Enzo Maresca • Leicester City tactics, Inverted full-backs • Masterclass

Summary

The video script discusses the tactical use of fullbacks in football, particularly in formations like 433 and 442. It explains how bringing the fullback inside can help avoid transitions and improve defensive solidity when the ball is lost. The script also highlights the offensive benefits of this tactic, such as creating an overload in the midfield and providing more space for wingers and attacking midfielders. The discussion includes strategies against different formations and the importance of players' ability to operate in tight spaces, with examples like Ricardo Pereira's role at Leicester City and Manchester City's approach under Pep Guardiola.

Takeaways

• 🏟️ Bringing the fullback inside is a tactical move to avoid transitions and improve defensive solidity when the team loses possession.
• 🔄 In a 433 formation, teams often defend with three players, allowing the fullback to be higher up the pitch, which can be exploited by bringing the fullback inside.
• 🤔 The strategy aims to have more players in the midfield to control the game better, creating numerical advantages in the center of the pitch.
• 💡 Against a 433, having the fullback inside can lead to a 4 vs 3 situation in the middle, providing an extra man to control the game.
• 🚫 When the opposition adjusts by bringing a central defender into the midfield, it can create space for wingers or attacking midfielders to exploit.
• 🔄 In a 442 formation, the strategy can lead to a 4 vs 2 overload in the middle, forcing the opposition to adjust their tactics.
• 🤝 The fullback's movement inside can also free up space for other players, creating opportunities for one-on-one situations against the opposition's defenders.
• 👀 The tactic requires the fullback to be technically adept and comfortable in tight spaces, as they will often be in 'traffic' among other players.
• 💥 The strategy can lead to more goal-scoring opportunities, as seen with players like Ricardo Pereira contributing assists and creating chances.
• ⏰ Maintaining the same shape after losing the ball is crucial; the fullback should stay inside to maintain the team's structure and pressurize the opposition.
• 🏆 Pep Guardiola's Manchester City is highlighted as a team that effectively uses this tactic, although they sometimes bring a central defender inside instead of a fullback.

Q & A

Why is bringing the fullback inside considered a defensive strategy?

Bringing the fullback inside is a defensive strategy because it allows the team to have five players defending the transition when the ball is lost, which can help to avoid quick counterattacks from the opposition.

How does playing with a fullback inside affect the team's attacking strategy?

Having a fullback inside creates an overload in the middle of the field, providing an extra player which can lead to better control of the game and more opportunities to create dangerous attacks.

What formation is commonly used when teams play with a fullback inside?

A 4-3-3 formation is often used when teams play with a fullback inside, as it allows for a balance between defense and attack with the fullback's positioning.

What is the advantage of having a fullback like Ricardo Pereira playing inside?

Ricardo Pereira's ability to move in small spaces and his technical skills allow him to be effective in the congested midfield area, providing assists and creating goal-scoring opportunities.

How does the strategy change when facing a 4-4-2 formation?

Against a 4-4-2 formation, the team may have four players against two in the middle, which can lead to the opponent dropping their forwards to create a 4-4-2 in the middle, making it more challenging to exploit spaces.

What happens when the opponent matches the team's formation by dropping their forwards?

When the opponent drops their forwards to match the team's formation, the team can either drop their number nine to create a 5-4 formation or maintain control with the midfield, depending on the situation.

Why is it important for the fullback to stay inside even after losing the ball?

Maintaining the same shape with the fullback inside after losing the ball is crucial for maintaining aggressiveness and pressuring the opponent, aiming to regain possession quickly.

How does the team adjust when the opposition successfully defends against the fullback inside strategy?

If the opposition successfully defends, the fullback may drop back to their original position, and the team may revert to a traditional back four to regroup and find new attacking opportunities.

What is the role of the goalkeeper in this strategy when the team is playing with three at the back?

The goalkeeper plays a crucial role by dropping deeper to help occupy space and maintain the shape of the defense, especially when the team is playing with three at the back.

Which other team is mentioned as effectively using the fullback inside strategy?

Manchester City is mentioned as another team that effectively uses the fullback inside strategy, although they sometimes bring a central defender inside instead.

Outlines

00:00

🏟️ Tactical Use of Fullbacks in Football

This paragraph discusses the tactical reasons for bringing fullbacks inside during football games. The primary reason is to improve defense against transitions, especially when facing teams that use a 433 formation. It explains how these teams often defend with only three players, allowing the fullback to be higher up the field. The strategy aims to have five players defending the transition when the ball is lost, which includes two wingers, two attacking midfielders, and the central striker. Additionally, having the fullback inside creates an overload in the middle of the field, allowing for better control of the game. The paragraph also touches on how opponents can counter this strategy by adjusting their formation and player positioning.

05:00

🔄 Adapting to Opponent's Formation and Player Movement

The second paragraph delves into how teams adapt their tactics when the opposition drops their number nine and number 10 players, which can lead to a situation where the team with the fullback inside has complete control of the game. It describes how free players can exploit the space created by the opponent's formation adjustments. The paragraph also discusses how teams can use the fullback's positioning to their advantage, creating space for attacking midfielders or wingers. It highlights the importance of maintaining the same attacking shape even after losing possession, with the fullback staying inside to maintain the formation. The discussion includes the challenges of playing in tight spaces, or 'traffic,' and the need for technical ability to succeed in such situations. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the importance of the fullback's role in creating goal-scoring opportunities and the influence of high-quality players in executing this strategy.

10:01

📈 Maintaining Shape and Pressing After Losing Possession

The final paragraph focuses on the importance of maintaining the team's shape after losing possession, with an emphasis on the fullback's role in staying inside to help regain the ball. It discusses how teams with a high possession rate can use this strategy to control the game and create more dangerous scoring opportunities. The paragraph also mentions how certain teams, such as Manchester City, have successfully implemented similar tactics, even going as far as bringing central defenders inside to achieve a numerical advantage in the middle of the field. The discussion highlights the need for players to be aggressive and maintain their positions to effectively execute this strategy, which can lead to more goal chances and penalties.

Keywords

💡Fullback

A fullback is a defensive position in football, typically playing on the wings. In the context of the video, the fullback's positioning is crucial for both defensive and offensive strategies. The video discusses how bringing the fullback inside can help avoid transitions and improve defensive solidity, as well as create numerical advantages in the midfield during attacks.

💡Transition

Transition in football refers to the phase of play when a team moves from defense to attack or vice versa. The video emphasizes the importance of defending transitions, suggesting that having the fullback inside can help prevent the opposition from quickly counterattacking after winning the ball.

💡433 Formation

The 433 formation is a tactical setup in football where there are four defenders, three midfielders, and three forwards. The video uses this formation as an example to explain how teams with wingers and attacking midfielders can be countered by bringing the fullback inside to create a more compact defensive line.

💡Defensive Solidity

Defensive solidity refers to the strength and organization of a team's defense. The video argues that by bringing the fullback inside, a team can achieve better defensive solidity, particularly in moments of transition, as it allows for more players to be involved in defensive actions.

💡Overload in the Middle

An overload in the middle of the field means having more players in the central areas compared to the opposition. The video explains that by bringing the fullback inside, teams can create a numerical advantage in the midfield, which can lead to better control of the game and more opportunities to create goal-scoring chances.

💡Winger

A winger is an attacking player who typically plays on the wings, providing width and crossing opportunities. The video discusses how teams with wingers inside can be countered by adjusting the fullback's positioning to maintain defensive balance and control.

💡442 Formation

The 442 formation is another common tactical setup in football, featuring four defenders, four midfielders, and two forwards. The video uses this formation to illustrate how teams can adapt their strategies, such as dropping the number nine (striker), to counter an opposition's midfield overload.

💡Central Defender

A central defender is a key defensive player who operates in the middle of the backline. The video mentions how moving a central defender out of position can create space for the attacking team to exploit, which is a strategic consideration when adjusting the fullback's role.

💡Aggressive Pressing

Aggressive pressing refers to a high-intensity defensive approach where players quickly close down the opposition upon losing possession. The video suggests that maintaining the same shape and being aggressive even after losing the ball is important for teams that use the fullback inside tactic.

💡Pocket

In football tactics, a 'pocket' refers to a space between the opposition's lines where a player can receive the ball with time and space. The video explains that by having the fullback inside, it can create situations where attacking players find themselves in pockets, allowing them to receive the ball more effectively.

💡Manchester City

Manchester City is a professional football club and is used in the video as an example of a team that effectively uses the tactic of bringing the fullback inside. The video suggests that Manchester City's success in implementing this strategy is a testament to its effectiveness in modern football.

Highlights

Bringing the fullback inside is a strategy to avoid transition and improve defensive positioning.

In a 433 formation, teams often defend with only three players, leaving the fullback higher to support the attack.

Fullbacks are higher to allow wingers to come inside and support the attack, creating a 3-2 defensive shape.

Defending transitions with five players can be achieved by utilizing a fullback inside in a 3-2 formation.

Having an extra player in the middle creates an overload, which helps control the game better.

The concept of bringing the fullback inside aims to create a numerical advantage in the midfield.

When defending against a 433, having four against three in the middle can provide more control.

Opponents may adjust by bringing a central defender forward to match the midfield overload.

Dropping the number nine can create a five against four situation in the midfield.

When opponents match the midfield overload, they may leave spaces that can be exploited.

The fullback inside strategy also aims to improve attacking options against formations like 442.

Creating a four against two situation in the middle can lead to more dangerous attacking opportunities.

When the opponent drops their number nine and number ten, it can lead to a more controlled game for the team with the fullback inside.

The fullback inside strategy requires the player to have good technical ability and be able to play in tight spaces.

Ricardo Pereira's ability to move in small spaces is highlighted as a key quality for the fullback inside role.

Maintaining the same shape after losing the ball is crucial, with the fullback staying inside to maintain the 3-2 formation.

Manchester City is mentioned as a team that effectively uses the fullback inside strategy.

Transcripts

one of the reason why we bring the

fullback inside is to avoid transition

and to defend better in the moment that

we use the

[Music]

board first of all for instance in this

case as you can see the Shipe is

433 and with the teams that they play

433 most of the time when they are

attacking they just

defend with three players that means the

true Center Defender and the old

midfielder because fullback is higher

fullback is higher sometimes teams they

play with the Winger inside to attack

midfielder and the striker so as you can

see you defend the transition you defend

the transition with uh with three

players

and with the team that they are 433 for

instance with the team that they are

42 uh 31 or 442 doesn't matter more or

less happen the same thing that uh they

they bring both full back higher they

attack with the Winger inside 9 10 and

the two fullbacks and as you can see

they defend with the four players so the

reason why uh the fullback inside for

instance if you are in the way we we try

to play that is three and two and then

we have two Wingers two attack Midfield

and number nine so as you can see in

this

case so we defend the transition with

the five

players so one of the reason why we try

to bring the fullback inside is

defensively because in the moment that

we lose the ball we have five players

defending the transition not the main

reason but one of the reason why we

bring the fullback inside is to avoid

transition and to defend better in the

moment that we lose the ball then there

are many reason why we bring the

fullback inside when we have the ball

because the idea is to have uh an

overload in the middle extra player in

the middle and always try to have an

extra

[Music]

man in the middle we we try to create

create this one two three and four

players against three so we have an

extra man in the middle and this allow

allow us to control better the game so

we try to use the fullback

inside and the main target is to have an

extra player in the middle as you can

see against 433 in this case we have

four against three in the

middle and we have one extra player that

give us more control how how the

opponent they can do 4 B4 jumping with

the one of the cental defender so in

this case he can come here he can come

here and he can come here and we are

five against five in the middle but this

also it's a benefit for us because first

of all we are moving one Central

Defender out from his position and also

because we are as you can see men to men

that uh for the opponent is good because

they can be more aggressive but in the

same time for us can be good because we

are one V one Winger in both side we

have one V One Number Nine and we have

four against four in the middle bringing

out of his position the central Defender

that is never easy for a center Defender

so this is

uh as we said not only a reason why we

bring inside the fullback defending

better but it's also to attack to try to

attack to attack

[Music]

better against 442 for instance it's

more or less the same concept as you can

see now in the middle we have four

against two so they have the two the

midfielder and we have four players it's

four against two what's happened most of

the time and happened this year already

many times that uh to try to match the

four against two in the middle the

opponent they drop

number nine and number 10 so they do

like this and like this four against

four in the middle that uh yes become

more difficult for us because there are

no space that we can exploit here

probably the only one and this is the

reason why why sometimes we drop our

nine is also to create this five against

four when this situation happen but uh

if we don't drop our nine in any case

when the opponent tried to match this

situation and with 9 and 10 that means

that uh because they drop number nine

and number 10 with our old midfielder we

are in completely control of the game

because that means that the free players

here they are without any pressure and

we can play in the opposite side but in

same times at least means that they drop

in their side and we can we can control

the game one of solution when this

happen we try to drop our nine and to

create this five against four that is

the same situation they can

jump with Central Defender and they

become five against five but it's the

same situation we have big space between

fullback and Central Defender for

attacking midfielder or for Winger the

same the same thing in

the in The Other Side ER for instance

when we Face team that they are 42

31 is the same situation we have four

against three in the middle we have two

against against one year against day

number 10 so there is situ this

situation two against one here we are

two against two but uh overall we are

four against three so in the moment that

they decide for instance to to jump with

this player to this player because the

other one is here this become free the

same thing in the other side if they

decide to uh number 10 go with him all

the midfielder jump with him this guy is

free that is similar to the other

situation how can match the situation

jumping with cental Defender but we have

men to men and we can attack uh

[Music]

better when the fullback go

inside ER we behave like uh playing

three at the back so they have to occupy

the space all the whiff they need to

occupy that and and probably the main

player in this case become the central

the central Defender because he has also

to recognize what is going on here in

terms of if they are men to men if these

two players they are free and they can

play then when we try to play here and

they are a little bit more aggressive we

need to come back with the keeper to

start again and in this case we are here

with the ball and the opposite they try

to press us we use the keeper so in this

case if this player drop here

the keeper is dropping in the opp is is

going the opposite side or if this

player is dropping in this side the

keeper just make in the opposite side

and we become four at the back with the

with the keeper but as we said in the

moment that we become three at the back

we need to occupy the right space and a

little bit to to

understand where is the solution in this

case as we said against 442 probably is

nine dropping give us has the the the

the the the chance to to connect with

him and to set the ball with the the CH

midfielder or if he's dropping too much

we can play with him and set the ball

with attack M the field they ready to

attack depends a little bit how uh the

opponent they

[Music]

be one of the quality that uh you need

is to be able to move yourself in small

space we used to say to move in the

traffic because for instance in our in

our case that we are four at the back

and we bring this player inside that in

this moment is Ricardo Pereira for this

player you're going to be in the traffic

around you there are more players than

being here so first of all you have to

be able to move in small space and with

us for as as we said Ricardo is doing

that fantastic because it's good quality

yes quality is good in the small space

is improving a lot so probably one of

the quality for sure that he has to be

able technically and be able to play in

the

[Music]

traffic these two players one of old

midfielder and the

fullback uh behaving the right way being

in the right position probably allow one

of these two guys in the pocket to

receive the ball with more uh more time

and more space and when you are here and

you can receive the ball uh without any

opp Opposite trying to to pressing you

it's much better uh because you can

cause problems so for sure one of the

reason is because you can allow player

in front so Wingers attacking midfielder

on number nine to receive with more more

space and more time as we said if this

guy decide to jump here so this guy is

the guy that become free and he can

receive in the moment that he receive

the ball he can receive this ball with

the more more space and more

[Music]

time even when we are already with our

fullback inside and we lose the ball

immediately we try to maintain the same

shape I mean the the fullback stay

inside until we recover the ball now if

the opponent they are able to give four

five six passes in a row so fullback

come back in his position and we become

lineof four with the with the fullback

but the the main idea is the moment that

we are attacking and we lose the ball we

don't drop with our fullback we maintain

the same shape and we try to be

aggressive with the with all players

[Music]

forward we had uh this year unless

probably between 65 and 75 some some

games even more possession so because

they they drop and they defend they try

to defend in this side and don't give us

space they give us the ball waiting for

our mistake and to to go in transition

but uh since we start we are using this

solution and it's giving us for sure the

control of the game for sure uh more

players inside so we can create more

dangerous and because we said in in our

case in this moment Ricardo Pereira is

the player that is going inside he

already gave this year many assist to

estimates in terms of goal chances

penalty because these two guys most of

the time when when they decide to drop

player with quality like Ari wings and

Ricardo in this moment they are giving

us the solution probably the best team

doing this uh for sure it's a it's pep

Manchester

City ER even if now they they e than the

fullback they bring inside the central

Defender but uh more or less the the the

the Target or the concept are the are

the same so no doubt that uh Manchester

City

[Music]