This document provides an in-depth summary of Manchester City's tactics and system of play under manager Pep Guardiola. Some key points: - City builds up play from the back using a three-man line of defenders and midfielders. They look to progress the ball between the lines to attacking players. - In attack, City uses positional rotations and player movements to break through opponent lines or exploit space in behind defenses. - Their pressing depends on the opponent's formation but the aim is to win the ball back quickly on turnover. - Guardiola emphasizes positional discipline and having players who can pass and move well under his tiki-taka style.

2. - Guardiola’s Manchester City is a team who wants to have the ball in
the possesion and to dominate the opponent in the game.
- In attacking fase they are positioned in 4-3-3, 3-5-2, 3-4-3 or 3-2-4-
1.
- The team aspires to build up the play from the back.
- In the build up of the play the RB comes inside with the two CD to
create a line of three and the LB goes in more advanced position
higher on the field or inside like a CM.
- The line of three can give you a lot of advantages in the build up,
but also will make the team to suffer less from the counter-attacks.
- In the construction of the attacking actions they follow patterns, so
they know exactly their movements and where the ball should go
and why.
- In the most of the games they defend in 4-5-1 system, but also can
happen to be positioned in 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2.
SYSTEM OF PLAY AND CHARACTERICS

3. - Because of the very fast wingers and midfielders with great vision
and technical abilities they can be very dangerous with offensive
transition also.
- How they press depends of the formation on the opponent.
- They are team with very good defensive transition after loosing the
ball. They like to recover the ball fast after loosing it. This is one of
the reasons why they are defending(in their own half) a small
amount of time.
- They are defending the set-pieces in zone.
- They are attacking usually with five-six players in the box on set-
pieces.

4. THE COACH
Josep Guardiola
Guardiola is one of the most successful and
famous football coaches in the last decade. His
football philosophy is very clear: to have the ball
in the possesion and to dominate over the
opponent in every aspect of the game. He is
very attack-minded coach. The tactical
preparation for the games is based on the
players he has and on how the opponent plays.
His philosophy stays, but, how he impose his
style depends of the players he has and the
strategy of the opponent. The teams menaged
by him are playing beautiful, attacking football,
agressive after losing the ball in order to recover
it fast and the players know exactly their work,
movements on the field.

5. THE SQUAD
GOALKEEPER
Ederson
A goalkeeper that a team who wants to build
up the play from the back must have. Very
good technic and decision making with the
ball. Quality short passes and long balls. Very
good in protecting the goal also.
GOALKEEPER
Arijanet Muric

6. CENTRAL DEFENDER
Aymeric Laporte
The defender who has played the most of the
time from the defensive line. Has a very quality
pass and long diagonal ball. Left footed. Capable
to give a pass between the lines. Very good in
defending and aerial duels also. Participate in
the set-pieces, very good in the desmarking and
know how to score.
CENTRAL DEFENDER
John Stones
Inteligent defender with a high level football
awareness. Capable to break the lines with a
quality pass. Good in aerial duels and 1vs1
situations. Participate in the set-pieces.

7. CENTRAL DEFENDER
Vincent Kompany
The captain. Very strong in defending and aerial
duels. He can build up the play lateral and not
so often verticaly. Participate in the set-pieces.
CENTRAL DEFENDER
Nicolas Otamendi
Very agressive defender with a good technic.
Good in aerial duels.

8. RIGHT FULLBACK
Kyle Walker
Very strong and fast fullback with a solid cross.
Because of his velocity he can easily break the
defense on the right side. In the build up in the
most of the time he is inside, and not wide in
order to create a line of three with the other
two central defenders. Very good in the
defensive transition.
RIGHT FULLBACK
Danilo
A fullback who is capable to score with a shoot
from distance. Disciplined in defending. Has a
good pass and cross.

9. LEFT FULLBACK
Benjamin Mendy
A fullback who attacks a lot. Always positioned
higher on the field. Has a very good cross,
capable for assisting. Because of his solid
technic and tactical knowledgee Guardiola
often use him like a second central midfielder in
the build up of the play.
LEFT FULLBACK
Oleksandr Zinchenko
Has a very good technic. Because of this in the
build up of the play from the back Guardiola
often puts him inside like a second central
midfielder. Can shoot from distance.

10. CENTRAL MIDFIELDER
Fernandinho
A world class central midifelder. Very strong and
agressive in defending. Has a tactical
knowledge. He is capable to break the lines with
a pass and to give assist also. Very good in
protecting the ball. He is excelent in positioning.
Participate in the set-pieces.
OFFENSIVE MIDFIELDER
David Silva
Excelent technical abilities. Very good in
protecting and passing the ball. Posses a lot of
tactical knowledge and because of that often
shows to his teammates where the ball should
go and where to move. Capable to progress the
actions into the final third. Excelent in
positioning. Capable to score and to give an
assist.

11. OFFENSIVE MIDFIELDER
Ilkay Gundogan
Very creative midfielder. Calm with the ball,
capable of assisting and scoring. Can play like
a central midfielder also. He takes the set-
pieces and the free-kicks near the box.
OFFENSIVE MIDFIELDER
Kevin De Bruyne
Excelent technical abilities. Has a quality shoot
from distance. Very creative with the ball.
Often he is positioned between the lines in
order to progress the offensive action into the
final third. Searching the ball in the space not
only in the legs. Capable to score and assist.

12. OFFENSIVE MIDFIELDER
Bernardo Silva
A very hard-working midifelder. Very good in
1vs1 ofensive situations and protecting the
ball. Like a attacking midfielder he knows often
to search the ball in the space behind the back
of the opposite defenders. He is covering and
helping the team a lot in defense. Plays like a
winger also.
OFFENSIVE MIDFIELDER
Phil Fooden
Young and talented midfielder. Excelent technic
abilities. Has a vision and creativity with the
ball. Capable to make an assist.

13. OFFENSIVE MIDFIELDER
Fabian Delph
A decent substitution in this position. Solid
technic abilities. Can play like a left fullback
also. Agressive in defending.
.RIGHT/LEFT WINGER
Raheem Sterling
Fast winger with good dribling skills. He can
dribble in-side or out-side. Can receive in
space or in the legs. Very good between the
lines.

14. RIGHT WINGER
Ryad Mahrez
Fast winger with good technical abilities.
Capable to make diference on the side.
Usually dribble on the in-side, so he can
shoot with his left foot. Very good in the
defensive transition when the team is loosing
the ball.
LEFT WINGER
Leroy Sane
Very fast winger who likes to be isolated on the
side with the opposite fullback, because 1vs1
he is amazing. Very good in the offensive
transition also. Plays both ways. Has a very
good free-kick from a bigger distance.

15. CENTRAL FORWARD
Kun Aguero
Fanstastic striker and goal-scoring mashine. He
has a remarkable finish. Dangerous in the box
and out of the box because of his very good
shooting abilities. Participate in the set-pieces,
usually staying in front of the goalkeeper.
CENTRAL FORWARD
Gabriel Jesus
Quality striker with good technical abilities. Can
play on the side also. A decent substitution for
Aguero. Always uses his playing opportunity to
show his qualities.

16. BUILD UP PLAY
ZONE I
- When the opposite team is pressing them in the first zone man on
man in play the forward and the wingers and are searching the ball
in the space behind the back of the defenders. They are very
dangerous in this kind of situation because the goalkeeper has a
very quality and strong long ball and the attackers are very fast and
good in 1 vs 1 situations. They create a lot of goal-opportunities on
this way and took advantage of them. Also, because of the elevate
passing abilities of the goalkeeper, the forward often is offering a
solution centrally behind the back of the midifelders to receive by
dropping down. Also, when they are playing, they are creating
numerical superiority in order more easier to progress the action
forward, but, because of the good technical abilities of the central
defender they can go out with the ball even if they are pressed man
on man.

19. - If two players are pressing the central defenders, then the
central midifelder dropps down to offer a solution and to create 3
vs 2 situation(numerical advantage).

20. - If the opposite team is playing 4-4-2 with two forwards, then
central midfielder dropps down to create numerical
superiority(3vs2). If one of the strikers is closing the passing line
to him, then he can receive the ball via the offensive midfielder
who is a link player.

21. - When is numerical equality(3 vs 3) one of the offensive
midfielders also dropps down to offer a solution and to create
numerical superiority(4 vs 3).

24. ZONE II
- In the build up of the play usually they create a line of three in
the defensive line with the right fullback coming inside like a right
central defender with the other two defenders and the left
fullback moves higher on the field or inside like a central mifielder.
This transformation makes the team to suffer less from the
counter-attacks because the central zone of the field is better
ocupated. Also, they create in most of the time numerical
advantage in the begining of the construction of the attack(3 vs 2
or 3 vs 1).
● Building up play from the back with line of
three

25. - When the opposite team is playing in a system 4-2-3-1 they
create numerical advantage(3 vs 2) against the opposite forward
and the offensive midfielder who goes higher on field to support
the striker. One of the defenders always stays free of marking in
order to have time and space to create and to progress the attack
in more advanced phase.

32. ● Positioning on the midfielders and receiving
between the lines
- The offensive midfielders positioned between the lines in
order to receive there and to progress the action forward or to
attack the space behind the opposite fullback when the winger
receives the ball, especially when they play in a system 3-4-3.

36. - When the offensive midfielders are positioned between the
lines in the half spaces, the wingers are always open wide in
order to ocupate the fullback with him and to make space for
the offensive midfielders to receive and after providing a option
to progress the action in the final third zone.

37. - The central midfielder positioned centrally between the
opposite attacking and midfield line. With an accurate pass
from the defenders, good first touch and body positioning of
the central midifelder the ball can go forward.

41. - System 3-4-3 against 4-4-2. Sterling like winger and David Silva
like offensive midfielder changed the positions, but the system
remain the same. The build up of one of the goals against
Shahktjor. The left bullback positioned like a central midifelder
gives a pass to Sterling who is positioned between the lines like a
offensive midfielder. After breaking the opposite midfield line,
he finished the action by himself with shoot from distance.

44. ● Around the lines against 4-4-2
- This is most common pattern of Guardiola’s City this season
when the team is playing against team who is defending in a
system 4-4-2. The team is positioned in a system 3-4-3. Line of
three behind. Two central midfielders in front of them. Two
offensive midifelders positioned between the opposite midfield
and defensive line. The wingers are open wide and the forward
is positioned centrally. The ball goes from the defenders to the
open wide wingers, then the offensive midfielders are making
underlap(making a run behind the back of the opposite fullback)
and receive the ball behind his back. From there the action has
already progress in the final third zone and the attacking
midfielders are in postion to do some concrete things like
assisting or even scoring.

45. - Because the right fullback is inside to create a line of three, the
opposite leftwinger is also positioned inside and the line of pass
toward the open wide winger is free. Then the offensive
midifelder makes underlap(run behind the back of the left
fullback) practically is 2 vs 1 situation(the winger and the
offensive midfielder vs the opposite fullback). With this pattern
the ball goes around the opposite lines and not breaking them.

48. - The build up of the goal against Shahtjor. Numeical superiority
in the begining of the action(3 vs 2). The two central defenders
with the right fullback against the forward and the offensive
midfielder. Then the offensive midfielder and the winger made a
rotation. The midfielder opened wide to receive and the winger
moved inside. When the midfielder received the ball, the winger
started to run behind the back of the opposite fullback. Because
no one was following him practically it was 2 vs 1 situation.

49. - In the final third the winger made by himself a space for cross
and gave an assist to the other offensive midfielder. The left
winger, forward and offensive midifelder were in the box ready
to finish the action and one of the opposite central defender
was out of his position because he went to cover the winger.

50. - If the opposite central midfielder follow the movement of the
offensive midfielder, then the forward will dropp down to receive
into the free space because of the out-positioning of the central
midfielder.

52. ● Around the midfield line when the opponent
is defending in a 5-4-1 system
- When the opposite team defend in a 5-4-1 system the free
space is on the sides. So, Guardiola wants to take advantage of
them with the offensive midfielders opening on the side into this
free space and between his defender and winger or defender
and fullback, because they create a line of three behind, so the
one of the fullbacks, usually the left is in more advanced
position. On this way, practically they go around the midfield line
and not breaking it with positioning and receiving between the
lines. This is one more way to progress the action into the final
third zone.

55. - Because of the numerical superiority (3 vs 1) in the build up
from the back after the forward was eliminated from the game,
the left central defender had time and space to create the play,
so he attracts the winger to attacks him and passes to the
offensive midfielder who opened on the side. The fullback is
high and open wide on the field. The winger has entered inside
and makes a run between the back of the opposite right central
defender to receive in space.

56. ● The concept of the third man
- The third man concept is impossible to defend, because the
natural behavior of every player is to follow the ball and not the
player. This concepts allows to find the free man in the game
who will see toward the opposite goal and will have time and
space to create and progress the action forward. In Guardiola’s
philosophy usually the third man is the central midfielder who
will receive the ball from the offensive midfielder or the third
man is the offensive midfielder who will receive the ball from
the striker.

58. - The offensive midfielder is positioned between the players(left
winger and central midfielder) providing a solution to the central
defender and then plays one touch back pass to the central
midfielder, who has a better perception of the field and has time
and space to create. Also the opposite attacking line is out of the
game.

62. ● Taking advantage of the free space when
the opponent is defending in a system 4-3-3
- The free space is on the side between the opposite fullback,
winger and midfielder. In this space the wingers can provide
a passing solution for the central defenders or the central
forward can dropp down in this space and the winger to stay
open wide to ocupate the fullback with him.

66. - If the opposite fullback decides to follow the winger inside
the fullback can search the ball in the free space behind his
back.

67. ● The central forward dropps down to receive
between the lines behind the back of the
opposite central midfielders
- The central forward dropps down to offer a solution
between the lines. If the opposite central defender decides to
follow him then he will open a gap behind his back. If he is
not following him then the forward can receive the ball free
of marking.

70. - If the central defender follows the central forward, they will
take advantage of his out-positioning. The forward can play a
back pass to the offensive midfielder who will give a pass to
the winger who is making a run into the free space behind
the back of the central forward.

71. ● Searching the free player via the link player
- This combinations allows the ball to circulate to the free player
via the link player. This requaries reading the game from the link
player. He must see which player left his position to press the
player with ball and left his player free of marking.

74. ZONE III
● The offensive midfielders are positioned
and receive between the lines

77. - The build up of the first goal against Manchester United. The
opponent was positioned in his first zone, defending low. David
Silva like offensive midfielder was positioned into the half space
between the lines. After breaking the midfield line, he with one
touch progressed the action to the winger on the side, who is
open wide.

78. ● The offensive midfielders searching the
ball behind the back of the opposite
fullback(underlap)
- The offensive midfielders are positioned between the lines
and from there are making a inside run behind the back of
the opposite fullback. The aim is to create 2 vs 1 situation
and to receive in an advanced position.

84. ● The offensive midfielders making runs
between the central defender and fullback
and searching the ball in the space

86. - If the fullback close the offensive midfielder, then the winger
remain free on the side to receive a long diagonal ball. The
fullback is in a bad situation, because he must to decide if he
will stay with the open wide winger and that will create a
space for the offensive midfielder to receive near the goal or
to close the space inside and to leave the winger to receive
isolated on the side and to have clear 1 vs 1 situation with
him.

88. - The central forward dropps down to receive and the offensive
midfielder from behind makes a run between the central
defender and fullback and search and receive the ball in the
space.

89. ● Searching an assist at the edge of the five
meter zone
- This pattern is very common in Guardiola’s philosophy when
the defensive line of the opponent is very low. The offensive
midfielders or any player of the attacking players(central
forward and wingers) are making a run between the opposite
fullback and central defender and searching the ball at the
edge of the five meter zone in front of the goal. At the edge
of the five meter area is very dificult for the goalkeeper to
intercept the action. When the player finds the ball there, he
can shoot on the goal or to give a back pass for his
teammate.

90. - The build up of the second goal against Rotheram. The ball was
on the right side. Then they started to change the side via De
Bruyne and the opponent(especially the LFB) tought that the ball
will go on the other side, but Gundogan did not contunie to
change the side of play and gave a fantastic assist to
Fooden(OM) who took advantage of the bad positioning of the
left fullback and made a run between the opposite LCD and LFB
and finded the ball at the edge of the five meter area and
finished the action with a goal.

93. ● The opening of the central forward
- When the winger has the ball the central forward always is
positioned away from him. When he is dribling inside he
makes a run behind the defensive line searching the ball in
the space behind the back of the defender.

95. - In most of the time the team is positioned in a system 4-5-1,
but can happen to defend with a 4-4-1-1 or 4-4-2 system. The
team is very organised and disciplined when is defending. The
lines are very compact.
DEFENSIVE PHASE

102. ● Zonal defending
- Zonal defending is a defensive strategy where the players
cover an area on the field rather than marking a specific
opponent. If an opponent moves into the area a player is
covering, the player marks the opponent in order to take the
ball if possible or to not give him to progress the action
forward.

108. ● Zonal defending with the offensive
midfielder pressing the central defender
- The offensive midfielder goes out to press the central
defender with covering the passing line to the central
midfielders. The winger and the central midfielder secure his
left and right side with creating a triangle. The winger first
look to close the line for the inside pass. The central forward
marks the other central defender. If the ball is going to the
fullback he will be pressed by the winger or from the fullback.

112. ● Pressing against an opponent with a 5-4-1
system
- The central forward is inviting the pressing by attacking the
central defender to pass the ball to the right or to the left
central defender. Then the winger attacks him by going
around on the side to close the passing solution to the
fullback. In the same time the two offensive midfielders mark
the two opposite central midfielders to close the solutions
inside in the middle. The winger on the other side marks the
other central defender on his side. The central midfielder is
positioned centrally like a corector.

117. ● Pressing against an opponent with a 4-3-3
system
- The central forward attacks the central defender with the
ball and makes him to pass the ball to the other central
defender. After the pass he stays to mark him. The offensive
midfielder goes out of his position to press the central
defender with objective the ball to go on the side(fullback).
The winger on the side is marking the fullback, but, first
closing the passing line inside. The other offensive midfielder
marks the opposite central midfielder. The central midfielder
moves to mark the opposite offensive midfielder on the
pressing’s side. On the other side the winger moves inside to
mark the other offensive midfielder. The opposite fullback on
the other side is free or marking.

118. - De Bruyne(OM) is marking David Luiz(CD)
- Aguero(FOR) is marking Rudiger(CD)
- Silva(RW) is pressing Alonso(LB)
- Sterling(LW) is leaving Azpilicueta(RB) free of marking and
moves inside to mark Kante(OM)
- Gundogan(OM) is marking Jorjinho(CM)
- Fernandinho(CM) is marking Barkley(OM)

120. - Sterling like a winger first look to close the pass inside between
the lines. Then, in the moment when Rudiger is passing the ball
to Azpilicueta he attacks him. If, he moves earlier to press
Azpilicueta, then is an option to pass the ball between the lines.
And, if he lates in the pressing, then the fullback will have time
to play forward, so it is very important to have a good timing.

121. - The ball goes to the left fullback. Silva like a right winger goes
to press him. The two central defenders are marked by the
central forward and the offensive midfielder on this side. The
other offensive midfielder marks the central midfielder. The
central midfielder goes to mark the offensive midfielder on the
pressing’s side. The left winger moves inside to cover the
offensive midfielder on his side and leaving the right fullback
free of marking.

122. ● Positioning on the defensive line on long
balls/aerial duels
- Everyone goes to jump in his own zone. The other players
from the defensive line secure the both sides and expecting the
second ball and marking the player in their own zone.

128. ● Positioning on crosses
- On crosses one of the fullbacks is with the player with the
ball to block the cross or to take the ball from the opposite
player. The central defender on his side is positioned in front
of the first post to protect the space there and to mark the
player in this area. The other central defender is positioned
centrally in front of the goal to protect the space and to
mark the player who enters in this zone. The other fullback is
protecting the space on the second post and marks the
player who is going on the second post. The central
midfielder always stays in front of the two central defenders
to protect the space for the back passes.

133. - When the central defender goes out of his position to help
the fullback or to cover the space and the player behind his
back, the the central midfielder will go on his position to
protect the space on the first post. On his place will come the
offensive midfielder or the winger.

135. OFFENSIVE TRANSITION
- They are team that are really dangerous in this segment of the
game. They have fast wingers, central forward and midfielders
who know how to progress the action with an accurate pass
behind the back of the opponent’s defence. After wining the
ball, the first thing is to give pass forward in order to take
advantage of the disorganisation of the opponent. Usually, their
offensive transition are positive(creating a goal opportunity or
scoring).

136. - Zonal defending with the offensive midfielder pressing the
central defender. The central midfielder secure his right side
and the winger his left. The winger intercepts the inside pass
and then took advantage of the disorganisation of the
opponent by giving the ball forward to the central forward who
finished the transition with a goal.

138. - In the previous photos we saw the offensive transition against
Manchester United with Aguero scoring. Very important part
of the transition is the first pass to be forward in order the
opponent to not have time to close the open space. This is
transition against Fulham, when they lose the ball in the
middle and the fullbacks are wide open, so the wingers make
runs in the space between the fullbacks and the central
defenders.

139. - Wining the ball and playing forward to take advantage of the
free space. The winger attacks and search the ball into the free
space between the fullback and the central defender.

141. - In their transition they are taking advantage of the open
space on the sides between the fullbacks who were forward
and the central defenders. Because of that, often they make 3
vs 2 or 4 vs 3 situation in the transitions.

143. - The positive transition against Hoffenhaim. When they have 3
vs 2 situation, centrally against the two central defenders they
have synchronised movements. The player in the middle
without the ball is searching the ball behind the back of one of
the defenders. If the other defender follow his movement the
player on the side remain free. If the defender decides to stay
and to cover the passing line for the other player, then the
player who makes the movement remain free. Practically is
win-win situation.

144. - The same situation and the same movements. The transition
goes directly to the central defenders. The fullbacks and the
midfielders of the other team are out of play. The forward
opens behind the back of the first defender and the second
defender decides to stay to cover the pass for the other player,
so he remains free and receives an assist for a goal.

145. DEFENSIVE TRANSITION
- Guardiola’s team is also very good in the defensive
transition. After loosing the ball, they run to recover it fast
and not giving the opponent time and space to develop their
play. The team almost never consider goals from counter-
attacks because when they lose the ball even in the early
fase of the build up the central part in front of the goal is
secured with the line of three that they create during the
build up.

148. SET PIECES(OFFENSIVE)
- Manchester City is a team which can score from the set pieces
also. They have players who are capable to cross very well and
players who can jump in the box and score. Laporte, Company,
Stones, Aguero are very dangerous on set pieces. They have
some combinations that allowed them to score some goals and
every player knows where should be and where to go. Normally
they attack with five players and sometimes six players in the
box(one-two in front of the gaolkeeper and three players in
group). Two players outside of the box ready to win the second
ball and stop the eventual counter-attack of the opponent. Two
players are staying behind. Sometimes, one player stays near
the taker in order to take one-two players outside of the box
and with that to open space there.

149. ● Corner kick
- They attack with five or six players in the box(in this situation
are five). One player comes near the taker in order to take out
of the box opposite players. In this case we see
Aubameyang(normally jumping in the box) and Ozil(positioned
outside of the box for second balls). Two players are positioned
outside of the box waiting the second ball and ready to stop the
possible counter-attack of the opponent. One or two players
will stay behind.

153. - Combination with making a block in order one player to remain
free in the box. Aguero is stayin in front of the goal. The player
with number three is making block for the player with number
four in order to find the ball free of marking.

154. ● Lateral free kick
- On lateral free kicks they participate with five and sometimes
with six players in the box. The most dangerous player is
Laporte who has scored some goals. He always goes on the
second post. They have some combination with block also.

155. - Laporte(1 and 5) goals from lateral free kick. He is always
going on the second post.

156. - Participating with five players in the box. The players with
number 4 making block for his teammates. In the next photos
they are making blocks on the first and second post in order
players to remain free of marking.

158. ● Throw-in rotations

159. ● Positioning on goal out
- When the opponent is pressing them high on a goal out, the
forward and the wingers often are staying in offside position,
because the goalkeeper has a quality long ball and they aim to
take advantage of the space behind the back of the central
defenders.

161. SET PIECES(DEFENSIVE)
● Corner kick
- They defend the corner kicks with zonal defending with all
the players. If the player who takes the corner is taking the kick
from the right side with the right foot they are positioned
diagonally. If the opponent puts a player in front of the
goalkeeper they don’t mark him in order to not make haos in
front of the goalkeeper.

166. ● Lateral free kick
- One man in the block. The player with number two protects
the line of cross for low balls. Six players in zone going to jump.
Two players(9 and 10) staying in front waiting the second ball.

167. ● Central free kick
- One player in the block. Six players are going to jump. Three
players are staying in front of them waiting the second ball.

169. ● Throw in
- On throw ins the winger on the other side always comes
inside to mark the central midfielder on his side

171. ● Positioning on a goal out
- The wingers are marking the central defenders. The central
forward is marking one of the central midfielders. One of the
offensive midfielder is going to mark the other central
midfielder(if they play with two central midfielders) or the
offensive midfielder who has dropped down. The other
offensive midfielder will stay centrally to ocupate the central
area(marking the offensive midfielder). The central midfielder
will dropp back to create numerical superiority with the
central defenders against the two strikers(or numerical
equaty against the central forward and the two wingers). The
fullbacks will be in balanced position between the opposite
winger and fullback.

174. - When the opponent is playing in a system 3-4-3:
- The wingers and the central forward are marking the three
central defenders
- One of the central midfielders who has dropped down is
marked by the one of the offensive midfielders
- The other offensive midfielder marks the other central
midfielder
- The two fullbacks are marking the opposite fullbacks
- The central midfielder is dropping down to create numerical
equaty with the two central defenders against the two wingers
and striker

175. THANK YOU FOR YOUR
ATTENTION