1. PRESSING AS A TEAM IN A 4231
ANTHONY HUDSON
UEFA PRO LICENSE
WWW.ANTHONYHUDSON.COM

2. MOMENT WE LOSE BALL………
Can we win it back immediately? Yes or If No….
Slow opposition (attack) down
Get into our Defensive Shape

3. WE ARE THE REDS – OUR RIGHT BACK ON BALL
Our attacking players make forward runs and commit themselves in advanced positions

4. RIGHT BACK GIVES BALL AWAY
Opposition CB intercepts with our players out of position and spread out.

5. Players nearest to the ball, try and slow play down. Get goal side, screen passes, threaten a
pass, mark two players, threaten to tackle….slow play down, buy time….dont sell yourself.

6. Nearest man gets goal side and tries to slow play down. Rest of team recover/drop into our
defensive shape. Compact. Narrow. Opposition cant play through or in behind us.

7. Decide a point where we drop to and start defending from. Now in good shape. Keep ball in
front of you. As ball moves, team shifts. Distances stay the same as you shift. Now on front
foot, ready to go press.

8. The ‘Trigger’ - First pass that comes in and we can get pressure on – we go. The first defender dictates (Trigger)
and rest of team supports. Press at pace.
Keep play down one side of the pitch. First defender bends runs – cuts the line off (keep play inside) then goes
to the ball. Supporting players approach and mark the correct side in order to keep play down one side of pitch.
Opposition can not turn and play out the other side. Mark/appraoch the correct side.

9. The tighter the first defender gets the tighter the rest of the team can go. Centre midfielders
make sure to stay tight and mark on the inside, opposing player cannot turn out.

10. FW – 39 stays in shape, in case the first defender gets beat. But he stays on his front foot, ready to
go press if they play back to the CB or GK. If he goes and presses he angles his approach so the
play stays down this side of pitch.
Opposite WM – 44 stays compact and supports his CM in case he gets beat, but slightly advanced
and on front foot, ready to press other CB if they try and play back/out.

11. POTENTIAL PROBLEMS – KEEP DISCIPLINE
With NO pressure on the ball and the ball down the middle of pitch – Back Four Open Body
Up (shoulders in line with both goals)
And be ready to deal with any balls in behind. Open body – give yourself best chance of head
start on your attacker running in behind.

12. With NO pressure on the ball and the ball out wide. Back four gets square on. Body shape
facing the goal in front. Make sure we see the ball and your man and over your shoulder.
Don’t get turned facing the ball, unable to see whats behind.

13. With NO pressure on the ball and no chance of getting pressure on the man AS THE BALL
GETS THERE, players must stay and keep there shape. All that happens is they now just play
round and expose the space just opened up.

14. Let them have the ball in those areas. There is no danger here. Stay in your shape. Go press
when the moments right.

15. KEY POINTS………
The nearest man slows play down (go to ball and/or screen forward pass)
Defenders delay the play / Buy time
Team mates drop into defensive shape as quickly as possible
Team stays compact and keep the ball in front of them
Once in good defensive shape the team now looks for the right moment to
press – look for the Trigger.

16. WHAT EFFECTS HOW WE DEFEND?
State of the game. 1-0 down/up – Man up, man down
Characteristics of players
(pace/size of defenders, pace of attackers, etc)
Mentality of players and culture of country/club
Playing home or Away / 1 or 2 Legs
The Weather (Temperature)