Week 33: Back Three – Build-Up in a 3-5-2

Bypassing the opponent's first line in the build-up is generally somewhat easier with 3 centre-backs than with 2 centre-backs. However, this means your own team loses 1 player in the following lines, who has been sacrificed for building up play with 3 centre-backs.

That is why it is all the better if one of the 3 centre-backs manages to dribble at the next line. Especially when the opponent presses with 2 or even only 1 striker. If, on the other hand, the opposing team plays with 3 strikers, dribbling at the midfield is almost impossible without winning a direct 1 vs 1. But this is not necessary either when 3 centre-backs are faced with 3 strikers in the build-up. Because if the line is simply bypassed in this case, the numbers are still equal.

Dribbling at the opposition midfield is not a difficult task against 1 striker. Against 2 strikers, however, it becomes much more difficult, especially if they show a great willingness to run when out of possession. The centre-backs are faced with the following demands:

• Good awareness, in order to be able to dribble at the next line safely and find a free team-mate at the right moment.
• Secure dribbling, in order to stay calm when dribbling at the line
• Firm and accurate passing, in order to exploit an overload.
• Taking the ball in stride securely, in order to be able to dribble past the strikers after quick ball circulation.
• Game understanding: the wide centre-backs must find the right depth in order to be safely available for a pass, but also create the opportunity to dribble past the opponent's two strikers.

Today's session trains playing with a dropping holding midfielder (dynamic back three). Depending on the situation, the holding midfielder drops in between the two centre-backs. For example, before a quick switch of play or to give the team's play more security in the build-up. The dropping holding midfielder operates slightly deeper than the two centre-backs and forms a triangle with them. It is also important that, after dropping, the holding midfielder immediately turns to look in the direction of play. If the holding midfielder does not do this, your own team can get into difficulties unnecessarily.

When the holding midfielder drops, the position of the centre-backs and full-backs also changes. The centre-backs now play slightly wider. Not on the touchline, however, but rather in the half-space or between the half-space and the flank. The full-backs push high to tie up opponents in depth. This means they are no longer directly involved in the build-up. Building up play would become too narrow if the full-backs did not push high and drag opponents with them.

As in the last training session, this time too the focus is on playing with the dropping holding midfielder. In this session, however, the holding midfielder does not drop in between the centre-backs, but alongside the two central defenders.

The effect, however, is identical. The build-up is briefly extended by one player in the first line in order to be able to play past or dribble past 2 opposing attackers safely. If you want to play with dropping holding midfielders who drop in alongside the 2 centre-backs, a 4-2-3-1 is particularly suitable. The far-side holding midfielder can drop in alongside the two centre-backs during the switch of play. If the holding midfielder then succeeds in dribbling past the opponent's two strikers, the second holding midfielder provides cover in the centre in front of the two centre-backs.

However, to be able to exploit the overload in the 3 vs 2, it is important that the remaining players push high in order to tie up as many opponents as possible. The full-backs basically hold the width and now play even higher. The two wide midfielders therefore tuck in slightly into the half-space. They play level with the last line. This creates space for the 2 centre-backs and the two holding midfielders to exploit this overload.