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Tactics

Tactics 69 definitions
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.
Barcelona's 6-2 destruction of Real Madrid in 2009 demonstrated relentless pressing - they suffocated Madrid high up the pitch, won the ball repeatedly in dangerous areas, and created chances directly from turnovers.
Robbie Jan 18, 2026
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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.
Andy Robertson's overlapping runs at Liverpool became a signature move - his tireless surges past Sadio Mané down the left flank created countless chances through whipped crosses and pulled defenders out of position.
Robbie Jan 18, 2026
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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.
Liverpool under Klopp would let teams play to the full-back near the corner flag, then spring the trap - three players would converge instantly, the full-back had nowhere to go, and Liverpool would win the ball in a dangerous position.
Robbie Jan 17, 2026
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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).
Oleksandr Zinchenko at Arsenal plays as a false full-back - nominally left-back, he moves inside to become an auxiliary midfielder, overloading the center of the pitch while Saka and Martinelli provide all the width.
Robbie Jan 17, 2026
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Running to drag defenders away and create space for a teammate, knowing you won't get the ball. It takes intelligence to spot where you can open gaps and unselfishness to do the hard work without the reward. Strikers who make good decoy runs are loved by teammates even if the stats don't show it. Firmino at Liverpool was a master at this - modest goal tallies but constantly creating room for others.
Roberto Firmino's selfless decoy runs were crucial to Liverpool's attacking system - he would drag centre-backs out of position, creating the channels for Salah and Mané to exploit, contributing far more than his modest goal tallies suggested.
Robbie Jan 16, 2026
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