Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): TEAM TRAINING - Defending in Mid Block

Emphasise pitch geography to ensure the team maintains proper shape and distances between players.

Focus on defensive balance: Ensure the defensive structure remains compact and flexible, adjusting as needed during transitions.

Pressing triggers: The team must stay disciplined and press only when the ball enters specific zones or when specific cues (e.g., poor pass) are observed.

Angle of approach and body position: Ensure players are aware of the correct angles and body positions when closing down players.

Team shape: Wide midfielders should maintain balance, staying in position to prevent the ball from entering the striker’s feet and forcing play outside.

Defensive transitions: Address quick transitions after losing the ball, with players dropping into shape to defend compactly.

Blues' Objective: The Blues aim to play through the central areas, looking to break the Reds' mid-block.

Reds’ Defensive Structure: The Reds are set up in a mid-block, not pressing immediately but instead waiting until the ball enters the designated zoned area, as indicated in the practice setup.

Defensive Approach:

• Reds' Task: The Reds' objective is to show the Blues wide, encouraging play to the flanks rather than allowing central progression.

• Striker Coordination: No9 and No10 (the two strikers) will work in tandem to pivot and show the ball outside once the defender enters the shaded area. The focus will be on their body position, the angle of their runs, and the timing of the press to prevent a switch of play.

• Pressing Triggers: The team will focus on distances from the ball and the timing of the press once the passing lane opens, ensuring the press is executed with correct body orientation and angle.

• Wide Midfielders: Wide midfield players will mark the full-backs tightly, ensuring no space is available for a split pass. They will also restrict the option for the ball to enter the strikers’ feet.

• Midfielders' Role: The central midfielders will man-mark in a goal-side position, staying touch-tight to their direct opposition and closing off central passing lanes.

No More Pivot Press: In this phase, there will be no more pivot pressing; instead, the two strikers will engage directly with the two Blue centre-backs.

Midfielder Movement:

• If a Blue midfielder drops in to receive the ball, the Red CM must follow and stay tight to the player. The wide midfielder must then narrow up to prevent any potential passes into the strikers' feet, limiting the attacking options.

Pressing Timing:

• The strikers must start narrower to ensure they are in a better position to press the ball at the correct moment, such as when a poor pass is made by the opposition.

Dealing with Long Balls:

• If the centre-backs or goalkeeper shapes to play a long ball, the central defenders must remain touch-tight with the strikers to compete in the aerial duels or prevent the strikers from turning with the ball. This will trigger the central midfielders to drop off and cut off passes directly into the strikers’ feet.

Defending the Striker in the Channel:

• If the ball is played into the striker in the channel, the nearest centre-back must stay tight, positioning themselves to block the pass inside.

• The far-side centre-back will make a recovery run into the box, ensuring they are in position to prevent the striker from getting across their defender.

• Midfielders’ Recovery: Both central midfielders will retreat into the box, with one covering the edge and the other inside to help defend against the cross or any quick passes into the striker.

• Wide Midfielders' Role: The wide midfielders must also drop in and narrow their positioning, ensuring the team remains compact and organized in defensive transition.

• Striker Movement: The strikers will drop into defensive positions as well, with one going to the halfway line and the other staying near the centre circle, ensuring the defensive shape is maintained across the pitch.

Transition Focus:

• Upon winning the ball back, the team must transition quickly, with one player ready to attack from the edge of the box and another to move more directly forward to capitalize on the transition.

Defensive Shape: Ensure the team remains compact, with players adjusting their positions based on the ball’s location and the opposition’s movements.

Pressing Triggers: Players must be aware of the correct pressing angles and know when to engage, especially in wide and central areas.

Communication: Effective communication is essential for maintaining shape, especially during transitions and when closing down space in defensive situations.

Transitional Readiness: Ensure that players are prepared for quick transitions, both offensively and defensively, to capitalize on moments of instability.