In order to achieve the objective of progressing the ball into the spaces close to the opponent’s goal, a central element of any game model must involve the consistent creation of forward passing lanes. As we will see, an attacking team’s basic build-up structure can help to maximise the number of quality options ahead of
During their incredible 2018/19 campaign, Erik ten Hag’s Ajax represented football at its most intelligent. Despite their entire squad costing less than Cristiano Ronaldo, Ajax managed to overcome the likes of Real Madrid and Juventus on their run to the Champions League semi-finals last season. It wasn’t a typical underdog story, however. They continually took
In recent years, the term ‘culture’ has become something of a buzzword in football. In the context of any sports team, it can be defined as a measure of the observable behaviours that are promoted and accepted within the group. For many coaches, creating an environment that demands high standards is central to their priorities
A key part of Pep Guardiola’s philosophy, there are a wide range of methods through which a free player can be created in the attacking phases. The benefits of having an unmarked player in each stage of possession are clear, with retention and progression of the play becoming far more seamless. However, achieving it isn’t