WORLD CLASS COACHING
Scoring Goals from High Pressure Defending
By Luca Bertolini
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Part Four
EXERCISE - 6V4 + GK SSG
EXERCISE - 4V2 + GK SSG
Exercise 5: 6 v 4 with goalkeepers SSG
Set-up: 44x32 yards pitch, 10 players, 2 goalkeepers, 2 goals, two colors bibs, cones and balls.
Two teams are placed inside a small-sided pitch; the attacking team is placed in a 1-2-3-1 formation and the defenders are placed in a line of four. The pitch is divided into five parts: three center areas and two flanks.
Sequence: The coach passes the ball toward one of the two center backs inside the first third and two of the attacking team (the center forward and the center advanced midfielder) run up to put pressure from the middle third.
When the ball is passed outside toward the full back, the other players of the attacking team, must run forward toward the next areas; one of them must put pressure against the defenders in the flank.
If the black team recovers the possession the players must attack after a back pass in the middle third and one decisive pass forward.
If the defenders win the possession, they must attack the opposite final third, playing a 4 v 2 duel.
The scores are valid after a pass coming from an outside player placed on the flank and with a 3 v 2 duel in the final third.
Coaching points:
• Pressure against the first receiver to force the direction of the passes
• Close the pass lines
• Fast build up of the moves and counterattacks when the ball is recovered
Exercise 6: 4 v 2 + 2 with goalkeepers SSG
Set-up: 40x28 yards pitch, 8 players, 2 goalkeepers, 2 regular goals, three colors bibs, cones and balls. The pitch is divided into five parts: three center areas and two flanks.
Sequence: The coach passes the ball toward one of the two center backs inside the first third and two of the attacking team (the center forward and one advanced midfielder) run up to put pressure from the middle third.
The forward must force the opponent in possession toward his teammate to recover the ball. The other two advanced midfielders must run up inside the middle third area and outside, to build up a fast counterattack, helped by one of the outside free players. The scores are valid only if all of the players have touched the ball and if the scorer is one of the advanced midfielders who is running toward the center final third.
If the center backs are able to keep the possession, they must attack the opposite final third, playing a 4 v 2 duel together with the outside free players, who are full backs now.
The scores are valid only after a cross pass inside the new final third and with a run of a center back coming from the middle third.
Coaching points:
• Pressure against the first receiver to force the direction of the passes
• Close the pass lines
• Fast build up of the moves and counterattacks when the ball is recovered
• Runs at speed without the ball to finish
