both distribute and carry the ball compared to Borna Barisic, and his addition equips van Bronckhorst with full-backs on both sides capable of resisting, and exploiting, pressure from the opposition.

If we isolate this example from Tavernier in the Europa League final last season, the Rangers captain’s ability to evade pressure opens up a promising attacking opportunity for his side.

As he collects a pass from Goldson inside the pitch, Ryan Jack provides a square passing option.

However, the Englishman spots the space created as a result of the individual pressure from the Eintracht Frankfurt defender.

Tavernier then knocks the ball around the opponent, before galloping into the space.

The ability to move fluidly with the ball is a key component of Yilmaz’s game, allowing him to resist intense pressure and still retain ownership of the ball. Current incumbent Borna Barisic may excel in his ability to execute passes over a long range, but he is clunky when it comes to progressing with the ball.

Yilmaz boasts the ability to coax the opposition press through intelligent positioning, before exploiting the opportunities that it creates for his team.

READ MORE: Ridvan Yilmaz Rangers transfer scouting: The chalk on the boots full-back with supreme technical ability

In the example below, notice how he makes the angle for the return pass on the touchline before driving into the congested area.

The Turkish international is then swarmed by two players.

However, he cleverly dinks the ball through to his teammate advanced further on the left, where there is acres of space to drive into.

The increased responsibility on the ball from the goalkeeper in pre-season has been another interesting indicator. The high volume of short-to-medium range passes from Jon McLaughlin in the victory over West Ham underlines van Bronckhorst’s desire to add more weapons to his side’s bow.

The clipped passes from the former Sunderland goalkeeper out to the right full-back position was a common theme, with Tavernier providing a reliable outlet given his ability to take aerial passes out of the air with his impressive chest control.

The opportunities are endless for Rangers in this regard, with the addition of Yilmaz allowing Rangers to replicate those very same qualities on the opposite side of the defence.

The proof, of course, will be in the pudding once Yilmaz settles into life in Glasgow, but the potential is there for all to see.