Footy Eye
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Pressing high

Pressing high is defending close to the opponents' goal, trying to win the ball while they build from the back.

A high press wins the ball where a goal is one pass away. It needs a plan: who goes to the keeper or centre-back, which passes are blocked, and which side the ball is shown towards.

Timing decides it. Go on a trigger, together, and the opponent runs out of options; go alone or late and one pass takes the whole press out.

What to look for

  • The trigger: a back pass, a heavy touch, a pass to a weaker foot
  • Which pass your run should block
  • The side you want to force them towards
  • Whether the midfield behind you is stepping up too

The common mistakeThe front players pressing while the midfield stays deep, leaving a huge gap to play through.

Worked plays

16 plays from Footy Eye's training pool, with the best read and why.

  1. Play 1

    The situation
    Their midfielder checks back and takes it facing his own goal. You’re the closest presser.
    Best read
    Press him from his blind side now
    Why
    A man facing his own goal can’t see the forward pass and his first touch is already committed. Attack the blind side before he sets his feet and the worst he finds is a rushed ball backwards. Sit off and you gift him a free half-turn into your half.
    The other options
    • Sit off and let him turn He turns freely and drives into your half with the ball.
    • Slide across onto their pivot Unpressed, he half-turns and plays forward into your half.
    • Drop into the space behind you He turns with time and picks out their forward in your half.

  2. Play 2

    The situation
    Their keeper, between the centre-backs, rolls it to one. You’re the near striker in a front two.
    Best read
    Press the CB and cut the keeper return
    Why
    The roll is the trigger: press as it travels so you arrive as his touch lands. Wall off the return and his only out is a rushed ball down the line. Leave the return open and the ball just goes back; charge the keeper and the press dies.
    The other options
    • Charge the keeper before he releases The ball’s gone before you arrive; the centre-back strolls out unpressed.
    • Sit in and let them play out They pass it around the back at their own pace.
    • Press the CB, leave the keeper return open He plays it straight back to the keeper, and the press resets.

  3. Play 3

    The situation
    You’ve trapped them near side, so they switch to a free full-back. You’re the far winger.
    Best read
    Jump out and press him now
    Why
    A switch looks like an escape, but a ball crossing the whole pitch is slow: it buys the presser time, not the receiver. Jump out so his first touch is already under pressure, facing his own goal. Wait for the touch and you gift a free man the space to turn.
    The other options
    • Drop into the block, stay compact The full-back controls it freely and carries it into midfield.
    • Wait for his touch, then press He takes a clean touch, turns, and is away before you arrive.
    • Tuck in and screen the pass inside The full-back turns freely and runs the ball up the line.

  4. Play 4

    The situation
    Their right-footed centre-back is receiving a square ball on his left side. You’re the striker arriving.
    Best read
    Close his right side so it stays left-footed
    Why
    A ball travelling to a weak foot is a trigger, but your angle decides whether it stays there. Arrive across his right side and he can only play left-footed under pressure, into the touchline. Running straight at the ball lets him open his body onto his stronger foot; your midfielder already has the pivot.
    The other options
    • Run straight at the ball He opens onto his right foot and plays it past you.
    • Stand off and let him take the touch He takes a clean touch onto his right foot and plays forward.
    • Shift across and cut off the pivot The pivot is double-marked; he strides out onto his right foot.

  5. Play 5

    The situation
    Your team presses high. Your striker jumps out to press their centre-back. You’re the central midfielder behind him.
    Best read
    Push up behind him and kill the pivot
    Why
    One man pressing alone is just a man running. The striker’s jump only becomes a press if the line behind moves with him: step up, kill the pivot, and the centre-back has nothing but a long ball. Doubling up leaves the pivot free in the space you refused to close.
    The other options
    • Hold your position, keep the block still He bounces it off the pivot, and the striker’s press is beaten.
    • Sprint past and double up the centre-back He plays it into the free pivot, who turns into your half.
    • Drop back and protect the space behind The pivot receives in the space ahead of you and turns.

  6. Play 6

    The situation
    Your team presses high. Short goal kick. Their pivot drops in: three against your front two. You’re the near striker.
    Best read
    Press the near CB from inside, force wide
    Why
    Two can’t cover three, so stop trying: pick a side and let the touchline be your extra defender. Arrive on his inside shoulder and the ball to the pivot is dead, leaving only the ball down the line, the longest, slowest pass he owns. Splitting the centre-backs presses neither of them.
    The other options
    • Split the centre-backs and cover both Neither is pressed; he steps in and finds the pivot.
    • Drop off; two can’t press three They play out through the pivot at their own pace.
    • Go straight for the pivot The centre-back carries it forward into the space you left.

Train it

Short untimed sessions with the reasoning after every answer.

Train Pressing high

Test it

Ten plays, twenty seconds each, one Football IQ from 60 to 140.

Take the Football IQ Test

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