Tactics / Pressing

Show them inside, then trap

Block the pass down the line so their only option is a pass into midfield, where three of us are waiting to close in.

Out of possessionFrom 11v11Match moment: Press togetherMatch moment: An overlap against you

BLOCKEDTRAPGK1191068
  • Us
  • Them
  • Pass
  • Run
  • Dribble

Why it works

A trap works by leaving one pass open on purpose, the one we want. When it comes, the receiver is surrounded before they can turn.

What players do

  • The wide forward stands on the outside, blocking the pass to the full-back.
  • The midfielders stay close enough to the middle pass to jump on it.
  • When the pass goes in, close in from three sides: front, side and behind.
  • Win it with the first touch, or force a pass backwards.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving the outside pass open as well, so there is no trap.
  • Midfielders too far away to close in.
  • Everyone diving in at once, so one touch beats three players.

With young players

An older-team idea. Younger players should first learn to press one opponent well.

Drawn on a 105 × 68 m pitch, showing the part where it happens. Orange attacks left to right and the other team is in blue; numbers are the usual shirt numbers for each position.

Put it into your own team's plan in the team builder, and see what it asks of each player.

Next: Press with a cover shadow

What it asks of each player

The same idea, from every line of the team. Set it up for your own team in the team builder.

  • GK
    Goalkeeper
    • Stand higher behind the back line.
    • Keep the space behind the back line small: stand ten metres higher than usual.
    • Be ready to sweep if they chip it over.

    Position guide: Goalkeeper

  • DEF
    Defenders
    • Step up to keep the team close; mark the striker who drops.
    • Full-back: get tight to their winger so the pass down the line has no target.
    • Centre-backs: follow the striker who drops, then pass them on.

    Position guide: Centre-back · Full-back

  • MID
    Midfielders
    • Wait close to the middle pass, then jump on it.
    • Three midfielders stay close enough to touch each other.
    • When the pass goes inside, the nearest two jump on the receiver from both sides.

    Position guide: Holding midfielder · Central midfielder · Attacking midfielder

  • ATT
    Forwards
    • Wide forward: block the outside pass. Striker: stop the switch.
    • Wide forward: stand on the line between the ball and their full-back.
    • Striker: drop into the cover shadow of their far centre-back so they cannot switch.

    Position guide: Winger · Striker

Practices that train it

Start with the first, and build up to the game.