Tactics

Italian term for a midfielder who drifts into the half-space between central and wide areas. Not quite a central midfielder, not quite a winger. They make runs into channels, receive between the lines, and provide width when wingers cut inside. Gündoğan under Guardiola played this way - nominally central but constantly drifting wide and arriving late in the box.

Actively closing down opponents to force mistakes or win the ball. You can press high (in their third), in a mid-block (middle of the pitch), or low (in your own third). It only works if everyone does it together - one player pressing alone just leaves space behind them. Klopp's Liverpool and Guardiola's City have made it central to how they play, using pressing as the first step of attack.

Running outside and past a teammate who has the ball, usually a full-back going around a winger. Creates a 2v1 against the defender, who has to choose between following the runner or staying with the ball. Even if the pass doesn't come, the threat of it stretches the defence and opens space to cut inside. One of the most basic attacking moves, taught from youth level, and still works at the top.

Deliberately allowing the ball to go to a certain player or area, then springing a coordinated press the moment it arrives. You let them think they have an out, then shut it down. Usually involves directing play toward the sideline or a weaker player, where pressing is more effective because their options are limited. A pressing trap requires everyone to know the plan and commit at the right moment.

Another name for an inverted full-back - a full-back who moves inside into midfield rather than staying wide. "False" because they're not playing as a traditional full-back. The term gets used interchangeably with inverted full-back, though some coaches distinguish between the two based on exactly where the player ends up (how deep, how central).