SUBJECT: Seminar 1 Defensive Concepts Slide 1 Intro Slide 2 Contents- first focus on individual defensive concepts then move on to team concepts. Slide 3 4 Ds: - Delay: Step out the back line and slow down opponent. - Deny: Close space opponent has to work in. - Deflect: show opponent to one side. - Defend: Win the ball: tackle, block. Clip 1- shows how he uses these principles- - steps out to delay, moves in to deny, forces away to deflect, then defends. Clip 2- one yard from ball, low body position, bent knees, strength in glutes, hamstrings, quads, eyes on ball. Clip 3- eyes on ball, choosing correct moment to step in, Clip 4- Hummels has to stay compact, cuts off angle with little pause/step backwards, then deflects and defends. Slide 4 Interceptions: - Either- in open play, or as a player is receiving. - Requires anticipation and reading ques then get correct shoulder ahead. - Many teams try to force longer, riskier passes before intercepting.
Slide 5 Marking- tracking: this video will have more context later. When ball looks like it may be played into player you re marking. Look to get touch- tight i.e. touching distance/1 yard away. Slide 6 Team concepts when defending. Still many new individual and small group principles. Slide 7 Fundamental part of our style of play. We aim to win the ball high up the field to attack the opponent when they are in an expansive, attacking shape. Also from a development perspective we can only develop when we have the ball. Slide 8 Different aims of the press- to force ball to an area (wide, weak link, into a trap), to force a long pass/clearance, or to force and interception/turnover in a key area. Slide 9-10 Types- man- man on the left. Flexible or rigid. This method of pressing is much rarer nowadays. Zonal marking- there are different types (man orientated, or space/position orientated.) Also consider the height of the press, do they wait until mid- way? Do they press high up the field? What do you think are the benefits/negatives of this approach? Slide 10 Difference might be difficult to see it s the same type of marking just different reference points. What are the benefits/negatives of this approach? Slide 11 Zonal- there are different types/reference points. Man Oriented- The players shift and pick up a player, if they come into their zone. Position Oriented- The players shift across in relation to their position and try to stay compact.
Slide 12 Marking- coverage video. Sevilla clearly shifting zonally however picking up immediate options. Chelsea keeping their shape however pressure on ball and tight to central options means opposition can t penetrate. Slide 13 Start of Analysis Section Villarreal 1a- dropped off in their 4-4- 2 shape. Not pressing 3v2 on front line. B- midfield don t shift when ball goes into wide area, they push up and dont allow turns. C- Bakambu drops back always protecting centre D- literally dont want anything going on in wide areas. Leverkusen under schmidt dont like shifting possession, they penetrate through vertical combinations. Position- orientated. E- Dont care about overload. Compactness to avoid opposition breaking lines. F- Ball compactness, but still overall lateral coverage. Notice how instead of picking up the man at 4.26, he closes space. 2a- 442 shape. Deep block, vertical compactness. B- As they go out to press, player slides into channel to maintain 2v1. Only fullback and winger go out to engage. Why? Central defender in the centre. 3a- Close down in wide areas so they cannot play on back foot and go forward. B- isolation is trigger to press. C- despite leverkusen overload on left side, villarreal dont get dragged over and have good spacing. D- diagonal positioning to block passing lanes. Slide 14 Bayern 1- Bayern are tight to forward options into midfield and always applying pressure to the player on the ball, preventing him from playing a long pass over Bayern s high defensive line. As the ball goes wide, Bayern position themselves in between Dortmund s players so they can react according depending on where the ball is played. Bayern force and anticipate a mistake and can regain possession. As soon as the ball is won, Bayern disperse and transition into an attacking shape.
2- When the opposition have possession wide areas, Bayern are tight to all of the ball- player s options, stopping them from being able to receive the ball on the half- turn. As the ball is played back we see how Bayern use their #8s to prevent central passes into the second line meanwhile Lewandowski is using body position (cover- shadow) and shape to force the ball to the isolated player. The use of cover shadows when pressing on the final line is vital to diminish any overload the opposition may have when using their goalkeeper in possession. Bayern are remain tight to all potential ball- receivers and regain possession. Barca They would often press their opposition s first phase with their front three, with a second pressing wave of Barcelona s midfield players marking the opposition s midfield outlets. Barcelona s front three would often find themselves pressing a four or five man build- up so would have to be intelligent in their positioning and movement to prevent the opposition progressing up the field. 1- barca final third press option based press- Above, Messi and Villa are intelligent in their positioning, covering multiple players. Barcelona allow the ball to go wide before surrounding the ball and forcing the rushed clearance. 2- Barca press 2 - Messi s positioning encourages United to play short, and giving the impression Barcelona are applying minimal pressure. However, when Ferdinand receives the ball, Pedro forces United to up their tempo and play forward into an area Barcelona have isolated. Iniesta s body- shape and curved run is key to this. 3- Middle third intensity required due to the height of their back line. Covering droppers so they 1) can t turn 2) a chance to intercept. Liverpool Clip 1 - Backwards passing pressing trigger. Liverpool just scored- - don t change their approach. Pressing Ederson key to their success, Tottenham gave him time to find accurate passes over/through the press. Bending run as ball goes into fernandinho. Tight to second line options. Focus on central three and how they work together to 1- step forward 2- follow 3- constrict space in centre. Clip 2 - Similar response now two central midfielders are dropping. Equidistant in pressing diamond. Midfield screeners blocking passes through centre of the field. Big space in between lines doesn t matter if dropping
forwards are covered. City possession opens up sterling on right wing however constant pressure on the ball means this isn t an option. Firmino blocking backwards option so City can t recycle, forcing them to play forward when they don t want to. Clip 3- spot the triggers!