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Putting almost everyone behind the ball and making the defence impossible to break down. José Mourinho made the phrase famous, though he was criticizing opponents at the time. It means sitting deep in two compact lines, not pressing much, and waiting to counter. Purists hate it, but it works against better teams. You need players who can concentrate and hold their positions for 90 minutes.
Chelsea's 1-0 aggregate victory over Barcelona in the 2012 Champions League semi-final epitomized defensive mastery - despite playing with 10 men and facing sustained pressure, they held firm before Fernando Torres sealed the tie on the counter.
Robbie
Feb 9, 2026
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