Exercices pressing football

In this warm-up, players will get the chance to practice closing down the space of their opponent quickly while at the same time getting plenty of touches on the ball.

Preparations for this drill are relatively simple.

Essentially create a square with 4 cones around 8-10 meters apart.

The ideal distance between cones may vary depending on age and skill level.

Keep in mind that the cones need to be close enough together that a player standing at a cone on one side can run across to apply pressure relatively quickly, but not too close that the player in possession doesn’t have enough time to receive a pass.

Once you’ve built the square, divide players evenly in lines behind each cone.

Keep in mind that if you’re doing this exercise with a large number of players, it may be best to build two or three squares so that players don’t have to wait in long lines.

As a rule of thumb, if there are more than three players in a line it may be best to build an additional grid.

Each square needs one ball.

One line starts with the ball and passes to the first player in the line to their right.

As soon as the pass has been made, the first player in the line opposite the receiving player runs towards them and tries to apply pressure.

Once the receiving player collects the ball, they continue by passing to the player to their right and the cycle continues.

Once the defending player has made it to the opposite side, they head to the back of the line on that side.

Because a lot of players will be running through the middle of the square, it’s important for players to watch where they are going to avoid collisions.

In addition, players may want to pass around the square quickly with one touch.

If the square is on the larger side, the coach should encourage the players to play with a minimum of two touches so that the defender has a chance to work on closing the space quickly.

Another variation could be played by using a smaller square and playing with one touch rather than two.

In terms of pressing, it's essential to accelerate, decelerate and change direction quickly.

These movements allow players to press with varying speed and intensity.

They also help players to reposition themselves if they decide to drop off, or their opponent has passed the ball to someone else.

Unsure how to help players develop these movements?

Try using tag games in your sessions.

They're fun and will improve players' agility, balance and coordination – essential skills for pressing in football.

A player's position determines whether there's an opportunity for them to engage with their opponent – or support a teammate.

It also influences how their opponent reacts.

For example, if a player is the nearest to the ball and presses, they force their opponent to respond quickly – which could prompt a mistake.

On the flip side, if the defender's not close enough – or decides not to press – they allow their opponent plenty of space and time to move the ball forward.

When pressing in football, ideally the whole team need strong positioning skills.

Support from surrounding teammates helps to ensure attempts to press are not made in isolation.

As a result, maintaining a compact shape behind the ball is crucial.

To help players work on their positioning, split your pitch into five zones.

Once the game begins, ask your team to look around and think about how they can help their teammates to press by occupying certain zones.

After a while, if players need a little help, encourage them to go into a particular zone.

Then, get them to try to move together as a unit.

It's important to be able to press in different ways.

A lack of variety can make your presses predictable, making it easier for the other side to react effectively.

This is where deception comes in.

If your players can disguise their intentions or mix up their pressing approach, they can engage with their opponent when they're least expecting it.

To do this, play games where there are a lot of problem-solving opportunities and where there's more than one way to complete the challenge.

Games like tag and Wembley singles or doubles are great as there's lots of transition and turnover.

This will encourage players to develop their deception skills on and off the ball.

It will also allow them to start predicting the actions of their opponents.

When pressing in football, players need to quickly adjust their position as they get closer to the ball.

Tweaking the angle of their body – and how tight they get – can limit their opponents' options and dictate play.

This could result in the other side having to play the ball backwards or kick it long.

It could even force them into a certain area of the pitch, such as out wide and away from goal.

Just like with timing, you can develop your players' technique through repetition of the task.

The more opportunity they get to explore pressing, the more chance they have of developing their technique.

If you also make your activities reflect the actual game (I.e. realistic and relatable), then you're on to a winner.

This coaching tactical analysis will show you three soccer drills inspired by Diego Simeone tactics at Atlético Madrid that could be of great help if you want your team to play counter-pressing, high-intensity football, while also developing a range of other football skills.

The first drill we will discuss is the one that world-class Argentina coach Diego Simeone uses at Atlético Madrid.

The setup of the session is straightforward – two squares, one inside the other, with the smaller one measuring 7-107-10 meters, while the bigger one is positioned around it at a distance of three meters from every line.

The usual rondo takes place in the inside box, as the players are lined up to play a 5v2 game (this can vary depending on the number of players you want to use).

The only modification to this, which at first glance seems very easy, exercise is related to the existence of outside lines.