WORLD CLASS COACHING
4-3-3 Defending
By Luca Bertolini
Table of Contents
PART FOUR
4-3-3 Defensive Shapes
4-3-3 Defensive Shapes
The 1-4-5-1 could be considered as the most common defense shape of the 1-4-3-3; but this is true only on paper and only considering the retreating movements of the fullbacks, joining the center backs and of the wingers joining the 3 midfielders, who are also retreating back.
Liverpool main defense shapes seems to be quite near those we just talked about:
• 3 - 3 against the opposition building up phase
• 3 + 1 - 3 to make the pressure phase more aggressive (1 midfielder joining the advanced line)
• 3 - 3 lines with 2 support players at the back to provide balance and coverage at the back
• 4 - 3 - 3 to cover the field, if the pressure phase hasn't been successful
• 4 - 5 - 1 to prevent the opposition from playing between the lines
• Back to 4 - 3 - 3 if there is the chance to go back pressing the opposition possession phase
• 4 - 4 - 2 (from 4 - 5 - 1, as Manè forced the opponent in possession backward from the left flank)
• 4 - 5 - 1 to save the final third, if the opposition is able to progress the move forward
Manchester City main defense shapes do not follow any specific system, but there are 2 main principles of play:
• Individual pressure against the opponents inside the opposition half (3 v 3)
• Numerical advantage near the ball (4 v 3)
• 3 + 1 v 2 (3 v 1 in the center)
• 4 v 2 near the ball (5 v 2 in the center)
• Even inside the final third, despite the coverage of the box become important (3 v 1 just out of it), these principles are always the keys to shape the team (4 v 4 near the ball)
• 4 v 3 near the ball (3 v 1 in the center)
• 3 v 1 near the ball and 4 v 2 out of the 18 y box
• 4 v 2 along the 18 y box and 1 v 1 on the ball to counter a shot attempt
• 2 v 2 near the ball to force the opposition attack out wide and huge numerical advantage in the center
• 3 v 2 (5 v 3) near the ball to prevent any passing option toward the center ( 3 v 1 inside the box)
• To force a finishing solution to the opposition
