Issue 21 of Elite Soccer featured a coaching session written by Carlo Ancelotti on attacking movement in a 4-3-2-1 formation.
The other professional coaches to provide sessions in this issue were:
Nigel Clough – improving technical ability
Mark McGhee – transition of counter-attacks
Mark Robins – awareness and rotation
David Unsworth – wide players and shape
Paul Kee – defending corner kicks
The overviews of each of these sessions are provided below.
Each of these sessions are now available to buy in Elite Soccer: The Collectors’ Series, each volume of which contains 36 coaching plans – this is the best value way to purchase past sessions from Elite Soccer.
Alternatively, you can buy this issue of Elite Soccer here
Carlo Ancelotti – attacking movement in a 4-3-2-1 formation
“This session is based on tactical work, movement and patterns of play in the middle and attacking thirds of the field. It uses a 4-3-2-1 formation, and a system that has always offered me great success at Milan, Chelsea and PSG. Of course, no system is perfect – each having its own distinct strengths and weaknesses – but this one links well with our playing style and philosophy.
This formation is particularly effective when constructing box-to-box passing moves – counterattacking play that involves passing and receiving between the lines, well-timed movements and crossover runs, and the exploitation of space behind the opposition’s back line.
The session develops in the following order: game – technical/ movement – phase of play – game.
This session is available in Elite Soccer: The Collectors’ Series
Nigel Clough – improving technical ability
“This session rehearses the core elements of technical ability, so includes receiving and passing the ball, opening up the body, inside foot passing and turning, and knowing what to do before you get the ball.
It’s a basic requirement in football for players to feel comfortable when on the ball, and that’s what this session aims to cement. Every team member needs to feel confident enough to have the ball at his feet all the time, particularly in tight areas of the pitch, since opening up these spaces can often create the best attacking opportunities.”
This session is available in Elite Soccer: The Collectors’ Series
Mark McGhee – transition of counter-attacking
“This session looks at counter-attacking and the quick transitions involved from defence to attack.
Counter-attacks have become an integral part of the modern game due to highly-organised defences springing forward with pace and precision.
Because the session is great for rehearsing technical play and awareness – as well as pure counter-attacking expertise – we’ll run this in training every week.”
This session is available in Elite Soccer: The Collectors’ Series
Mark Robins – awareness and rotation
“This session is about improving players’ awareness (of team mates, of opponents and of space). It teaches players how to come off a marker to create space, and looks at the appreciation of a pass.
It also rehearses players in how to anticipate the next phase of movement, whether receiving the ball or opening up space.
It’s important to practise this because every player needs to have the ability to get away from his marker, and to know whether an opponent is tight or not. That creation of space – through smart thinking or unselfish running – is essential in enabling the ball to be moved upfield efficiently.
When first running this session, it will very stop-start, but it’s important for us to ensure players are acting and reacting in the right way because the technical aspects must be mastered for the rest of the session to work.”
This session is available in Elite Soccer: The Collectors’ Series
David Unsworth – wide players and shape
“This session is about wide players making quick, dynamic, welltimed runs, so as to create goalscoring opportunities.
It’s important to practise this because, in the modern era, there are many different systems of play, and in all of these wide players are asked and expected to pose a strong goalscoring threat when linking with strikers. This can be the difference in key moments in any game.
Players must always be asking themselves if they can get on the ball, and if they can make a run that leads to a goalscoring chance.”
This session is available in Elite Soccer: The Collectors’ Series
Paul Kee – defending corner kicks
“This session looks at the roles of defenders and the goalkeeper in corner kick situations.
It’s vital that, when setting up to defend a corner, each man knows his exact task, working as an individual and as part of a bigger unit within the penalty area.
Whether manmarking or zonal marking, defending corner kicks is a core match skill at any level, and this session aims to provide a platform around which teams can confidently defend and clear their lines.”
This session is available in Elite Soccer: The Collectors’ Series
