Tactical Theory: Innovative defensive techniques in the modern game challenging conventional wisdom – tactical analysis

As with attacking phases of play, modern coaches are constantly innovating in how they teach their players to defend. These can be both new concepts for old problems and tactics to counter the developments on the opposite side of the ball.

This tactical theory will first provide an analysis of defensive techniques and tactics that have changed in recent seasons and now go against conventional wisdom from years gone by. How Pep Guardiola has used a different tactic to defend long balls and how players, collectively and individually, defend the box with a more thought-out strategy are analysed. This tactical analysis includes some sample training exercises that coaches can use to implement these defensive coaching theories.

Defending the box

Modern players, particularly those playing in the backline, have changed their approach to defending the edge of the box in recent years. Instead of prioritising getting their body between the ball and the goal, they now move slightly off-centre.

In the above example, from Evertons recent match against Arsenal, he would have covered more of the goal if the defender had been directly in front of the ball. However, this positioning would have made things more difficult for Jordan Pickford in goal.

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