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Pressing

Pressing is defending by going to the ball together to win it back, rather than waiting for the opponent to come to you.

A press works when the whole team moves as one: the first presser goes on a signal, curves his run to block a passing lane, and teammates step up to mark the next options. One player pressing alone just gets passed around.

Good pressers read cues: a heavy touch, a pass back to a defender, a player receiving with his back to goal. They also use the touchline as an extra defender, steering the ball into areas where the passes run out.

What to look for

  • A trigger: a back pass, a bad touch, a player facing his own goal
  • The passing lane your run can close as you press
  • The touchline, to trap the ball on one side
  • Whether your teammates are stepping up with you

The common mistakeJumping on your own with no cover, so one pass takes the whole press out of the game.

Worked plays

30 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
    Your midfielder loses it in their half, but the ball-winner’s first touch is heavy. You’re closest.
    Best read
    Counter-press now, before they break
    Why
    They’ve just won it with heads down and shape open; for a few seconds they’re more exposed than you. Swarm the loose ball now and you win it back high, where a turnover hurts them most. Sprint back and you hand them the time to break.
    The other options
    • Sprint back to rebuild your shape The ball-winner settles, and they break at your retreating midfield.
    • Drop off and screen the pass inside He takes a free touch and slides the runner in down the side.
    • Mark the runner breaking in behind Left alone, the ball-winner lifts his head and drives through midfield.

  3. Play 3

    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.

  4. Play 4

    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.

  5. Play 5

    The situation
    The press is broken. You’re isolated and they have three free men ahead. What now?
    Best read
    Drop off, get compact, rebuild the block
    Why
    A press only works as a chain; one man chasing a settled team opens the door he’s meant to shut. When the shape is gone the brave-looking sprint is the mistake: drop, get compact, make them beat a block instead of a gap. Sometimes the smartest press is no press.
    The other options
    • Sprint out and press the ball alone He lays it off past you, and they’re three against your last defender.
    • Dive in and win it back now He knocks it past your lunge and they’re running at one defender.
    • Man-mark the nearest runner He carries it into the space you left, with two men still free.

  6. Play 6

    The situation
    Your press forced them long. The ball’s dropping onto your centre-back’s head in midfield. Where do you go?
    Best read
    Read the knockdown and attack the second ball
    Why
    Forcing them long is only half the win: a long ball is a 50/50, and the second ball settles it. Trust your centre-back to compete and take the space where the flick drops; that’s where their clearance becomes your possession. Jump in and nobody is there for the knockdown.
    The other options
    • Jump in and contest the header You and your centre-back collide; the flick drops to their free man.
    • Stand off and watch the duel The flick drops behind your centre-back and their man gets there first.
    • Drop deep and defend your box Their free man collects the flick and runs at your defence.

Train it

Short untimed sessions with the reasoning after every answer.

Train Pressing

Test it

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

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