Pressed into action – practice
in Defending
Apply pressure, regain possession and then use the ball in this three-part session. By MICHAEL PHILP MORE
High pressure
On the rare occasions Barcelona don’t have the ball, they put the opposition under immediate and intense pressure in order to win it back as quickly as possible. It’s a tactic they have used to great success over the years and if it’s good enough for the likes of Xavi, Iniesta and Messi, then why not give it a go?
What this session is about
- Pressuring an opponent.
- Delaying an attack.
- 1v1 defending.
What to think about
The defender must:
- Move quickly while the ball is travelling, to within touching distance of the player in possession, but slow down on the final approach as the ball arrives.
- Angle his approach and body to force this player in one direction, towards a team-mate or off the pitch.
- Get his body between the player in possession and the target.
- Be slightly sideways, get low and bend knees.
- Win the ball if the opportunity arises.
Set-up
| Warm up | Session | Developments | Game Situation | Warm Down |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 minutes | 10-15 minutes | 15 minutes | 10-15 minutes | 10 minutes |
What you get your players to do
Use three players – defender, attacker and server – in a 10-yard square. The attacker and defender start at opposite ends, with the server between them on one side. The server passes to the attacker (A) who must dribble to the opposite end, while the defender (D) presses him.
To progress, add a goal to the right hand side of the defender so he must force the attacker to the left. After three goes, switch the goal to the left so the defender forces to the right.
The server (S) passes the attacker (A) who has to dribble past the pressing defender (D).
Development
Use 10 players on a 30×10 pitch split into three equal zones. Two defenders (D) start outside the playing area while attackers are split into pairs or threes as shown on the right. Attackers play two-touch in their zone and the defenders enter the zone to win the ball. Once possession is lost, attackers have unlimited touches. Once possession is lost again, defenders move into the next zone and repeat.
Once defenders have won possession twice in all three zones, they sprint round and start again. Go through twice and time how long it takes before they switch with two attackers. The fastest defenders are the winners.
Attackers play two-touch in their zones. Defenders (D) win the ball before entering the next zone.
Game situation
Play 4v4 plus 2 goalkeepers on the 30×10 pitch. Goalkeepers can only roll the ball out. If either team scores without the ball going back into their own half once they have entered the opposition half the goal is worth three points. A goal scored by any other method earns one point.
Play 4v4. Any goal scored without being forced back into their own half is worth three points.
