This is a very special space in order to make the players stay in triangles first and then add another player creating a diamond. Doing this we will be able to give 3 supports at least to the player on the ball, becoming a really difficult situation for the defenders to defend.
If you fill up the spaces in a rational way when attacking, then, you will be able to be more prepared to start the pressing when you lose the ball. This is a typical Guardiola drill, who likes the pressing after losing the ball and the positional organized attack.
In this drill, the players will identify the advantages of short passing when there is no opposition in order to attract the rivals and make them leave spaces behind them that will let us advance in the game. Good drill in order to improve decision making against teams that drop back and regroup intensively.
A partial structure in which the player faces the ball when receiving is one of the best options to advance safely in the game representing a danger to the rivals.
Tactical decisions so the team in possession of the ball achieves width when attacking and become more compact defensively fixing distances for coverages and defensive support.
Both the speed of play and the attraction of the rivals in order to free the farther players are important in order to attack. We will have to do shiftings so the rival has to change its position.
The defensive transition begins with the previous movements before we lose the ball. In this tactical transition drill, we will practice it together with the pressing after losing possession. The team that attacks practices the ball retention as the main tactical offensive objetive.
The inside-outside alternation in the game is key. With this tactical drill we will first play the ball inside by passing the ball into the middle to then pass the ball outside, attracting the defenders and switch the play finding the free space in the other side.
To know when is the right moment to play the ball into the middle is something key for our players. To make them understand it, we will practice the ball circulation, the game speed and the change of pace. We will practice also how to get back in shape when we defend and be wide when we attack. Those are two basic aspect of the offensive and defensive transitions.
Ball retention, body orientation (One of Guardiola’s biggest obsession) to receive the ball from the exterior neutral player who has advantage through the guided discovery learning method. The defensive anticipations will make the attackers be on the right body shape to retain the ball and switch the play.
