You can start improving as a coach by doing these three things really well...🧵👇 1️⃣ Deciphering the Game Model: What are the Playing Style Principles?

This requires you to watch multiple matches against different types of opponents.

Essentially, you need find a common pattern like this...👇

Phil Foden, what a player.

The way the man floats with the ball, in and out of gaps, flying forward planting seeds of doubt in defenders along the way.

But his biggest strength is his short-term memory.

Let me show you what I mean (even Pep agrees 😉)…🧵👇 He scored a hat-trick against Aston Villa (April 3rd, 2024) but there is one goal in particular that really demonstrates who he is.

In the span of three seconds Foden:

❌ loses the ball
✅ recovers the ball himself
🚀 scores a rocket on a rope.

Xavi can blame the referee for Barcelona's crash out of the Champions League but the only one he has to blame is himself.

It was a tactical train wreck.

The writing was on the wall from the very first minute and Xavi did not adapt.

See for yourself...🧵👇





Let's start with what worked in Paris.

Direct football was the game and it worked.

Why?

Because PSG were man to man with Barcelona's back line.

With Marquinhos as a right back pushing into the midfield to cover Cancelo, it left everyone 1 to 1 along the back line.

I never know when I'm going to be hit in the face with an 'AHA' moment.

I can tell you with the utmost certainty, it's never at the surface. It's always deep into an experience.

Here are 5 coaching webinars that you can go deep into 🧵👇





Developing a Training Session to Build-Up in Center Channel 👇

https://x.com/IJaSport/status/1636344398899208192

Brighton use language like 'play the way you face' and automatize third man combinations.

There are some serious consequences to this...🧵👇





Language like “Play the way you face” is a potential solution to the problem of advancing the ball

The unintended consequences of using such language is the principle would be conditioning players to never attempt to receive and turn, even when necessary

https://x.com/futbolvids88/status/1764838675651735622

Football boils down to the small-sided versions of the game: micro 2v2 situations.

If we truly want to help the individual development of players, we have to recreate these moments for them.

It’s in these moments where individuals shine and contribute to the game. 🧵👇





In January’s webinar, we re-created 2v2 match situations to better help the development of individual players in these kinds of situations.

The first part of the webinar, using the real examples from top football we identified common patterns.

Xavi got the lesson on Defensive Structure he so desperately needed this past weekend.

The problem is he entirely missed it.

Here's what Michel taught Xavi about Defensive Structure 🧵👇





To better understand defensive structure we have to start with the defensive block.

The Block can be described as the space between the back line and the front line, as well as space between the two widest players.

Obviously, the tighter the block the less space and time.

Easy choices are for average footballers.

The best footballers in the world can see and execute the gold choices.

Gold choices absolutely break open any game.

So why don’t all coaches help players see and create these options for their players?

👀 Let's take a look... If we are to prioritize actions then we must consider a forward pass that advances the ball past the line that is pressing the gold standard.

This is the type of action that makes players elite.

This is the overall idea that players must master as they grow up.

The common assumption among coaches, or most coaches, is that providing immediate, accurate, and completed feedback during a training fosters long-term, lasting learning, whereas the opposite is often true...
🧵👇 Instead coaches should consider delaying, reducing, summarizing feedback, having the player try to first generate and think about what has worked and what hasn't worked, having the trainer be more of a listener, observer, maybe nudging.

In 2011, Juan Manuel Lillo was commentating the Champions League Final between Barcelona and Manchester United.

Around the 20 minute mark he was asked by his co-commentator who he believed to be the best player on the pitch so far.

His answer left his partner confused 🧵👇





"Pedro hasn't touched the ball, however, he is the player who is helping the team the most", he said.

Every club claims to have a game model, and every coach claims to use their club’s game model.

But here’s the reality...

Most game models live in some document filed away in some Google Drive never to be seen on the pitch.

There's massive value in a game model 🧵👇





A game model is a tool that holds players accountable to something larger than themselves.

The best leaders in the world have had a clear vision about the future for the people that they lead.

Most players are ‘coached’ at.

They are inundated with ‘coaching’ tips and tricks.

They are flooded with ‘How-to’s’ and ‘How-nots’.

But rarely are they observed.

This one phrase that will entirely change your perspective on coaching 🧵👇





MEET THEM WHERE THEY ARE

It’s a simple phrase loaded with so much value.

As a coach, you are there to guide and help.

However, often coaches want to provide ‘coaching’ knowledge regardless of the players’ needs or desires.

How often do you find yourself getting frustrated because the players are not applying your coaching points?
🧵👇 When yelling at a player to do something specific, there’s an illusion of control.

A false sense of directing the individual. In reality, it’s causing a disturbance in the player, and not necessarily a positive one.

Your specific instructions can become unnecessary noise.

🧠 Most current youth football environments are not conducive to developing adaptable, creative, self-regulating team players for the future of football.

Is yours? 🧵👇





As Horst Wein states, “On most pitches young players are dominated by an instructor, who allow relatively little freedom of movement and decision making. The opinions of young players are not taken into account. For the coach, it is important to have everything under control.”

🗣️PERARNAU: "What positional play is trying to achieve is to greatly increase the percentage probabilities of winning specifically because of the style of play?

🗣️ LILLO : ‘That’s demonstrably true, but not only with exceptional football teams...

Thread on Positional Play 🧵👇 🗣️ LILLO: "It also applies to much more modest sides. But given that positional play has become identified with the very best football teams like Cruyff’s Dream Team or Pep’s Barça, people conclude that to practise it successfully you require exceptional players."

Every coach needs a Game Model

It’s the most important tool that helps you be better so you can make your players better

It's the first step in managing your Coaching Workflow

Karl Aksum took us through his detailed Game Model and how he uses it in his workflow 🧵👇





Karl’s Game Model document is much more than a collection of principles, it’s his approach to coaching.

It’s a comprehensive manual to the way that he approaches every aspect of football.

As he told us it started by getting things down on paper and has evolved from there.

Philosophically speaking pressing out to in doesn't make sense.

The goal is in the center of the pitch so why would so many teams force the opposition towards the center?

It would make the most sense to always keep the attacking team out of the center channel... 🧵👇





Take this example

City attempt to squeeze Bayern towards the center of the pitch preventing passes to the Bayern Munich outside backs

De Ligt plays right through two lines into Musiala who is between line in the center channel running at the back line.

🚨 MASTERCLASS: HOW TO CREATE AND EXPLOIT SPACE BETWEEN LINES

🇪🇸 vs 🇮🇹: UEFA Euro 2012 Final Case Study 🧵👇





In 2012, Spain started the Euro Final vs. Italy without any clear strikers.

It was a team of 4 defenders and 6 midfielders.

The starting lineup looked something like this 👇

Are we looking at too many things outside of the game to improve the game?

Are we trying to reinvent the wheel when it comes to the game?

Is it possible that in evolving the game we have emigrated away from the game?

THREAD ON SIMPLICITY

Let's explore... 🧵👇 You don’t have to look too far.

For example, take the most recent World Cup.

FIFA have developed innumerable statistics to measure the game which should be used to make better sense of the game.

However, instead, they end up being how we view the game.

Want to be the very best coach?

THE BEST TOOL FOR YOUR GROWTH.

Thread: Did that tweet get your attention?

Is that why you continued reading?

What I'm about to tell you is something you already know but perhaps it will be a helpful reminder.

Haaland is a special player.

There’s no denying his physical abilities help him massively but I noticed something interesting about the way that he thinks that I believe has helped him, and will continue to help him as years go by.

Let's listen to him speak... 🧵👇 I noticed it after the Champions League Final when he was being interviewed by CBS Sports.

🎥👇