Keepitonthedeck
@Keepitonthedeck • 126,457 subscribers
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Incredible insight from Luis Enrique when asked about Cesc Fabregas and his view that football is moving increasingly mainly towards movement patterns, manipulation of space and coordinated actions, rather than traditional positional play, which he believes is becoming a thing of the past. The modern game is less about where a player is positioned and more about when, why and how they move to an area of the pitch. The best teams are now defined by their ability to recognise the opponent’s structure, identify the spaces that can be attacked and then coordinate the timing of movement to exploit them. It is not movement for the sake of movement. It is movement with purpose, based on recognition, timing and collective understanding. Luis Enrique reinforces a fascinating principle he spoke about last season. The objective of modern football is to become unpredictable for the opponent while remaining completely predictable to your own teammates. That is the real challenge at the highest level. Creating freedom without losing organisation. Producing variation without creating chaos. Giving players the intelligence to adapt their positioning and movement while maintaining a shared understanding of what the team is trying to achieve. The future of elite football may not belong to the teams with the most rigid positional structure, but to the teams who can read the game fastest, manipulate space most intelligently and coordinate movement with the greatest precision.
Keepitonthedeck155,398 views • 1 day ago
Arsenal are yet to concede a goal this season, and there are some interesting details behind the way they are preparing their players defensively in matchday warm ups. Their training has placed a much greater emphasis on duels, but their approach to matchday preparation is equally interesting. The coaches are heavily involved, working closely with their specific units. Here is Gabriel Heinze, for example, on Monday night away at Aston Villa. What stands out is the lack of a fixed routine. There is no predetermined sequence where the ball travels from A to B, the player follows the pass, and the pattern simply continues. Arsenal approach it differently. The work is position specific and built around actions the players are likely to experience in the game, but the sequence itself is not planned in advance. The players do not know exactly what is coming next, which means they have to constantly process information, make decisions and react. That is exactly what the game will demand from. The purpose of this random and reaction based work is to switch the players on mentally before kick off. They cannot simply go through the motions or operate on autopilot, as can sometimes happen during closed passing patterns. Every action demands concentration, awareness and a response to the information in front of them. It is a small detail, but an interesting one. Arsenal are preparing the brain as much as the body, and so far, it is working.
Keepitonthedeck160,744 views • 1 day ago
We’ve noticed a clear trend across Premier League training this summer: a greater emphasis on duels and defensive actions within sessions. This appears particularly prominent earlier in the training week, further away from matchday, where clubs can expose players to more intense and demanding 1v1 situations. Here’s a three phase duel practice used by Arsenal as they prepare to face Aston Villa on Monday: Phase 1: Defending a direct 1v1 dribble. Phase 2: Defending an attacker receiving with their back to goal. Phase 3: Defending a 1v1 in a wide area. Like and follow us for more.
Keepitonthedeck250,930 views • 5 days ago
🔵Man City assistant manager Pep Lijnders’ points system for small sided games insight. 🎯 ⚽️ 3 pts – Goal ⚡️ 2 pts – Counter-attack goal 🛡️ 1 pt – 1 minute without conceding Mentality driven constraints rewarding actions in possession, in transition, and out of possession.
Keepitonthedeck1,191,244 views • 5 months ago
🚨 Matthias Jaissle has wasted NO time, the new manager is straight into action on the training ground at Newcastle United. Jaissle worked as an assistant at Brøndby before coaching Salzburg’s Under 18s and FC Liefering. He then won two Austrian league titles with RB Salzburg before moving to Al Ahli for a reported big contract offer. From his first session at Newcastle, the message was clear: Starting from the basics first ✅ Take pride in defending ✅ Be aggressive in 1v1 duels ✅ Compete for everything ✅ Press together, not individually During possession drills, Jaissle constantly demanded that the team move as one. The moment one player pressed, everyone around him had to close the space immediately. He’s starting with the basics, but the identity out of possession is already obvious: Very aggressive in duels. Organised. Competitive. Follow us for all things football.
Keepitonthedeck166,587 views • 29 days ago
Stop scrolling and just take 20 seconds to read this. Then share it with development coaches! We’ve translated the lip reading from this excellent insight between Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni and central midfielder Leandro Paredes. So many coaches try to control everything. Scaloni does something different. He listens. He includes. Then he manages the situation around what his players see, feel and need on the pitch. In this clip, Paredes explains that he is struggling to progress the ball because the opposition number nine is starting close to him and blocking the passing lanes based on the angles of support Paredes offers from central areas. His solution? He needs an extra centre back so one of them can step forward. That will either allow the centre backs to build the play themselves, or attract the number nine towards them, freeing Paredes to receive in space and take control of the game. He asks Scaloni to introduce an extra centre back to support that build up, believing it is the best way for Argentina to regain and retain control of the game. Scaloni listens, and immediately begins working on the solution. Throughout the World Cup, the cameras repeatedly captured Lionel Messi discussing on field problems with Scaloni and explaining how he believed they could be solved. That is not a weakness in the manager. That is leadership. Empowering others making them feel more attached to the objective. An environment where players are included in the planning. Not robots blindly following instructions. Footballers. THINKERS. DECISION MAKERS. THIS IS FOOTBALL, Decision makers! Develop decision makers. Get instructive control freaks out of development football!! The game is a constant series of problems and decisions. If players are always waiting for answers from the sideline, they will never reach their full potential, individually or collectively. Coach the player. Develop the thinker.
Keepitonthedeck271,560 views • 1 month ago
Liverpool fans won’t like this… 👀 Pep Lijnders already making his presence felt at Man City. In today’s Manchester City open training session, he was non-stop, demanding, directing, pulling players into a huddle and demanding standards before an 8v8 possession game. Pep Guardiola knew exactly what he was doing bringing that energy in. 📥 Our New Pep Guardiola training study is out now — grab it via the link in our bio or below 👇
Keepitonthedeck1,373,969 views • 1 year ago
Day one of Roberto De Zerbi at Tottenham Hotspur is in the books, and a couple of small moments already say a lot about how meticulous he is. No matter how minor or major the situation, he coaches what the game presents. The first example came when he approached Dominic Solanke. During a small sided game, Solanke was using constant movement, checking runs and changing direction to create space. When play paused, De Zerbi stepped in to explain that in tight areas, locking/shielding the defender directly can actually create more space surrounding him to receive, without needing movement. It sounds simple, but if it needs coaching, he addresses it immediately and with intent. The moments of when to move vs when to lock on! The second moment highlighted his well known focus on tempo. He urged calm from defenders when they had an overload, encouraging them to slow things down just enough to ensure accurate distribution. That patience also allows the structure ahead of the ball to take shape and for movement to develop, leading to more controlled and progressive possession. When the moment is right tempo speeds up to progress the play! The detail stands out. If it's detail and energy Tottenham wanted, Roberto De Zerbi will 100% bring that.
Keepitonthedeck433,551 views • 5 months ago
🔵 Chelsea Under Xabi Alonso | 4v4 + 3 The Alonso era at Chelsea is underway. Dimensions: 16(W) x 18(L) Yards A high intensity positional possession practice focused on combination play, structure and aggressive counter pressing during moments of transition. The team in possession combines with three neutral players and earns a point for every eight consecutive passes. Upon regaining the ball, the pressing team attacks one of four mini goals to reverse roles. Key coaching points: • Immediate reaction on transition • Nearest player presses the ball • Supporting players lock on • Protect central areas • Maintain compact distances • Regain possession quickly Save this one and follow us for more #ChelseaFC #XabiAlonso #CounterPressing #PositionalPlay #FootballCoaching #SoccerTraining
Keepitonthedeck138,990 views • 1 month ago
Before stepping away from Uruguay, Marcelo Bielsa sat down for an hour and a half last night to reflect on his time in charge. But one part of what he said is absolutely astonishing. Bielsa claimed that very few people showed any real interest in what he knows. Few, if any, made a genuine attempt to learn from him. Think about that. One of the most influential football minds of the modern era is basically saying that the people around him did not value his knowledge, his ideas, or his methods. It now feels a lot clearer what was really going on. The Uruguay players simply didn’t buy into Bielsa’s beliefs about the game or his approach to training. That is an incredible thing to say, but these are Bielsa’s own words. And when a man like him speaks with that level of honesty, you tend to listen. If true, it points to an astonishing lack of respect. You can know everything, but if the people playing for you don't like you, it's worthless.
Keepitonthedeck132,143 views • 2 months ago
Amazing insights here with thanks to West Ham United. 🚨 New boss Nuno Espírito Santo is already making his mark on the training ground 👀⚒️ A few key takeaways from his early session: ✅ Building an open environment where players feel comfortable sharing input. ✅ Emphasizing forward thinking play by introducing a constraint that passes back to the goalkeeper during small-sided games are not allowed more than once (Futsal Style) ✅ Bringing energy and positivity, his encouraging style and constant communication are infectious. Big question: is Nuno the man to spark a turnaround at West Ham? 🔥⚽️
Keepitonthedeck597,365 views • 11 months ago
This is a Manchester City positional transfer rondo from their open training session today. Very Pep Guardiola like from Enzo Maresca who it seems is keen not to change too much. Play is continuous 8v3, with the team in possession aiming to complete a set number of passes before transferring the ball into the opposite zone for one point. A bonus point is awarded if the transfer is made through the neutral link player positioned in the central dividing zone. Players are limited to one or two touches. The pressing team remains in for set time periods to ensure the workload is evenly distributed. Get more training sessions via our website.
Keepitonthedeck45,291 views • 22 days ago
🔵 Chelsea used this combination setup in training under Xabi Alonso the day before their 7–0 friendly win this week. The practice focuses on an “up, back and through” pattern, a setup Alonso also used during his time at Bayer Leverkusen and Real Madrid. Chelsea are already looking sharp in the early stages of pre season. #XabiAlonso #ChelseaFC #FootballTraining #SoccerTraining #PreSeason
Keepitonthedeck89,315 views • 1 month ago
WOW. Marcelo Bielsa is 70 years of age, and his parting message to Uruguay carries a lesson every coach should sit with. No group is the same. No individual is the same. Nobody. Bielsa admits he has never tried to be the “friendly” coach. He values order, discipline, seriousness, obsession. That has made him one of the most respected minds in football. But even Bielsa seems to accept something powerful here: That approach does not work for every player. It does not work in every environment. And knowledge alone is never enough. As a coach, you have to find a way to connect. Quote us on this: “You can have all the knowledge in the world, but it is absolutely useless if the people playing don’t like you. Player management and people management might not be on coaching courses, but don’t be kidded by associations. It is the most important quality a coach can have.” Football is about tactics, detail, preparation and standards. But above all, it is about people. So many coaches out there fail to grasp this, they think they can shout their way to development or success, and this day and age you simply can't.
Keepitonthedeck119,342 views • 2 months ago
Tottenham high intensity combination setup in training this week. ⚡ Watch the quality and intensity of the actions, but look beyond that. Notice how Roberto De Zerbi uses coaches as shadow pressure, forcing players to make decisions while challenging their body orientation, passing angles and angles of support. A simple detail that adds real game realism to the sequence. Access more training sessions via our website.
Keepitonthedeck45,968 views • 27 days ago
🔵🔴 FC BARCELONA EXCELLENT POSITIONAL RONDO from this week. Area size: two 9 × 9 yard zones ⚽ How It Works • Two neutrals always support the team in possession • Neutrals can move between both zones • Complete a set number of passes before transferring into the opposite zone • If the pressing team regain possession, they can score in the mini goals or transfer into the opposite zone to reverse roles 🎯 Key Coaching Points • Create clear angles of support • Maintain good spacing • Scan before receiving • Move the ball quickly • Recognise when to transfer play • React quickly on transition 📌 Save this practice and follow us for more. Instant access to more on our website. #FCBarcelona #FootballCoaching #Rondo #PositionalPlay #FootballTraining #Possession #PlayerDevelopment #SoccerCoaching
Keepitonthedeck36,603 views • 26 days ago
Why does Roberto De Zerbi keep coming back to positional games like this? Because the real purpose isn’t the drill itself. It’s to repeatedly expose players to the same pictures, decisions and movements De Zerbi wants them to recognise on matchday. Here we have a 4v4+3 positional game played across two tight zones. Each area is 14x9 yards, creating a 2v2+1 situation in each zone, with an additional neutral player free to move between them. But watch the behaviours rather than the numbers. Players are constantly being asked to: • Create disciplined angles to play through central areas • Recognise when to slow the game down and when to accelerate • React immediately when possession changes • Counter press aggressively after losing the ball • Find solutions in tight spaces under pressure That last point is important. De Zerbi doesn’t just want his players to know where to stand. He wants them to recognise the moment when the picture changes, and react before the opposition does. That’s why seemingly simple positional games can transfer so effectively to the match. The exercise is simple. The behaviors being trained are not.
Keepitonthedeck11,180 views • 6 days ago
Roberto De Zerbi is one of the best coaches on the planet 🧠⚽ He is crystal clear about what he wants, then turns those ideas into simple, repeatable solutions for his players. At the weekend, De Zerbi was coaching his double pivot during build up against a press led by a single centre forward. The key detail, the pivots must remain staggered. As the ball travels across to the opposite centre back, the opposition number 10 jumps to press. In doing so, the number 10 blocks the passing lane into one pivot as he moved. But the staggered positioning in the pivot positions creates the solution, the ball side pivot stays behind the first line of pressure. The opposite pivot drops at an angle to receive. A passing lane opens around the pressing player who jumps to press. The team escapes pressure and progresses through the centre. Giving players clear pictures, reference points and solutions they can recognize under pressure. You see the detail coached in training. Then you see it appear in the game. That is how effective coaching improves or aids decision making, problem solving and confidence in possession. Save this for and follow us for more. More available on our website.
Keepitonthedeck46,161 views • 1 month ago
“Why is Messi great? Not because of his talent, but because of his humility. Because the greater one is, the more humility one must have. The bigger your career, the more your humility needs to grow. Those are the greats.” — Gustavo Alfaro, Paraguay national team manager
Keepitonthedeck66,468 views • 1 month ago