Win it with the second defender's positioning and jockeying! Building "organized defending" based on 2v2

Continuing from last time, under the theme of "How do you win the ball from opponents you can't beat with physicality or speed? Body usage and anticipation to neutralize size differences and recover the ball," we are publishing training sessions from Coach Masaki Arano of M&A Soccer School.

In the first part, we worked on step drills to stop and move in sync with the opponent's movements, and 1v1 with two goals, training body usage and anticipation in individual defense.

In the second part, we had them practice training to recover the ball in 2v2 situations with more players, using the second defender's positioning, covering, and tactics. This is a must-see for coaches and players who want to improve defensive ability. (Text by Tomoyuki Suzuki)

Eliminate the Pass Lane While Aiming for the Intercept

The first theme is "creating the point where you win the ball." The training was 2v2 plus 1 neutral player. There is no goal to shoot at, and the objective is to keep possession of the ball for as long as possible.

Coach Arano first pointed out that simply closing down quickly does not win the ball.

"When the attacking side has one more player, if the defender closes down while using their back to eliminate the other pass lane, the opponent's options decrease. At that moment, the other player should stand in a covering position so as not to be played through the middle while aiming for an intercept. Even if that's not possible, I want them to get to the point where they can close down to the feet and crush the body"

What Coach Arano emphasized next was that the defensive side also initiates tactics. Deliberately showing an escape route and then aiming for the moment the opponent kicks the ball is one option, a "trap."

"While deliberately showing the pass lane, let them kick it, and win it there. Feints are not just for attacking; the defensive side can also deceive the opponent. If you close down quickly and try to win it with only physical strength, you won't be able to take it when the opponent's level rises"

On the other hand, closing down quickly in every situation is not always the right answer.

"If two players close down quickly, there are situations where you can eliminate the escape route, but if you dive in with everything, you'll be beaten behind in one go. Two players apply gradual pressure, and then raise the speed at the crucial moment. That contrast is important"

Passive Defense Lets the Opponent Take Control

The next training theme is "the principle of challenge and cover." In 2v2 plus 2 servers, the attacking side scores by dribbling across the goal line.

Coach Arano focused on defense that merely reacts to the opponent's movements and questioned the players.

"If you're only moving in response to the opponent's movements, from their perspective they can feint as much as they want. Try to time it to aim for an intercept, or feint your own movements; the defensive side should also add tactics"

Judge the Distance Between the Two and the Balance

In the final part of the training, he organized and communicated the patterns of failure that often occur in 2v2.

These are the pattern where two players go for the ball and bite together and are beaten the other way, the pattern where one player is too far away and the cover can't make it in time, and the pattern where the two are too close together and are beaten together by a through pass.

"I want you to find at what distance you divide challenge and cover, and when it becomes a chance if the two go together. There are situations you can win if you use tactics"

In addition, with coaching such as "If the front player does what, can the back player aim for an intercept?", he encouraged them to play while thinking.

By adding the second defender's positioning and tactics to the body usage and anticipation cultivated in the first part, individual defense connects to organized defense. Above all, by shaving away the opponent's options one by one, it should become easier to recover the ball.

【Instructor】Masaki Arano / Born June 5, 1995. Played for 1FC Kawagoe Suijo Park U-12, 1FC Kawagoe Suijo Park U-15, and Kanto Daiichi High School. Started as a coach at J-FOOT Soccer School in Saitama from 2017. Started coaching at FC Sayama Junior Youth in 2019. Established M&A Soccer School in 2021. Currently provides personal lessons and school coaching in Saitama, Chiba, Nagano, Aichi, and Osaka.