counterattack soccer drills

Mark out a large 30x40m area approximately, which you will split into two equal zones. Also, place 2 zones 5m wide at each end of the central area. Finally, place 2 small goals on each of the outer lines (see diagram). Form 2 teams of 7 players, with 2 players from each team in the small outer zones.

The exercise starts with a 5v5 possession game in one of the central zones. The objective for the offensive team (here in yellow) is to make a minimum of 5 passes before playing to one of the support players, who must lay it off with one-touch play so that a player from the team can then score.

When the defending team (here the blues) recovers the ball, they must quickly find one of the support players on the other side of the field. Once this is done, all players switch to the other zone and a new possession starts.

This exercise is a variation of the possession game and high press on 2 zones by Mauricio Pochettino.