Defending 1v1 with: Josh Acheampong

Footwork!

A few notes on Josh Acheampong’s benchmark 1v1 defending vs Brentford B in the finla pre-season game for Chelsea Development team.

Also mentioned here:

Can't tell apart players from "tactics"

Football is "perception-action" and identifying matchups.

- for the fullback; is the winger into feet or space; is the 9 keen to run the channel.

- for the winger: is the fullback keen to get tight, or leave space and stay narrow.

Ultimately, the best answer isn't "brainless man marking" nor "theoretical zonal distance by the book". But floating between the two to discourage two options (into space/feet).

For that, you need good footballers: - athletes who can cover ground (speed, change of direction), and who can process information very quickly.

A trash fullback will get skinned, opponents can smell blood reglardles whether tacticos can or not.

At a level good enough where fullbacks can disguise intent, can't take a bait before the pass is played.

Reaction time when the ball pops off the fullback's foot is key You're quick / read it quickly, or can't. Winger not really super well positioned to receive, but Acheampong triggered his closing down movement.

Acheampong's closing down aims at protecting the line between the goal and the ball. This is elementary defensive basics for debutant footballers btw. Not astrophysics

Push on the right leg, cut towards his left by opening his left foot to arc the run. Most average defenders do it the other way round , go for the ball (ball watching) then end up level and wrong side, get beaten on the first touch and clip the winger

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The aim is to squeeze in as quick as possible (1), and decelerate before the winger has a positive first touch. Decelerating means balance backwards, land on the heels to slow down momentum (2)

Then tilt on toes to start jockeying (3)

This is a timeline of events to align with what the opponent does. An average defender will do these things. Just late because they're slow as fuck, and can't process information. That's why they're one stage late, at the (2) stage when the winger takes them on already. And fall over like a roly-poly.

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As for jockeying, keep in mind the yellow line (ball-goal) previously. Good defenders don't need a GPS, they've enough cognitive cues (lines, time it took to reach the winger) to always stay on this line. Whilst they're processing what a chaotic winger (and possibly other runners) does.

On toes, narrow feet, shoulders over feet, eyes ONLY on the ball. Shoulders, eyes, mouth noises, arms, hips can be deceiving cues to blank out. Feet and the ball aren't. Expertise is to only account for relevant cues in the environment (lifeguards, matchday stewart, your nan chosing fruit and veg on the stall).

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Balance tilting forwards makes it easier to lunge forward to try to nick the ball Sprinting backwards, diagonally, on that specific (goal-ball) line and doing it without thinking and tangling feet is very good. Not every fullback does it Slightly behind? Guess where the tackling right foot lands? Keeping narrow feet is important to re-adjust

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Narrow feet aim at preventing nutmegs, obviously. But mostly to be able to kickstart from any position. Winger was deceptive enough to hide the moment he'd knock past.

The narrower the feet are, the easier it is to push with the farthest leg (the one inside) to keep up. Ideally you want: - right leg push (2) - left leg step (3) - right foot tackle (possible 4 if the ball is at reach) That's 3 steps - left leg push - right foot step - left foot step (don't tackle, it's a foul) - right foot tackle it's 4 steps

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Football isn't a game for

"elbows out" doesn't mean knocking out the winger, but get the arm in front.

The taller you are, the smaller the angle is and the easier it is to maintain. This is a worthwile criteria, beyond set pieces, height fetish and NBA mock draft lineups

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Winger "tapping" the defender's arm is a classic, Josh dodges it, defender realizes it so immediately adapts by pulling his shorts/shirt down (and not away) If you wonder why Gary Neville, Azpilicueta who're slower, tuck in shirts, it's because it's harder to pull.

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That's a "shirt pull" blind side of both ref and AR (right side of the attack) Josh kept his arm in front, and even locks it Then it's about getting in front Josh's right leg is closer to the ball than the wingers' left, he's also taller which means it's easier to get in front

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Winger still gets the touch first, but Josh is the one who's shoulders over the trajectory of the ball As long as both players are in position to challenge legitimately for the ball, it's not a foul. winger gets knocked off the ball, and tries to bring down pulling the shirt

Decent defenders would tackle it for a throw in, or tackle it for a fluke deflection and goalkick. Usually height is inversely correlated to defending on the ground for fullbacks. (= taller guys struggle) Not at Cobham Bless the winger for trying every trick too

TL;DR - protect the goal and close down; arc the run

• - decelerate before the wingers' first touch

• - tilt on toes when/just before he is

• - narrow jockeying eyes on the ball, only cue that matters

• - stay on the imaginary ball-goal line

• - close feet to be able to push at any moment

• - slide and keep the arm in front

• - get the leg in front / take over the trajectory railtrack