Understanding Build-Up Play
Over the last 10 to 15 years, football has evolved regarding how teams approach games from a statistical, technical, tactical or psychological viewpoint.
One tactical concept that has grown in popularity over the years is how teams build the ball out from the back.
Football is generally analysed through phases of play, which are usually determined by the location of the ball on the pitch, who’s in possession, and other variables.
To help illustrate the phases of play, the pitch is typically divided into horizontal and vertical zones. How this is done variates between managers, but the diagram below is a more simple and more basic way to understand these concepts.
The above diagram illustrates how the pitch is divided vertically, showcasing the five zones; the wide space, the half space and the central space.
When the pitch is divided horizontally, we typically refer to them as the thirds of the pitch; the defensive third, the midfield third and the offensive/attacking third.
We create these areas and zones to make the understanding of phases of play much more straightforward and clear-cut.
But, you might be asking, what is a phase of play? Well from a very basic viewpoint, on gameday your team will either have the ball (in possession) or you’ll be without the ball (out of possession).
A very simple, basic concept. There are two subpoints that are known as transitional moments, so there’ll be a moment when we transition out of possession and when transition into possession.
This is where we create a game cycle, where we have these four moments; in possession, out of possession, the transition from out of possession to in possession and the transition from in possession to out of possession.
Below is an example of a game cycle.
Now build-up play occurs in the in-possession phase, otherwise known as the offensive/attacking phase.
We typically see teams look to build the ball out within the defensive third or the midfield ball, but this depends on the location of the opposition’s defensive block.
As an example, if they’re pressing aggressively and with a lot of intensity, chances are their defensive line is at the halfway line and thus the team in possession will build the ball out in their defensive third.
So typically when teams are building out from the back, the structure from a situation like a goal-kick may look like this.
Now some things to note. First of all, we can see, through the implementation of the lines illustrating the division of the pitch vertically and horizontally that the opposition’s block is quite compact.
This, from a defensive perspective, is an essential mechanism that needs to be deployed to make it more difficult for the opposition to play their way through the other team.
From the attacking’s team point of view, it may initially look difficult to try and play through this block but some principles can be utilised to move the ball through the thirds.
People that have studied the relevant tactical theory and academia may be posing questions like “what is the skill level of the attacking players”, “how comfortable are the players on the ball” or “what triggers are the opposition looking for to press”.
These are all valid questions, but for this piece, we’ll assume that the team building the ball out has players that are comfortable on the ball and that the opposition is looking to force the ball to the wide areas.
So when teams look to build out from the back, typically these are some common principles that are utilised.
• Numerical Superiority
• Vertical and Lateral Support
• High Tempo, Minimal Touches
In the example diagram we had before, there’s a reason why I’ve got the team in possession lined out in a 4–3–3 system, as this will be one of the most straightforward ways we could incorporate those three principles mentioned.
A key element that’s critical to the success of building the ball out from the back under pressure is making the pitch as big as possible.
Elite-level teams like Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City utilise this concept regularly in games, as this creates a sense of depth and width.
Ideally, teams want to create space behind and in between the opposition’s block so that passing lanes can open up, which then makes progression through the thirds much easier.
So referring to the initial diagram, as well as the prior diagram illustrating how the pitch is divided into the vertical zones, you can now see why the attacking team has positioned as such.
The fullbacks and wingers are positioned in the wide channels so that the midfield line of the opposition can be stretched, thus creating the width of the attack.
As for the central midfielders, the two advanced midfielders occupy positions in the half space, looking to create some depth where they can receive in between the lines and play.
Now, the opposition is already in a predicament in the first phase of the build-up play, as a 4v2 advantage can be created.
The two strikers would be in a relative state of confusion; who do we press, who stays back and covers? All sorts of important questions.
But, by using minimal touches and quick passes, a principle mentioned early on, the attacking team can then find themselves in this situation.
This is one of the great advantages of playing a 4–3–3 system against a flat 4–4–2 system, the natural numerical superiority in the midfield.
One of the central midfielders would have to apply the pressure, so then this potential situation may arise.
This then opens a multitude of pathways to exploit the space in behind. As an example, a typical pattern of play that is used by many top teams; the left winger drifts inside to occupy the right-back, as the left-back makes the run in behind.
From there, the team could quickly transition and create a possible goal-scoring opportunity.
I mentioned Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City as an elite-level team, and what’s a noticeable facet of their play is how they build the ball out from the back.
They’ve often deployed a range of innovative strategies to combat the opposition’s pressing style, shape or to give the Citizens an element of unpredictability in this phase.
Roberto De Zerbi caught the eye of many when his Brighton side took on Liverpool in his first game in charge of the Seagulls.
Brighton had excellent players on the ball that could remain composed under pressure thanks to the coaching of Graham Potter.
But against Liverpool, at Anfield of all places, De Zerbi’s men were exceptional on the ball, frequently bypassing the intense Liverpool pressure that everyone in the Premier League has been accustomed to over the years.
There were a couple of instances that stood out to me the most.
One was how they utilised the principle known as ‘overloading to isolate’, which basically means looking to switch the ball to a lone player having brought most of the opposition’s block to the other side.
Take this example late in the game.
Alexis Mac Allister received a layoff following a throw-in close by and switched the ball to the outside left centre-back, who was all by himself.
The pass was a fraction under-hit, but the principle was used very well to evade the oncoming Liverpool pressure.
Another example from the game occurred just a few seconds later. Below, we can see Brighton in their 3–2 build-up shape.
The Brighton players passed the ball about, what would seem like aimless possession but it’s actually a clever mechanism that’s really effective if used effectively.
Maurizio Sarri’s Napoli were an excellent team in possession and they used this idea in essentially every game.
The short, quick passing is used to draw the press in. The space can be exploited via a pass to a player away from the pressure or via a clever touch to go past the press.
The drop of the shoulder from Webster caught Liverpool forward Mohamed Salah off guard, as the defender used that touch and his momentum to go past the Egyptian.
It was a clever interchange of passes that allowed Brighton to move out of their half and create in Liverpool’s, which ironically lead to the third goal scored by De Zerbi’s men.
So to summarise, build-up play is an important cog in a team’s potential success. The better the players are at this phase, the more rewards they will reap.
It may not work every single time, however when the patterns and principles are executed correctly, many teams regardless of how well-organised their press or their block is will struggle to regain possession.
