How to Play an Attacking Game

Johan CRUYFF – Fútbol: Mi filosofia.Cruyff Library, 2012

Defending in the opponent’s field

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1. To the team defending in the opponent’s field it’s necessary to know how to apply pressure on the ball.

2. The team have to create as many lines as possible (5). This way, when we recovery the ball have someone near and someone in front of Goal.

10 meters between the player with the ball and 2 teammates

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1. When n.º 10 wins the ball, n.º 11, 9 and 8 are at 10 meters maximum of n.º 10.

2. If the teammates of n.º 10 are more than 10 meters from him, the risk of lose the ball is higher.

5 lines with 9 meters distance maximum

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1. When we play in the opponent’s field and we make 5 lines, the lines have 9 meters maximum of distance.

2. When the players are close, they work with more efficiency, and we have more people to the offensive transition.

Positional Game is very important

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1. In some teams, the Midfield n.º 6 leaves his position and n.º 8 have to go inside.

2. This way, n.º 2 have to defend a field of 20-30 meters and not 9-10 meters. It’s very important the positional game of n.º 6.

Players close to difficult opponent’s transition

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1. When we lose the ball, with the players close an individual action from an opponent will be defended by 6-7 players minimum.

2. This way the long pass is easily win by our players.

Players close to make a passing game

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1. If the players are close, the triangulations, essentials to the positional game will occur naturally.

2. One player will pass, other will receive and the third make a move to receive the ball.

Construction from the Goalkeeper

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The 1st combination will be passing the ball, short or long, to one of the Lateral players.

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Construction from the Goalkeeper

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When the ball go to the Lateral, the “local” Winger must give depth to open a space that put the opponent defense in troubles.

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1st option when the ball is with the Lateral

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1. When the ball is in (2), (9) go to the other side (left). This way we open space to (7) play 1x1 with the opponent.

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2. If the ball enters in (7) and we can go to the end line and cross, (9) come to the 1st post, (11) to the 2nd and (10) appears in the penalty mark.

2nd option when the ball is with the Lateral

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1. The ball go to (7) and he pass to (8) who escape from his direct opponent.

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2. (8) receives the ball and could pass to (9) or (11) who makes a run to appear in front of goal.

• With an attack of this kind, until ¾ of the team will stand behind the ball and this way stays front to the opponent Goal. This way we minimize the counterattack risk and we could win the “2nd ball”;

• It’s mandatory that when a Lateral player is attacking, our GK and the other three defenses stays searching the adequate defending positions. While we are attacking, our defense and the Defensive Midfielder must be prepared to the lost of the ball possession.

Anticipating the Play• One Winger that wants the ball in the foot,

sometimes as to run in depth to receive the ball and then play with tranquility;

• Can occur that we have to receive the ball back to could run then in depth;

• To the Winger make a play with the foots, 1st have to run in depth. But when the Forward go to that created space, the space will become close (Forward attracts defenders – this is a big error).

Playing against 10 players• Sometimes the advantage becomes a disadvantage;• This happens because the players do not know what

the do with the extra space they have. Usually the ball is played in “Rondos” without go forward;

• The only way to resolve this problem is to search 1v1 situations in all the field. The great advantage is that this increase the game rhythm. None opponent player can manipulate the ball with tranquility and lost the ball more easily, what creates more space and superiority situations. In that moment all the team must think in the Space to take more advantage to the following play.

Logic Utilization• Pass the ball to the teammate “good leg”;• Defending 1v1 as Lateral, if we know that the opponent

usually go inside we close the interior space to force him to go outside;

• Work the defenders and attackers heading (from the 2 shoulders);

• The players must seek the opponents weakness’s to take advantage. They can try do the same with us. This way we have to be smarter to surprise our opponent’s;

• The most important for a player is dominate the simple actions (pass, conduction, receiving, playing with the 2 foots, shooting and heading);

• It’s mandatory combine the basic techniques with the positional game.