By Danny Carvalho
Question - “My two center defenders are good players but are not what you would call "fast". Occasionally we come across teams that have really quick strikers and this can destroy us. What can I do to give help to my center defenders in these cases?"
Let’s go over three strategies I’d say might help you deal with this struggle.
- Defend with a low unit
- Classic Italian back four
- Back three with a sweeper
Defend with a low unit
Don’t ever play with a high block defensive strategy. When off possession, keep your defensive shape low on the pitch, giving no space behind your defenders for through balls. Sit on the back, have your 1st defensive line sit right in front of the 18 yard box, approximate the fullbacks with the center backs, have your 2nd defensive line compact with the back four and this way it’s going to be quite hard for opponents to take any speed advantage because every inch of your first third will be guarded and crowded.
Classic Italian back four
This idea connects with the first one. The difference is that here, the focus is on the role of the right and the left backs. These guys’ main job and concern is going to be with defending and defensive transitions to always be in position to help and cover the center backs.
So instead of always having the center backs with their feet touching the box line, they are ok now to advance and keep the team’s unit when attacking. But to avoid your team being vulnerable on counter attacks, fullbacks are not going up to join plays on the final third. They are going to stay at the defensive line height, by your center backs’ sides.
Back three with a sweeper
This was an absolute normal strategy to play back in the days when Baresi, Backenbauer and other outstanding players performed this role beautifully.
And beauty of it is that you don’t actually have to play three center backs for this. All you must do is have a center defensive midfielder who possesses the awareness of dropping down on defensive transitions or when building out of the back.
There you go. Three possible strategies to cover your defenders’ lack of speed. Which one do you choose?
By Danny Carvalho, DOC at Corinthians Campinas Youth Club, Brasil
