By Philip Joe Cauchi
One important principle that we should work on during the phase of possession, is to create numerical superiority around the ball. This creates various options especially in front of the ball where we aim to verticalize and break lines. To be able to verticalize we have to first create the necessary space.
In figure 1 below we can identify the key outcomes required in order to create space. In this case when the team has the ball the lateral forwards move towards the inside becoming inside forwards, thus overloading the middle vertical channel. This allows space for the full backs to move forward giving the team both width and depth on the flanks. The striker’s position is very important in that it gives the team depth and creates space between the opposition’s defence and midfield, which the lateral forwards and midfielders can exploit. In the below figure, the attacking team has numerical superiority in this zone and thus opportunities to penetrate from the middle are created.
Support behind the player on the ball is another important factor which the team in possession has. The player providing support is in a position to apply immediate pressure on the ball should possession be lost. Furthermore, this player adds another option to play the ball back to retain possession if no forward options are available.
Game Situation (taken from the match MLS All-Star v Juventus dated 2nd August 2018)
Figure 1: Juventus with the ball. Look at how they overload the inside.
Training Exercise 1 – 8v7+GK Phase of Play
Aim: Create numerical superiority in the middle area to exploit depth.
Setup: Half pitch with a regular goalpost on the goal line and three mini goals on the halfway line. We have five zones, two vertical and three horizontal as shown in figure 2. Every attack should start from zone 1 as shown in figure 2. The full backs are in zones 4 and 5 respectively, while midfielders 6, 8 and 10 are in zone 1. The lateral forwards 7 and 11 are in zone 2 becoming inside forwards, while the striker is in zone 3. Note how 7 and 11 outnumber the defensive midfielder 2v1 in zone 2.
Procedure: Play always starts from the attacking team – the blacks. Players are free to move anywhere. A goal scored from zone 3 counts twice, thus encouraging build-up. If the defenders win the ball they aim to counter on the three mini goals. However, they have a maximum of ten seconds to do so as our focus for the session is on the attacking movements carried out by the blacks, and we need to have as many repetitions as possible to coach.
Performance outcomes: Always have numerical advantage in zone 1, even when the ball is another zone, thus having support and cover. Fullbacks 2 and 3 should start wide. Players 7 and 11 become inside forwards and look to exploit the spaces between the opposition’s defence and midfield. The striker 9, should aim to create space with the help of 7 and 11. Encourage rotations in this zone and also aim to overload with the number 10 who comes from behind to insert him/herself into the attack. Encourage fullbacks 2 and 3 to engage the opposition’s full backs thus creating space for 7 and 11. The full backs should also look for opportunities to cut from behind the opponents’ full back’s blind side to receive behind the defence.
Figure 2: Working on the attacking principle of penetration.
Variation 1: Have only four zones by removing zone 2 from the previous exercise. Have a 5v3 situation in this zone while the players figure out movements to create the space to penetrate.
Figure 3: Working on the concept of triangles and support within a 5v3 in zone 1. Note how the full backs (2 and 3) and the lateral forwards (7 and 11) are always at an angle to each other. If one of them comes short, the other goes high.
Progressions:
1. Play with equal numbers, thus having another defender in zone 1.
2. Play in numerical inferiority, thus having a 5v5 situation in zone 1. Players should then work harder to create numerical overloads and the necessary options and space to play deep.
3. Play with neutral full backs. Attacks may only take place inside the middle channel. Attacking team is forced to work on the timing of runs and vertical passes to penetrate. It is imperative for the attackers to create numerical superiority around the ball.
Figure 4: Progression number 3 to develop the communication links between the midfield and attack to verticalize.
Philip Joe Cauchi works as performance coach in Malta. He holds a UEFA A and a UEFA A Youth Elite coaching licences as well as a B.ed (Hons) in Education with Physical Education and is also a qualified football conditioning coach.
