Blocking passing lanes (Atlético Madrid)

A drill from Diego Simeone at Atlético Madrid.

Objective

• improve defending by four midfielders in a flat midfield (1:4:4:2)
  

Organisation

• 12 players
• 6 red en 6 blue bibs
• enough balls
• enough cones to mark the sections
  

Contents

• red starts with the ball and tries to reach the pair on the other side
• when they do, the ball has to go to another red attacker before the red team can score a goal
• when blue recovers the ball, they try to score by passing to one of the blue attackers

Adjustments

• increase the width of the field so it becomes more difficult for the defending midfielders
• add an extra attacker
• attacking midfielders are only allowed one touch in order to increase the speed
• a maximum number of passes before the midfielders should pass to the attackers

Variations

• depending on your formation, let the midfielders play with three
• attackers can score after a pass by making a line dribble

Coaching

• ‘As the ball moves, the midfielders should move along’
• ‘Keep mutual distance small so the ball cannot reach to the attackers.’
• ‘Make sure the passing lane to the attackers is closed by using cover shadows.’
• ‘Coach/instruct each other to keep distances small.’
• ‘In case an attacker receives a pass, drop back quickly and prevent a goal’