Sesión de Fútbol (Difícil): Pep Guardiola - Half Spaces (Inferiores)

Concept

Guardiola has a training pitch marked out very specifically for practice matches: five vertical and four crossfield sections, of which two are subdivided in the wide areas. The two inside channels (shaded dark blue) are where he wants his best players in possession – Xavi and Iniesta to assist, Robben and Ribery to score – because they fall between all lines of the opponent’s defensive structure.

These aren’t mere guidelines or ideal scenarios. There are rules: no more than three players in any horizontal zone; no more than two players in any vertical zone.