Deep runs in the final third

This session is all about the final third and creating chances to score. The idea of the session is to create 2v1 and 3v2 scenarios when receiving the ball in between the lines and then looking to make deep runs to attack the space to get crosses from the cutback position or create the space for crosses from the top of the box.

This session provides a lot of energy and is a very creative session for the players to enjoy, helping to give them solutions in the final third in different scenarios while using different overloads to get into scoring positions.

This is quite a physically demanding session so this session would generally be done on a MD-3 or MD-4. This is used to embed our principles of attacking in the final third so it can be done in the build-up against any team.

4v3

We set up on a half pitch. The practice starts with the ball being played from the coach to the blue centre backs. They will drive with the ball at the red defender in front. As this is happening the blue full back will also drive forward to create a 2v1 beyond the winger defending [1a]. 

Depending on the pressing angle of the red defender and which pass they are trying to stop, the blue centre back will play either into the winger inside or the full back going higher then creating a 2v1 against the full back, or the opposite movement from the full back coming inside and the winger keeping the width. 

[1a]

1. Coach plays to blue centre back

2. Blue centre back drives forward

3. Red defenders close down

4. Blue full back pushes beyond blue winger 

Once the ball is played the defending red winger will also recover to defend which then makes it a 4v3 on one side so it will be the centre back, left back, left wing, left centre forward versus right wing, right back and right centre back [1b]. 

When the line is broken, it will then turn into a 5v4 against the defending back four. We will work the ball one side until the attack ends, then it will restart with the coach behind the goal who will play to the opposite side of the pitch. When this attack has ended, the centre backs will start with the ball in front of the goal and their defending wingers will then become central midfielders and defend 8v6 for two more balls. If the defending team win the ball back they can go and score in the goal.

We run this for 20 minutes.

[1b]

1. Blue centre back opts to play to blue winger inside

8v8+1

We set up on a half pitch and move to an 8v8+1 session, with the player in yellow always playing for the team in possession. The mannequins are to keep the wingers inside of this space to encourage runs deep to attack the width of the box [2a] and also make it technically harder for the players as then there is less space to play through. 

[2a]

1. Blue team launch attack

If the defending team win the ball back, the player in yellow will then join their team as a central defensive midfielder [2b], as they are for the blue team, and then they will have the overload and will have 10 seconds to go and finish the attack. This continues the principles that we were working on but now turning it into a more game-specific scenario.

We run this for 20 minutes.

[2b]

1. Red team win the ball

2. Yellow player joins team in possession
3. Red team look to score

BOX ENTRY

We set up on a half pitch for the final activity, a box entry practice to finish the session. We will have four defenders and four attackers in the central area. We will then have a full back and winger on each side in yellow bibs who will be the ones crossing. Again, this will be working on the principles of different types of crosses. The ball will be on either side of the pitch with two coaches. It will start on one side where we will play to the winger [3a] ...

[3a]

1. Coach plays ball to winger

... who will cross from the top of the box [3b] ...

[3b]

1. Winger crosses from top of the box

2. Blue team attack the ball

... then the full back will cross from deeper [3c]. This will then be repeated on the opposite side of the pitch. Then we will play two more balls into the players where they can cross how they like or they can combine and create however they like in the final third, still looking for deep runners into the box.

We run this for 20 minutes.

[3c]

1. Coach plays ball to full back

2. Full back crosses from deep
3. Blue team attack the ball

COACHING POINTS

What are the key things to look out for technically and tactically?

Make sure that when the winger has rotated inside and they are attacking the space they get close to the full back to create space between them and the centre back. If they don’t get close enough to the full back when attacking in behind them the centre back can come across and tackle or intercept the cross. 

If the winger plays inside, the forward has to be in front of the centre back to be an option to play into, and once the winger plays they then run inside to attack the box. This also then creates space for the player who has made the run to attack the space to then come back wide in a position to receive the ball again. 

If the run is made deep and the pass is not on, then it’s a soft set pass to the edge of the box for the player coming onto the ball for a first-time cross, looking to attack the back post. 

For the wingers, it’s really important to be narrow when attacking the opposite post and also when we are playing 8v6 that the ball-side winger isn’t too wide when we are looking to pass to them around the edge of the box so then they are able to take the touch past the defender and cross into the box early.

The centre forward should be in between the centre backs and make sure they are not making straight runs into the box so they are harder to mark. Also they need to know that if the ball is being set back when it’s wide they should be ready to then attack the box again and be on the front foot and always expecting the rebound.