coach your players to play like the world’s best SOCCER COACH WEEKLY Learn • Train • Develop • Enjoy SUPERSTAR SESSIONS PLAY LIKE… < LEAVE DEFENDERS FOR DEAD JACK WILSHERE WIN THE MIDFIELD BATTLE END YOUR GOAL DROUGHT IN STYLE EXPLODE INTO THE BOX OPEN UP THE OPPOSITION

FIRST TOUCH REGAIN POSSESSION Score more goalS SCORE LIKE MESSI ONE TOUCH PLAY Sharp Shooters Steal The Ball Striker Explode Into The Box Midfield Dynamite Executed at speed this is a dangerous attacking move that will help your players use a It’s all about positioning in this lively intercepting game aimed at teaching your players Sharpen up your players in front of goal with this devastating attacking practice that Exploding into the box is one of Lionel Messi’s most effective attacking weapons. Get If you want your players to create goal scoring chances like the Three Amigos do at delicate first touch to beat defenders and set up goal scoring opportunities how to nick the ball back from the other team while it’s still in midfield gives them so many chances to shoot they can’t help but score your players to try this drill and they too could be destroying defences in seconds Chelsea, try this exciting and fast-moving game and you’ll soon see the benefits

After a one-two between the The passing team starts with The server starts the You start with a pass to first player The server plays the ball into an The movement should open up WHY USE IT servers, a pass from Server B WHY USE IT the ball. They must play each WHY USE IT WHY USE IT WHY USE IT game and the players at A, who shoots at goal (first attacker, releasing the runners space for a runner to receive This drill helps players triggers the striker to feign This is a great game to pass through the grid and are This session will put a When attacking, runs A session aimed at getting must pass the ball time or with a touch to control), into the box the ball and burst past the get to know each other to his right before going left help defensive players to create and around the area quickly restricted to two touches, one to stop to wasted chances then runs around his cone ready to into the box need energy, defenders to shoot at goal to receive the ball to create space – when they are going to prevent penetrative control and one to pass up front. It allows your make a diagonal pass changes of pace and utilise space in midfield. pass, and where and when passes by intercepting players to experiment with changes of direction. With quick passing and they are going to move. It the ball. Once they have their technique and get Players need to experience movement, it should help FIVE 4ft works on the technique a it, they are encouraged used to hitting the target how short bursts of speed open up the opposition and 4ft striker will use to create to counterattack. 2ft with a snap shot or when and movement can be make goal scoring chances. and execute a goal scoring finishing off a move. C explosive near the goal. 12yds chance. 3 A SET UP 15yds SET UP 20yds 20yds 1 Mark out a 12x12-yard SET UP B SET UP Create a playing area 40x20 5yds 40yds SET UP 2 square with pop up goals 12yds Use the of Mark out an area of 25x20 yards, with two goals back B 5yds Use four players including (or cones two-feet apart) the pitch you play on or A yards, with a goal at one to back across the middle, The striker opens his 15yds The side without the ball your goalkeeper. You need on each corner and placed To score a point the team recreate it with cones. The moment A shoots is the end and two five-yard The players without the but just one goalkeeper. body to receive the pass must press to try and win balls, cones and a goal. two-feet behind the line. of five can pass to their The session uses nine trigger for B to dribble the channels at the other. ball should try and drag We’re using eight players on his back foot. His first it back or they will give Position a pole or cone Mark out a centre box team-mate in the centre or players plus a keeper. ball through the cones and We’re using eight players. defenders away to make and a keeper for this touch guides it past the If the ball is not passed away scoring chances Goals must be two-feet make eight passes shoot before he gets to the space in the box (or a mannequin if you The striker’s second touch cone towards goal to set 4x4ft. You need balls, bibs You need lots of balls, After shooting, B then runs You need balls, bibs, cones Defenders must try to hold session, plus a server who quickly between the behind the line to give penalty spot have one) just outside the must be a shot. It should up a shot and cones. bibs, cones and a goal. behind column C and down and a goal. up play but good passing will can be the coach. You need two sides of the pitch room for the passing the wing. He places one of the create space and a switch penalty box on the size of be a shot across the keeper You needs to start each bibs, cones, balls and two the keeper will get into players to cover it waiting balls ready to cross from one side to the other is towards the far corner position to save the shot pitch your team plays on HOW TO PLAY sequence with the first HOW TO PLAY a good way to exploit it small goals. pass from off the pitch. Play a 5v2 game with one In the first channel a STELLAR HOW TO PLAY player of the team of five server has five balls ready HOW TO PLAY On the coach’s command locked in the centre box HOW TO PLAY to play into two attackers Start by serving a ball into the two servers exchange and one on each side of the Split your group into in the main area. The two the game. Players can score C passes. Server B passes playing area. The team of three even lines A, B and players in the second area in either of the two back- to the striker’s right. As A five play with two touches C and start with your must play like Messi and to-back goals. If the keeper the ball is passed the and the two midfielders pass to A. Run the drill B burst into the box but gains possession or the ball striker feigns to go to his must try to steal the ball. as described and the they cannot move until leaves the area, serve a new B right and then goes left As counterattacking is vital, players should work at a A one of the attackers in ball in. The keeper puts any to receive the ball, which if they intercept the ball quick pace, speeding up the main area touches balls he gathers into the net Speed is key for the If the midfielders win the While B is running to the wing, Timing of runs is vital to If the keeper he controls on the turn. striker so the shot they can score in any of ball they must quickly score as the session progresses. player A passes diagonally to an the ball. Defenders score success when two or three behind him. When a goal is gathers the ball His second touch must must come quickly the four goals. The key to in one of the four small Keep a count of the advancing C, who shoots at goal a point by returning the passes are made to set up a scored, immediately serve or when a goal is be a strike at goal. Work after the first touch success is the ’s goals around the pitch number of shots they ball to the server. Rotate chance at goal another ball into the game. It’s a good work out for your scored, immediately one striker for five goes starting position in relation If the passing team manage take in 30 seconds and all players after five balls If the keeper or a defender keeper who must react to serve another ball To finish, A and C take up to cover all the goals before try to beat it each time. have been played. wins the ball they must try the position of the ball and into the game and then switch players. to where the ball is, where position to try to score the midfielders can score, to get it back to the server TECHNIQUE try and cover both goals the centre square is and from a cross by B play goes back to the to score a point Creating space in a match where the opponent is. TECHNIQUE passing team TECHNIQUE TECHNIQUE situation with fast and SESSIONS The striker’s movement Players should use their The timing and type accurate passing will is vital, creating a yard TECHNIQUE arms for balance and plant of run from the two open up the room for of space to receive the In this small area the the standing leg next to attackers will determine midfielders to exploit. In or slightly behind the ball, how effective the move ball, then controlling it midfielders must press C this game a quick switch quickly and smoothly to 3 and support each other striking it just below the is. Attackers must make of play allows players get past the defender A to steal the ball from centre. Coaches should decisions based on what to take advantage of 2 B and shoot. Timing is key: the passing team. They look for players to use they see ahead of them one of the goals being the timing of the pass, will learn where best different parts of their and where the space unguarded – they must be B 1 A the dummy and the to position themselves foot (or their forehead in front of goal is. aware of the position of When the ball is won in a run. In a match all these If the pass comes from to make it hard for with shot four) and make At the end of the sequence the players Be sure to note the score after the keeper at all times. tackle or intercepted, the parts make up the move Server A, the striker makes the passing team to the correct runs with collect their balls (hopefully from the back five balls, then rotate the team gaining possession a dummy run left, before must counterattack at speed – success comes when penetrate the box. good delivery of passes. of the net) and each player joins the back of players to see which are the coming back to his right and the next line: A to B, B to C and C to A most effective Lionel Messis using the space on the pitch they all work together. shooting with his left foot

Player movement Ball movement Run with ball Shot Player movement Ball movement Run with ball Shot Player movement Ball movement Run with ball Shot Player movement Ball movement Run with ball Shot Player movement Ball movement Run with ball Shot

Issue 299 SOCCER COACH WEEKLY Issue 300 SOCCER COACH WEEKLY INSIDE… Issue 302 SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 4 Issue 301 SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 4 4 4 Issue 303 SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 4 FIRST TOUCH

Van Persie uses his first touch to beat defences

Leave Defences Standing Coach your players to improve their first touch and soon they could be leaving defences standing and scoring as many goals as Robin van Persie

message for your strikers: you at Upton Park in January, where van So exceptional that Ferguson believes Words by: don’t need to have lightning Persie scored an injury-time equaliser RvP could be the difference between Louis Massarella A pace to beat your marker and against West Ham in the third round of United winning the Activities by: get a shot in on goal. And if they don’t the FA Cup. He controlled ’ title and coming second this season. David Clarke believe you, just tell them to watch long, diagonal ball with his left foot and But what makes van Persie’s first Robin van Persie. The Dutchman uses scored with his right, all in the blink of touch so devastating? The key, as the clever movement, quickness of thought an eye. “The first touch and his finish following drill shows, is to take the ball and, above all, a brilliant first touch to was absolutely world class, absolutely away from your marker and towards give him a yard of space. And as we’ve seen time and again, a yard is all he fantastic,” said Sir Alex Ferguson, while goal in one swift movement. As van needs to apply a devastating finish. Arsene Wenger says, “I have seen many Persie proves, if you can do that, you Van Persie, who despite a lack of great players over 30 years, but Robin van don’t need to be blessed with great searing pace scored 37 goals in all Persie’s first touch is just exceptional.” speed to find space in front of goal. competitions for Arsenal last season and already has more than 20 for new FIRST TOUCH TIPs TO BEAT DEFENDERS RvP on the ball club Manchester United, honed his skills using the methods of coaching A good first touch gives players the time and space to assess pioneer Wiel Coerver at first club what to do next – pass, dribble or shoot. It also ensures that Feyenoord. “I practised daily and I was a time-wasting second touch isn’t required and allows players highly aware it was effective,” said to operate comfortably under pressure in tight situations. To have a first touch like van Persie, your players should always… van Persie of Coerver’s emphasis on technique. “You noticed it in weeks.” > Move into position to intercept the ball early Fifteen years later the results > Select the controlling surface (boot, chest, thigh etc) are clear. “He has an excellent > Place the controlling surface in the ball’s path touch and needs very little time > Stay balanced using the arms to get a shot away and finish > Watch the ball carefully to judge its direction and speed accurately,” explains Alf Galustian, > Keep the head steady co-founder of Coerver Coaching. > Be relaxed Nowhere was this more obvious than

SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 2 FIRST TOUCH Sharp Shooters Executed at speed this is a dangerous attacking move that will help your players use a delicate first touch to beat defenders and set up goal scoring opportunities

After a one-two between the WHY USE IT servers, a pass from Server B This drill helps players triggers the striker to feign get to know each other to his right before going left – when they are going to to receive the ball pass, and where and when they are going to move. It works on the technique a striker will use to create and execute a goal scoring chance. 3 A 1 SET UP 2 B Use four players including your goalkeeper. You need The striker opens his balls, cones and a goal. body to receive the pass on his back foot. His first Position a pole or cone touch guides it past the (or a mannequin if you The striker’s second touch cone towards goal to set have one) just outside the must be a shot. It should up a shot penalty box on the size of be a shot across the keeper pitch your team plays on towards the far corner

HOW TO PLAY On the coach’s command the two servers exchange passes. Server B passes to the striker’s right. As A the ball is passed the striker feigns to go to his B right and then goes left to receive the ball, which Speed is key for the he controls on the turn. striker so the shot His second touch must must come quickly be a strike at goal. Work after the first touch one striker for five goes and then switch players.

TECHNIQUE The striker’s movement is vital, creating a yard of space to receive the ball, then controlling it quickly and smoothly to 3 get past the defender A 2 and shoot. Timing is key: the timing of the pass, B 1 the dummy and the run. In a match all these If the pass comes from parts make up the move Server A, the striker makes a dummy run left, before – success comes when coming back to his right and they all work together. shooting with his left foot

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SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 3 REGAIN POSSESSION : one of the best interceptors in the Premier League

Get To The Ball First! If your players lose possession, teach them to get it back in midfield as quickly as they can – just like Jack Wilshere does for Arsenal

f you want your team to win he would count the different coloured calmly re-circulate the ball to his team- Words by: more games, the best place to buses and keep a note in his head of mates with a pass completion rate that Harry Gilbert start is by keeping hold of the I the order they came in. This obsession would even impress at the Nou Camp. Activities by: ball. But if you find that even the helps him read the game, makes him Such is his style of play that his David Clarke brightest of your young stars is aware of the number of players around coach, Arsene Wenger, once questioned prone to losing possession when on a surging forward run, always make him and tells him where the ball is likely Wilshere’s nationality. “He has a sure that each member of your team to go. Reading the game in this way he Spanish technique,” said the Arsenal understands how important it is to get can move quickly to intercept passes. manager, “but he has an English the ball back as quickly as possible. He is also fearless and not afraid to heart because he’s an English boy.” If you want an example that your press hard. If an Arsenal player loses If you want your players to take on players can relate to, point them to the possession, you can be certain that a little of Wilshere’s tireless pursuit skills of Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere. Wilshere will doggedly chase and of the ball and his excellent reading A with a fabulous first harry an opponent until forcing him to of the game, the following activity touch and an incredible turn of speed, make a mistake or surrender the ball. will help them get to the ball first he is capable of dominating possession Regaining possession means he can and launch a counter attack. and crafting the most visionary of passes. But since his comeback from long-term injury last year, he Top Tips For Midfield Interceptors has also been one of the Premier > Try and mark opponents ball side and goal side League’s best and most determined > Be close enough to press opponents when they are receiving midfield interceptors of the ball. > Recognise when to mark the player and when to cover space One of his greatest attributes is > Be positioned to intercept being able to appreciate the moments > Know when (and when not) to try and intercept when he can win the ball back. As > Play quickly when regaining possession Positioned a youngster he was obsessed with > On winning the ball, try to counterattack with a pass or a run numbers and on his way to training to intercept

SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 4 REGAIN POSSESSION Steal The Ball

It’s all about positioning in this lively intercepting game aimed at teaching your players how to nick the ball back from the other team while it’s still in midfield

The passing team starts with WHY USE IT the ball. They must play each This is a great game to pass through the grid and are help defensive midfielders restricted to two touches, one to prevent penetrative control and one to pass passes by intercepting the ball. Once they have 4ft it, they are encouraged 2ft 4f to counterattack. t

1 SET UP 2yds Mark out a 12x12-yard s square with pop up goals 12yd (or cones two-feet apart) on each corner and placed To score a point the team two-feet behind the line. of five can pass to their Mark out a centre box team-mate in the centre or 4x4ft. You need balls, bibs Goals must be two-feet make eight passes and cones. behind the line to give room for the passing players to cover it HOW TO PLAY Play a 5v2 game with one player of the team of five locked in the centre box and one on each side of the playing area. The team of five play with two touches and the two midfielders must try to steal the ball. As counterattacking is vital, if they intercept the ball If the midfielders win the they can score in any of ball they must quickly score the four goals. The key to in one of the four small success is the midfielder’s goals around the pitch starting position in relation If the passing team manage to where the ball is, where to cover all the goals before the centre square is and the midfielders can score, play goes back to the where the opponent is. passing team TECHNIQUE In this small area the midfielders must press and support each other to steal the ball from the passing team. They will learn where best to position themselves to make it hard for the passing team to penetrate the box.

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SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 5 Score more goals Torres enjoys To this the scoring touch after From a dry spell this

How To End A Goal Drought Every striker will go a few games without scoring, so to stop weeks turning into months you need to work on getting your player finding the net again as soon as possible

hen Fernando Torres left player up, but there is nothing better harder – and scoring more goals.” Words by: Liverpool for Chelsea in than getting him back in the habit of So to help any misfiring strikers Kevin Barrow W January 2011, the Stamford scoring again. Torres knows this. “A along, we’ve got a fantastic shooting Activities by: Bridge faithful were expecting a striker always wants to play,” he said exercise called Striker (next page). David Clarke torrent of goals. But despite costing earlier in the season, “and if you play The next time the goals dry up £50 million, what they got was a more, you have more chances to score for your strikers, give them a go shadow of the player who scored 81 and you have more confidence.” and see if you can stop a dry spell goals in 142 games for the Reds. He couldn’t have been more right. from becoming a drought. With just one goal coming from Torres got back in the scoring habit his first 14 appearances, Torres was after being reunited with his former struggling. After all, no player has more Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez weight of expectation on him than in November, scoring seven goals in “I’ll always think back to really good a striker. And the longer that striker the six games before Christmas. points in my career, like when I goes without scoring, the weightier the “He’s a striker,” agreed Benitez. expectation becomes. That’s certainly “He needed to score goals. The scored in 10 consecutive matches the case at the top of the game with team is doing well, he’s having for Bournemouth, or the exhilaration thousands of people watching you and more chances, and he has more judging your performance each week. confidence as a result.” I had when I scored my But consider too the pressure But Torres knows it’s his continued first England goal” on your young striker, who might hard work that will ultimately help believe he’s letting down his team- him to banish any talk of another - Jermain Defoe, Tottenham mates, his parents and himself. goal drought. According to the Hotspur and England striker Of course, there are plenty of man himself, it’s all about “training mental tricks you can do to talk a better and harder, playing better and on restoring confidence

SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 6 Score more goals Striker Sharpen up your players in front of goal with this devastating attacking practice that gives them so many chances to shoot they can’t help but score

WHY USE IT You start with a pass to first player This session will put a at A, who shoots at goal (first time or with a touch to control), stop to wasted chances then runs around his cone ready to up front. It allows your make a diagonal pass players to experiment with their technique and get used to hitting the target with a snap shot or when finishing off a move. C

SET UP B Use the penalty area of the pitch you play on or A recreate it with cones. The moment A shoots is the The session uses nine trigger for B to dribble the players plus a keeper. ball through the cones and You need lots of balls, After shooting, B then runs shoot before he gets to the penalty spot bibs, cones and a goal. behind column C and down the wing. He places one of the You needs to start each waiting balls ready to cross sequence with the first pass from off the pitch.

HOW TO PLAY Split your group into three even lines A, B and C C and start with your pass to A. Run the drill B as described and the players should work at a A quick pace, speeding up While B is running to the wing, as the session progresses. player A passes diagonally to an Keep a count of the advancing C, who shoots at goal number of shots they take in 30 seconds and To finish, A and C take up try to beat it each time. position to try to score from a cross by B TECHNIQUE Players should use their arms for balance and plant the standing leg next to or slightly behind the ball, striking it just below the C centre. Coaches should look for players to use B different parts of their A foot (or their forehead with shot four) and make At the end of the sequence the players the correct runs with collect their balls (hopefully from the back good delivery of passes. of the net) and each player joins the back of the next line: A to B, B to C and C to A

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SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 7 SCORE LIKE MESSI Score like Messi and you could be celebrating like this

“There are three players who are better than the rest: Iniesta, Ronaldo and Messi. But the best is Messi. There is nobody who can do the things he does” - Brazil’s praises the skills of Lionel Messi Score Like Messi Lionel Messi may have broken all goal scoring records last year but is it possible to coach your players to emulate his skills? Can you get them to score like Messi?

n a truly breathtaking run of form as and Iniesta hasn’t hindered his training ground, such as how to time Words by: last year, Barcelona forward Lionel goal tally, but in any team his abilities those surging runs, when to attack the Chris Hunt IMessi reminded world soccer would be judged as extraordinary. space behind a defender, and how to Activities by: why so many people regard him as “Messi is the best player in the world,” play the wonderful one-touch tiki-taka David Clarke one of the greatest footballers of all argued Zlatan Ibrahimovic recently, that he enjoys so much at Barcelona. time, hitting the net a phenomenal himself no slouch with the ball. “He The activity on the following page 91 times in one calendar year. plays like he’s on PlayStation, it’s will help with these skills – try it While it is unlikely that your strikers unbelievable. People who say otherwise in training and soon your players will notch up anywhere near the tally either don’t know anything about could be scoring like Messi. achieved by the incredible Argentinian, football or are just talking nonsense.” working on some of the skills that make If Leo himself is to be believed, Messi such a formidable marksman his abilities originally came from a The Hot 91 will undoubtedly improve the fortunes passion for the sport and a familiarity Lionel Messi scored of your team and help to get your with the ball – something that most 91 goals in 2012. forwards scoring more goals. of your players should relate to. This is where he But what is it that makes Messi so “First of all you’ve got to love the scored them… good? Is it his composure on the ball game,” he has said. “From the age or the simplicity of his world beating of three I played every day: every : 59 skills? Is it his incredible morning, afternoon and night.” Copa Del Rey: 5 acceleration, the perfect timing of his If regular ball work has paid dividends Spanish Super Cup: 2 runs, or the low centre of gravity that for Messi, this is something that can Champions League: 13 has gifted him such fantastic balance? be encouraged in all youngsters. World Cup Qualifiers: 5 Cynics have tried to suggest that being There are also certain of his skills and International Friendlies: 7 blessed with creative providers such techniques that you can coach on the

SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 8 SCORE LIKE MESSI Explode Into The Box

Exploding into the box is one of Lionel Messi’s most effective attacking weapons. Get your players to try this drill and they too could be destroying defences in seconds

WHY USE IT The server plays the ball into an The movement should open up attacker, releasing the runners space for a runner to receive When attacking, runs into the box the ball and burst past the into the box need energy, defenders to shoot at goal changes of pace and changes of direction. Players need to experience how short bursts of speed and movement can be explosive near the goal.

15yds 2 SET UP 0yds 5yds

Mark out an area of 25x20 5yds yards, with a goal at one 15yds end and two five-yard The players without the channels at the other. ball should try and drag We’re using eight players. defenders away to make You need balls, bibs, cones Defenders must try to hold space in the box and a goal. up play but good passing will create space and a switch from one side to the other is HOW TO PLAY a good way to exploit it In the first channel a server has five balls ready to play into two attackers in the main area. The two players in the second area must play like Messi and burst into the box but they cannot move until one of the attackers in the main area touches Timing of runs is vital to the ball. Defenders score success when two or three a point by returning the passes are made to set up a ball to the server. Rotate chance at goal all players after five balls If the keeper or a defender have been played. wins the ball they must try to get it back to the server to score a point TECHNIQUE The timing and type of run from the two attackers will determine how effective the move is. Attackers must make decisions based on what they see ahead of them and where the space in front of goal is. Be sure to note the score after five balls, then rotate the players to see which are the most effective Lionel Messis

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SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 9 ONE TOUCH PLAY

Oscar… Mata… ...and Hazard

Win The Game In Midfield Teach your players how to receive the ball and open up the opposition with a well-crafted pass, just like Chelsea’s ‘Three Amigos’ – Oscar, Mata and Hazard

hatever the colour of their themselves to be adept at unlocking How great would it be if your Words by: replica shirts, football fans the tightest of defences. Built on a own midfield players could blow Harry Gilbert Wacross the country have wonderful first touch and on their away the opposition in the same Activities by: been impressed this season with effective one and two touch play, manner as this dynamite trio? We’ve David Clarke the eye-catching midfield play of these players can change the tempo got a drill on the following page Chelsea’s ‘Three Amigos’: Juan Mata, of the flattest of games in just that will help your team to take on Oscar and . Similarly, seconds, hitting a series of rapid something of this attacking style. coaches at every level have been passes to take Chelsea through on Try this exercise and teach your dreaming of what it would be like goal in double-quick time. This is players to work on their use of space, to have such a creative midfield trio what makes them so destructive. their awareness of pressure and their at their disposal every weekend. Their inventive combination play and movement, while showing them how Sometimes it can take just a couple passing vision has resulted in the ‘Three to receive and release the ball. of new players to shake things up. It Amigos’ becoming a creative force to certainly worked for Chelsea – the be reckoned with, while boosting Mata arrival of Eden Hazard and Oscar to the top of the division’s assists table. “These are players who can beat during the summer has given Chelsea They’re not just providers though and their man. If you press or stay low, owner Roman Abramovich a priceless have weighed in with their own share these are players who can beat these glimpse of the kind of stylish, attacking of the goals, with all three scoring football he’s always desired. almost as freely as they provide. kinds of systems. They are playing When linked with Juan Mata, the It seems the ‘Three Amigos’ have at a tremendous level two new signings have helped form a created a winning formula that has and to counter them is devastating midfield trio full of flicks even impressed former Chelsea boss, and invention, one capable of delivering André Villas-Boas. “The fluidity they extremely difficult” the billionaire owner’s ambition of have with those three players behind – Spurs coach André Villas- beautiful football to Stamford Bridge. Fernando [Torres] is tremendous,” he Boas on trying to combat the It has been effective football too, explained when asked how to counter as the three players have shown their talents earlier this season. talents of the ‘Three Amigos’

SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 10 ONE TOUCH PLAY Midfield Dynamite If you want your players to create goal scoring chances like the Three Amigos do at Chelsea, try this exciting and fast-moving game and you’ll soon see the benefits

The server starts the WHY USE IT game and the players A session aimed at getting must pass the ball players to create and around the area quickly utilise space in midfield. to create space With quick passing and movement, it should help open up the opposition and make goal scoring chances.

SET UP 2 0yds

Create a playing area 40x20 s yards, with two goals back 40yd to back across the middle, but just one goalkeeper. The side without the ball We’re using eight players must press to try and win it back or they will give and a keeper for this If the ball is not passed away scoring chances session, plus a server who quickly between the can be the coach. You need two sides of the pitch bibs, cones, balls and two the keeper will get into small goals. position to save the shot

HOW TO PLAY Start by serving a ball into the game. Players can score in either of the two back- to-back goals. If the keeper gains possession or the ball leaves the area, serve a new ball in. The keeper puts any balls he gathers into the net If the keeper behind him. When a goal is gathers the ball scored, immediately serve or when a goal is another ball into the game. It’s a good work out for your scored, immediately keeper who must react to serve another ball the position of the ball and into the game TECHNIQUE try and cover both goals Creating space in a match situation with fast and accurate passing will open up the room for midfielders to exploit. In this game a quick switch of play allows players to take advantage of one of the goals being unguarded – they must be aware of the position of When the ball is won in a the keeper at all times. tackle or intercepted, the team gaining possession must counterattack at speed using the space on the pitch

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SOCCER COACH WEEKLY 11