Numbers and Work Rate

Here are some screen shots from the Capital One Cup Final between Chelsea and Spurs. Click each picture to enlarge.

Spurs counter-attack. Chelsea have four defenders back, in good position, and two players hurrying to track back (Zouma and Azpilicueta were caught out by the counter - Willian has gone to right back to slow the player with the ball, and Ramires is tracking back with Zouma). Notice that John Terry is the widest Chelsea player on the 'weak' side, and he is still in a central position. There is no reason to defend wider than that, especially if there is not a Spurs player making a run outside him. Chelsea are defending the strong side (side the ball is on), and the central area. The weak side is not dangerous. The lesson here - when countered, stay compact, and do not get stretched or pulled away from the danger area.

Given more time to track back in a slower attack, Chelsea now have 8 players within 20 yards of the ball, with 5 directly in between the goal and the Spurs player (Harry Kane) with the ball. This is simply a matter of work rate.

In a later attack, Chelsea again have numbers back, all flooded to the strong side and central areas. There are no direct lanes to goal, and plenty of Chelsea players available to pick up and track runs. The pressure defender (Zouma) also has the security of multiple cover players, letting him attack the ball (he blocked the shot, leading to a Chelsea counter-attack).

Here we see Spurs defending an attack, with the back four and midfield three in two clear, organized lines, and with good spacing. Again we see that no Spurs players have been dragged to the weak side, even though there is a Chelsea player making a run into that space. If the ball is played to him, Spurs will have time to shift to the right and deal with it. The primary danger area is central.

 Spurs again have good numbers back, with good shape and spacing. However, the two defenders in the boxed area are not goal side of the two Chelsea players attacking the most dangerous area. Spurs got away with it this time.

Here again, Spurs have 9 players back, with the back four and two central midfielders in good shape, offering two distinct lines of defense, and with good spacing between each player.

The kind of defending you see in these pictures takes WORK. In every case, midfielders and sometimes strikers busted a gut to get back behind the ball when possession was lost. Keep in mind, these are guys who do not have the luxury to ask for a sub for a rest. I don't expect you to be as fit as Premier League professionals, but you should be working at your maximum work rate. Too often, we defend with only our back four, with the results being 10 goals allowed in the last 3 games. If ever you are confused on the pitch, and unsure where to go, just work to get behind the ball. Sheer numbers works nine times out of ten.