counter-pressing soccer drills
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Access more drillsJosé Mourinho's Counter-pressing Upon Losing Possession in 4v4 (+4)
Exercise used by José Mourinho at Real Madrid, it will allow you to work on counter-pressing in an 8v4 situation with 4 support players. Be sure to close down spaces immediately after losing possession!
Mark out a 30x30m area and then place 2 large goals on each width. Then form a team of 4 players and a team of 8 players. The team of 4 positions itself in the area, and the team of 8 places 4 players in the area and 2 players on each length of the field.
The exercise starts with a 4vs4 within the area with 4 players as support. The objective for the team with a numerical advantage is to complete a series of 8 consecutive passes before being able to score. The objective of the defending team is to recover the ball and score without a pass limit.
Upon losing the ball, the players on the sides must quickly close the spaces and press the ball carrier. The idea is to perform a counter-pressing and recover the ball within 6 to 8 seconds after losing it.
The rules of the exercise are as follows:
- The players with a numerical advantage are limited to 2 touches of the ball. The opposing players (the team of 4) have no touch limit.
- The team of 8 scores a point for each series of 8 consecutive passes.
- The team of 4 scores 1 point if they recover the ball and score on the large goal. If the opposing team recovers the ball within 6 seconds after losing it, they score 1 point.
Categories
U17 U18 U19 SeniorsSub-themes
Counter-pressing Attacking transition Defensive transition Pressing TransitionOur drills on the counter-pressing theme
3v3 (+1) Build-up with mini-goals and first line pressing
15 min
7-14 joueurs
Small-sided games
U16 - Seniors
Numerical advantage build-up situation (GK + 3 players) to beat the first line of press and find outlets towards mini-goals....
6v3 Positional Play with Mini Goals
15 min
12-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U16 - Seniors
Positional play where 6 players maintain possession against 3 pressing, with objectives of passing and quick transitions to mini-goals....
Small-sided game in 4v4 with 4 players providing support in the defensive third
15 min
12-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U14 - U17
Exercise with 3 teams of 4 to work on managing danger in the final third, effectively closing down shooting and crossing angles, and defensive cohesion around the goalkeeper....
Defending and Delaying in the Final Third in 6v6
20 min
12-16 joueurs
Small-sided games
U16 - Seniors
Opposition scenario where the defensive team must delay the attack, protect the penalty area, and prevent shots and crosses before counterattacking towards mini-goals....
3v3 Opposition with Goalkeepers and Neutral Support Players
15 min
14-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U18 - Seniors
3v3 play on a half-field with two central neutral supports to execute one-two-three passes and attack the depth after the build-up play....
Progress with our drills
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The basic idea of gegenpressing (also known as "counter-pressing"), which was created by Ralf Rangnick and popularized by Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola, is to press your opponent in the seconds following the loss of possession.
You will therefore ask your players to press as a coordinated block the moment you switch to a defensive formation. The entire team hunts and recovers the ball, in the best case scenario. There are 2 objectives to keep in mind:
You will therefore ask your players to press as a coordinated block the moment you switch to a defensive formation. The entire team hunts and recovers the ball, in the best case scenario. There are 2 objectives to keep in mind:
- Neutralize the opponent's counterattack as quickly as possible.
- Attack quickly after recovering the ball, at the precise moment when the opposing team is most disorganized.
Jürgen Klinsmann described gegenpressing as « immediate ball recovery », which perfectly defines this concept.
3-Team Transition Game: Intense 2v4 Pressing in Zones
15 min
12-15 joueurs
Small-sided games
U17 - Seniors
Three-team transition game where two players press the team in possession within a zone, and roles rotate continuously....
9v9: midfield pressing and maintaining a compact block across 3 zones
12 min
18-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U17 - Seniors
9v9 game in zones to work on midfield pressing, central density, and the ability to play vertically under pressure....
Using Width in a 4v4 with 6 Mini-Goals
15 min
8-16 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U13
This drill is ideal for working on passing to create width in order to connect the box-to-box midfielder with the player positioned behind the opposing line....
3v3: shooting with outside support and delayed runs
15 min
10-14 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - Seniors
3v3 shooting sequence where players use the wide players as support before attacking the shooting area....
Possession game from one goalkeeper to the other in 4v4 (+2)
15 min
10-20 joueurs
Small-sided games
U14 - U17
Possession game where the objective is to connect one goalkeeper to the other by prioritizing the forward pass in a 4v4 with two goalkeepers in the side zones....
Possession game in 3 zones with transitions and numerical disadvantage on the weak side
20 min
12-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U17 - Seniors
Three-zone possession exercise to work on reactions to transitions, the disadvantage on the weak side, and movements preparing for a potential loss of possession and counter-pressing....
Possession game with quick transitions upon losing the ball
20 min
12-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U16 - Seniors
Working on ball possession under pressure with immediate reaction to losing possession to strengthen defensive transition and coordinated pressing....
Possession game in 2 zones with role change
15 min
14-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U14 - Seniors
Possession and switch of play drill in a three-zone format with role rotation between attackers and defenders....
Defensive transitions after loss in rondo games
12 min
14-20 joueurs
Warm-up
U12 - Seniors
Immediate reaction work upon losing possession through successive rondo sequences. Ideal as a warm-up for a session focused on counter-pressing....
Possession game in double zone with coordinated press
20 min
10-20 joueurs
Tactical
U14 - Seniors
Possession and organized pressing drill in two adjacent zones to work on transition and counter-pressing after losing the ball....
Defensive transition of Pep Guardiola in an 8vs7 with 4 supports
20 min
18-21 joueurs
Small-sided games
U17 - Seniors
Used by Pep Guardiola during a training session at Manchester City, this drill will help you work on the attacking-defensive transition in the upper part of the field....
4v4 possession game with 2 support players per team
15 min
12-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U12 - U17
This drill, in the form of a small-sided 4v4 game with supporting players, will allow you to address concepts such as transition phases and focus upon losing possession....
Jurgen Klopp's Attacking-Defensive Transition with a Reduced 6v6 Game
20 min
15-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U17 - Seniors
Inspired by a Jurgen Klopp exercise, this 6v6 small-sided game (with 6 neutral players) is ideal for working on transitions, particularly the attacking-defensive transition....
José Mourinho's Counter-pressing Upon Losing Possession in 4v4 (+4)
20 min
12-16 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - Seniors
Exercise used by José Mourinho at Real Madrid, it will allow you to work on counter-pressing in an 8v4 situation with 4 support players. Be sure to close down spaces immediately after losing possession!...
Pressing and possession play in an 8v4 (+6)
20 min
18-22 joueurs
Small-sided games
U14 - U16
8v4 possession game with 6 support players that will allow your players to work on the attacking-defensive transition, as well as pressing upon losing the ball....
Double 3v2 with pressing from a central square
15 min
11-15 joueurs
Small-sided games
U17 - Seniors
In this 3v2 (and 3v3 with pressing), your players will be able to work on coordinated press as well as transition play when losing the ball. Used by Mauricio Pochettino during his time at Tottenham....
Counter-pressing work by J. Nagelsmann in 10v10 with 4 goals
20 min
18-22 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - Seniors
Used by Julian Nagelsmann at RB Leipzig, this 10v10 exercise with 4 mini-goals will allow you to multiply counter-pressing situations....
Small group possession in 4 zones
20 min
12-18 joueurs
Small-sided games
U17 - Seniors
4v2 possession exercise with switch of play and attacking-defensive transition that will require a lot of focus and intensity....
Rondo in 4v2 and pressing with a numerical disadvantage
20 min
8-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U10 - U14
4v2 possession drill with pressing and zone changes. You can develop the exercise with small goals and by limiting touches on the ball....
Warm-up with a small-sided game focused on counter-pressing
15 min
12-21 joueurs
Warm-up
U17 - Seniors
This drill is ideal for a warm-up before a session focused on counter-pressing work. Remember to gradually increase the intensity during the exercise....
Ralf Rangnick's Possession Game to Work on Transitions
15 min
12-24 joueurs
Small-sided games
U16 - Seniors
A relatively simple possession drill to set up, but with certain constraints that will allow your players to work on transition play and counter-pressing, initiated by Ralf Rangnick....
Recovery and Switch of Play in an 8v8 on 2 Zones
30 min
16-20 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - Seniors
Still based on Positional Play, this exercise allows you to work with your players on quick recovery (gegenpressing) as well as switching play under pressure. A perfect mix!...
"Juego de Posición" in possession 9v9 + 2 support players
20 min
20-22 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - Seniors
The "Juego de Posicion" popularized by Pep Guardiola is an important element of this game, ideal for a large number of players. Positioning will be crucial throughout the drill....
Rondo 8v3 and Passing Accuracy Under Pressure
20 min
11-22 joueurs
Technical
U17 - Seniors
With this drill, players are challenged to find creative solutions to maintain possession of the ball while constantly being put under pressure....
Pressing and Gegenpressing: 4vs 2 + 4 in a double grid
20 min
10-14 joueurs
Tactical
U18 - Seniors
The principle is simple: possession in the small central square, then opening up to the large square. In this drill, players learn to quickly transition from defense to attack and from attack to defense. Gegenpressing, or counter-pressing, is an important training objective....
Attacking transition: pressing and ball circulation
20 min
12-16 joueurs
Tactical
U17 - Seniors
Through a drill with a single goal in the middle of the field, your players work on defensive-to-attacking transitions: pressing and recovery (defensive), circulation and combination play towards attack (offensive)....
Counter-pressing drills classified by category
U12 counter-pressing soccer drills
- Using Width in a 4v4 with 6 Mini-Goals
- Defensive transitions after loss in rondo games
- 4v4 possession game with 2 support players per team
U13 counter-pressing soccer drills
- Using Width in a 4v4 with 6 Mini-Goals
- Defensive transitions after loss in rondo games
- 4v4 possession game with 2 support players per team
U14 counter-pressing soccer drills
- Small-sided game in 4v4 with 4 players providing support in the defensive third
- Possession game from one goalkeeper to the other in 4v4 (+2)
- Possession game in 2 zones with role change
U15 counter-pressing soccer drills
- Small-sided game in 4v4 with 4 players providing support in the defensive third
- Possession game from one goalkeeper to the other in 4v4 (+2)
- Possession game in 2 zones with role change
U16 counter-pressing soccer drills
- 3v3 (+1) Build-up with mini-goals and first line pressing
- 6v3 Positional Play with Mini Goals
- Small-sided game in 4v4 with 4 players providing support in the defensive third
U17 counter-pressing soccer drills
- 3v3 (+1) Build-up with mini-goals and first line pressing
- 6v3 Positional Play with Mini Goals
- Small-sided game in 4v4 with 4 players providing support in the defensive third
U18 counter-pressing soccer drills
- 3v3 (+1) Build-up with mini-goals and first line pressing
- 6v3 Positional Play with Mini Goals
- Defending and Delaying in the Final Third in 6v6
U19 counter-pressing soccer drills
- 3v3 (+1) Build-up with mini-goals and first line pressing
- 6v3 Positional Play with Mini Goals
- Defending and Delaying in the Final Third in 6v6
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