500+ minutes analyzed. Every game so far.

Here’s everything you need to know about Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid: the philosophy, the system-of-play, patterns-of-play, the approach and the intent.

THREAD 🧵📝 In one of Real Madrid's pre-season press conferences, when asked about how he wanted his team to play, Xabi Alonso replied: "We want total control. Both with the ball and without the ball. Our style will be proactive and energetic."

This is a really good question. Think of principles as abstract and philosophical: they’re the heartbeat of your team’s philosophy; the why behind them.

Think of them as the guiding laws — tied to your core beliefs about football.

For ex, “we press high to win the ball in dangerous areas” or “we dominate possession to control the game’s rhythm.” These are big-picture and broad, and apply across contexts — 433, 352, doesn’t matter. The intent is the same.

The way to coach them is to break it down and make sessions plans of a sub-sub principle of that topic, and drill the idea into the sub-conscious.

Let me explain.. For ex: let's say we're working on high pressing.

The sub-sub principle of a high press — first objective you've to hit is the desired intensity. That's the foundation.
Shape, roles, triggers, they all come later.

Xabi Alonso’s Real Madrid vs. Al Hilal: How they set up off-the-ball.

Shapes, roles, structure — and some slick adaptations.

THREAD. From Al Hilal’s goal kicks, Madrid pressed in a 4-4-2 when Hilal built with a back four.

Jude joined the first line of press along with the striker while the wingers ready to jump to the opp FBs. Valverde sat half-and-half, ready to plug gaps.

Aggressive, but controlled.

Here's something I've been meaning to address: I have some thoughts about the way that we talk about football tactics.

I see a significant gap b/w how many people understand or interpret it; there's a disconnect b/w the intricate nature of tactics & how many understand it.

1/n The current language of football tactics is failing us. There's a vast disconnect between the intricate world of strategy and how it's explained. Jargon dominates the conversation, leaving many fans confused. I hope I can bridge this gap.

🗒️Real Madrid's 4132/4312 high-pressing structure/shape:

An in-depth thread where I try to break down the intent, roles, tactical advantages and disadvantages of Carlo Ancelotti's new look high-pressing structure.

[THREAD]

Starting from goal-kicks, Madrid start with a 4132/4312ish shape with the two frontmen (Vinicius/Rodrygo) on the two opposition CBs. Bellingham sits on the opp #6 while the two CMs (Kroos and Valverde here) have players in their cover shadows starting out.

Control isn't possession. It's better if you understand the word 'control' in terms of territory aquisition. You concede chances when the opposition moves up the pitch. How do you prevent the opposition from gaining territory in the first place? 1/5

https://twitter.com/Seneziz/status/1660752262568857605

Let's go to the base: What does it mean to have control of a game? When you analyse and look at everything, ultimately from a coach's standpoint the answer somewhere lies in preventing the opposition from creating chances and creating chances for yourself while you're at it.

Football clubs at the top looking to take the next step i.e., the elite status, require coaches with a mission statement, an identity, a philosophy.

Sustained pressure on the ball/sustained possession is slowly becoming the holy grail of club football.

MINI THREAD Take a look at the teams who've won the league in the last 3 years: City, Liverpool, Madrid, Atleti, Barcelona, Bayern, Inter, Porto, Sporting. Although their approaches in the CL are different, most of these are teams that sustain pressure on the ball in their respective leagues

A write up on the potential change in Spurs' formation/system due to the acquistion of Sergio Reguilon and why it could be beneficial in the long term.

— A thread. The Sergio Reguilon transfer from Real Madrid might just be a blessing in disguise for the North Londoners.

This transfer completely changes Tottenham Hotspur's dynamics and the way they play. This potentially could clear Spurs' breaking-down-the-blocks problem.