Building-up centrally (Guardiola at Bayern)

This is a drill from Pep Guardiola from his time at Bayern München.

Objective

• improve finding the attacking midfielders with a pass through the center of the field

Organisation

• the field where it all takes place is approximately 60 meters in width and 60 meters in length
  
• the team that builds up, is playing with 6+1 players
• 2 central defenders, 1 behind ('goalkeeper'), 2 full backs, 2 attacking midfielders
• the defending team is playing with 4 midfielders in a row and one player in front of them
  
• the attacking midfielders of the offensive team are in a section behind the opponent's midfield
  

How to play

• red builds up and tries to reach 8 and 10 with a pass through the center of the field
  
• if that happens, the 8 or 10 turns and starts dribbling towards the goal
  
• if the 8 or 10 receives the ball from a 2 or 5, they play the ball back and the build-up continues

Coaching remarks

• 'Move sideways as an attacking midfielder to open up passing lanes.'
• 'Control the ball in a forward direction if possible.'
• 'If you can not pass forward, play sideways or play backwards.'
• 'Move the ball quickly across the width to play defenders apart.'
• 'Make eye-contact with the attacking midfielders when you have the ball.'
• 'Fullbacks, keep the field as wide as possible to create options in the center.'

Adjustments

• remove the defensive midfielder to make it easier to find the free man
  
• shorten the space to increase the speed of action under pressure

Variation

• add small goals on which the yellow team can score after capturing the ball
  
• add a 9/10 (yellow) and a 6 (red), making it 8v6
  
• add a goalkeeper (plus defender) on which 8 and 10 can score