The Pressing System

Coaching

2000 Volume 3 Issue 4

The 'Pressing' System MIKE PEJIC, REGIONAL DIRECTOR (NORTH EAST)

At the recent Managers' and Coaches' Course, Arrigo Sacchi the former National Coach of  Italy, AC Milan and Athletico Madrid demonstrated the way in which he introduced the 'pressing' game to Italian football rather than the deep defending game. He introduced the 'pressing' game at a time when coaches in Italy favoured a deep-defending game with counter attacking as their main attacking weapon. Arrigo broke down this culture and took some time in introducing the pressing game with a 4-4-2 system and high intensity work. Area: 15 yards x 15 yards 4 v 2: Four attackers (Os) - two defenders (Xs) Period: Ten seconds - two Xs changeover; two Os

• Four Os passing the ball around the the grid area (inside) (inside) • Two Xs must hunt for the ball together together - both to press press the ball at the same time (no use one pressing and two covering and waiting) • Both Xs must get after the ball until attacking the ball - pressing pressing / intercepting / tackling - side by side: • Pressing • Intercepting • Tackling • Can restrict restrict O's touches touches on the ball if needed needed Pressing the Ball Figure 3

Sessions = Short Sharp Figures 1 and 2

• Work as a unit • Never be isolated Area: 35 yards x 15 yards 6 v 3: Six attackers - Os outside the area Three defenders - Xs inside the area Period: 30 seconds Three Xs - changeover Three Os

• Six Os passing the the ball around the grid area area • Three Xs pressing the ball together all hunting the ball at the same  time (not one press / one cover / one balance) • All must chase chase - get after the ball pressing - intercepting - tackling • Side by side as a pack - XI press; - X2 follows XI; - X3 pushes in tightly intercepting the ball - CAN REST RESTRICT RICT Os TOUCHES ON THE BALL, IF DESIRED.

Progression: Figure 4

X1 applies pressure again forcing the attacker 03 to pass wide X4 reacting quickly forces wide 04 attacker to pass in field Xb now reacts to intercept ball and regain possession Xs now have four (4) seconds to score on winning the ball • working as a unit - never exposed in a 1 v 1 situation • work as a pack - pressing together - hunting the ball. Pressing the ball Figure 6

Area: 50 yards x 44 yards 6 v 6 plus two goalkeepers Period: short, sharp sessions Man for man marking 

• • • • • •

Put one 0 in centre of grid Five Os on outside (one in centre) Three Xs pressing together Os outside - two touch 0 - centre free play WORK AS A PACK- NEVER ISOLATED.

Pressing in the Attacking Half of the Pitch Figure 5

Area: 50 yards x 44 yards 6 v 6 plus two goalkeepers Period: own preference, 10 minutes, etc. Goalkeeper to start play 8t pass to 01

Six Os (attackers) v six Xs (defenders) - man for man marking If 0 attacker breaks free of X marker, no other X can tackle him - but to score, the other 0 must break free of marker to finish/touch.

• Six Os have possession in own defending half  • Attackers trying to work the ball until one can run the ball out of own half and attack opposite goal • No X can chase 0 once he has crossed the half way line. • Six Xs must attack the ball - one X pressing in on the player in possession, the rest must react quickly pressing together. GK throws out to 01 X1 stops the ball being played forward - forces attacker 01 to pass across the pitch X2 reacts forcing the attacker 02 to play back towards the opposing goalkeeper X2 continues pressure, stopping the goalkeeper playing forward making him play wide

XS apply pressure on Os - always on the move X6 forces the play backwards - body positioning  to goalkeeper X1 presses in on 01 stopping play - marking correct side forward forcing ball in field ball-man-goal across pitch X2 pressing also trying to intercept - pressure makes 02 play quickly back in field X3 on the move gets in front of - intercept 03 opponent trying to intercept pass if the ball goes beyond him X4 has already positioned himself for - tackling  the loose ball to go on and intercept  the misplaced pass to counterattack. Xs must now be over the half way line to score. Progression: Both teams can apply this method of scoring

- always on the move - body positioning - marking correct side ball-man-goal - pressure - intercept - tackling

Area: Full pitch - 10 Outfield players - Flag practice

Front players

• X5 front player - nearest X1 - works across inviting position - ready to intercept / press • X6 other front player - works across in behind X5 leaving opposite wide flag - free Back players

• X7 nearest (left back) player - works across pressing in on flag • body position • marking position depending on which way X1 is forcing the play • X8 nearest (left centre back) player works across marking inside • X9 also works across marking inside • X10 furthest defender right back - works back in but stays ahead of   the line - curved shape • X9 right central defender, aware of: • shoulder • space - at side • space - in behind Coach to vary shouts - colours. For each unit to apply pressing game working collectively • near • next to • faraway from the flag working team shape. Pressing as a Team Figure 8

Area: Full pitch - 11 v 11 - Period: Coach's preference

• • • • •

Press - force one way Body position - marking Always on the move - team shape Re-act - adjustable Never exposed - stay in the pack

Pressing - Flag Session Figure 7

• • • • • • • • • • • • •

Coach to set out flag position Full back areas Centre back areas Wide midfield areas Forward areas Each flag a different colour Players to react to coaches instruction - i.e yellow (flag) nearest player press to yellow flag, rest react to him and work team shape. All players must get into position at the same time. 30 metre width to the team. Curved shape to the team - away from the ball wide positions - in front of the line - unit 2 furthest. Nearest player to press in on flag. Never allow a 1 v 1 situation to arise. Never still - always on the move. Body shape - position • flag • team mate • goal

EXAMPLE Midfield

• Coach shouts "yellow" • X1 wide left midfield presses in on yellow flag • body position • force in field or down line • coaches • own preference • X2 reacts with X3 working across in behind X1 • X4 opposite midfield wide position - works across but stays ahead of   the line - curved shape

• • • •

Press - force one way Intercept Anticipate Move early

11 v 11 game

• 11 Os - attackers must get in ten (10) consecutive passes before they can score • 11 Xs - defenders on regaining possession must score - four passes or less • Three touch football X1 presses on to right centre back - stopping him playing forward X2 works across - pressing other left centre back as he is receiving possession - forcing him to play into wide area X3 reacting early making a curved run - block off line - forcing play in field X4 central midfield has also reacted early and is now in place to intercept pass X5 has worked position in field marking in side X6 opposite side left midfield but has worked in field but stays ahead of line - curved shape • All the back line are on the move - never still X7, Xs, X9, X10. X10 stays ahead of line - curved shape • Working team shape • near • next to from the ball • far away. Pressing in Defending Half Figure 9 Waves session Area: Full pitch - 3 x 6 teams - Period: Coach's discretion

• Three teams - Six players in each team • 1 Blue - B x 6 players • 1 Red - R x 6 players • 1 Yellow - Y x 6 players • Blue B defending own half - pressing • Red R Attacking goal • Yellow Y waiting in opposite half of pitch - defending third • If blues - defending - win the ball, they can go on and attack opposite goal - Must work ball over half way line • If successful - B Blues then become attackers. Y Yellows then become defenders, defending their goal at opposite end. • Keep play flowing - successful defending pressing the ball in defending half - to then quick counterattack. • Throw ins allowed - ball out of play • Reds R who have lost possession can press early to regain possession if possible. If unsuccessful, they then have to wait until yellows bring  the ball downfield to attack. Reds R then defend their goal. • Blues B then have to wait Waves Session B 1 presses early - stopping player going forward - forcing play back B 2 presses with B 1 and he also presses early blocking off the route forward forcing the play across the p itch B 3 has worked early - mo ving across, anticipating - ready to intercept and counterattack. B 4 has worked back in - inviting the play. B 5 and B 6 have worked in in field shoulders on attacker B 6 in field ahead - curved shape • Pressing - force one way • Anticipate - always on the move • Intercept - position early • React - adjustable7 • Never - 1 v 1 • Compact - stay in the pack • HUNT TOGETHER!