ERLING HAALAND: SITUATIONS OF PLAY

This first example of the attacking phase that took Haaland to score the second goal in his first Premier League match explains the “more direct style of play”. City won the ball near the penalty area. Grealish set the ball back for Cancelo to avoid the marker’s pressure (picture 16). Cancelo dribbled the ball through the center channel inside the defensive half of the field (picture 17).

Salida Lavolpiana” way, but he attempted to create space for the inverted full-back to receive at the back of the opposition’s pressure line.

It’s interesting to underline that, at this point, Manchester City attempted to condense the center channel in the middle third to open spaces out wide and for Haaland behind the opposition’s middle third line (picture 88). Remembering the touches’ heat map, the only area where City has in- creased the combinations of play is the left one in the middle third, and the following are some patterns that can be found even after Cancelo’s departure on loan (with a center-back in place of Rodri and Walker as a third center-back).

Against higher pressing opponents (picture 89):

1. Deploy the flank to drive the ball onto an early crossing space.

2. Direct play between the lines through the half-space.

Against lower block defending shapes (picture 90):

1. Deploy the flank to drive the ball onto a crossing space sideward, close to the penalty area.

2. Direct play between the lines through the half-space and mobile attacking midfielders between the lines.

Deploying a back three defense, with Gundogan as a midfielder in place of Can- celo, the holding midfielder has become the first player to receive between the lines (front and middle-third line), with the attacking midfielders between the

2 (+1) V 2 SITUATION OF PLAY: ACT AS A TARGET MAN

DROPPING DEEP FROM AN OPPOSITION’S DEFENSIVE LINE 03

Drill Type

Game-related practice

DURATION

23 minutes

PREPARATION

Playing area: 44×21 yds

Players: 5

Series: 6 rounds of 3 minutes each with 1 minute of recovery after each round

Organization

Equipment

• Markers

• 3 vests (2 of one color, 1 of a different one)

• 2 mannequins

• Balls

Goals

• Creating space

• Support

• Depth

• Possession

• Passing

• Receiving

Divide the area into three zones (make the central one bigger). Place two mannequins as shown in the picture. Four players are paired as two teams, and a fifth one acts as a joker. B and J start the sequence in the side area, the second possession player starts inside the opposite end zone, and the center red and black defenders (C and D) complete the opposition’s line in the middle.

Description

• J carries the ball, and A must move off the ball behind the mannequin’s line

• A must receive a pass from C after dropping deep toward this side of the mannequins/defenders line, avoiding the offside rule

• B must move off the ball to be a quick and easy passing option for A to lay the ball back to him. The red and black defenders are fully active when A drops deep, and if they win the ball, the teams’ roles switch the next turn

• If B receives, he passes back to the joker, and he switches sides with teammate A

Rules

• The players are limited to one touch

• J carries the ball freely; A also moves freely off the ball through the opposite end zone

Variations

1. If player A can drop deep between the center defenders C and D (2b), the team wins a double attacking turn despite a potential loss of possession

Coaching Points

• Pay attention to quality of touches and technical gestures

• Move off the ball with the right timing concerning the defenders

• Avoid the offside rule

• Play at a high intensity throughout the whole active time