Football/Soccer Session (Academy Sessions): Match Preparation - Pressing from the front

Screen 1

Match Preparation

Pitch size tapered as pictured above.

11v11 Reds - 1-4-3-3, Blues 1-4-2-3-1

Blues managed team playing out from the back.

Reds coached team who will be pressing from the front.

Problem 1

Blues will play out and try to find the FBs either side and try to create a 2v1 in wide areas against the Reds FB.

Solution 1

Wide players press the line of the CB from wide to narrow, cutting off the FBs passing lane and force play inside of the pitch.

The what if: 

CB plays into the DCM who bounces out to the FB and creates the 2v1.

The detail: The Red 8 will press the ball from out to in and not allow the passing line to the FB to be an option.

Due to the overload in this area of the pitch play may be forced back and in this moment the Red team will press aggressively to try and win the ball back.

Measure of success on this block is to prevent the Blue team finding the FBs either side and try to force play back towards the Blue GK in order to press aggressively.

Problem 2

Blues rotate their MF unit to get one of the DCM on the ball in a FFB area, dragging out the Reds opposing MF player.

Solution 2

Ball side 8 remains in contact with the FFB and the support underneath the ball in the MF line shall be through the DCM whilst the far side MF8 remains in contact with the opposing 1v1.

The what if

The ball is switched with speed through the GK or 2nd CB.

The line of engagement of the press is reduced, meaning that the pressure on the ball reduces so that the units of the team can slide across the pitch so that no forward passes can be made and that the opposition are made to play in front of the press.