Annual training plan · U14–U23

Week 34: 4-3-3 – Using the Wingers

3 complete training sessions with 12 drills – created by licensed coaches. Open every drill in the easy2coach web app with one click.

This week’s focus

On paper, the 4-3-3 is a very attacking system and, in top-level football, typical of teams with very strong dribblers on the flanks. In recent years, almost every Champions League winner has played most of their matches in a 4-3-3. For example, last season Liverpool FC almost always played with Salah and Mané as wide forwards, and in the 2014/15 season FC Barcelona won the final against Juventus with Neymar and Messi as wide forwards.

The aim of this training week is to get to know attacking in a 4-3-3. When playing with 3 forwards, the two wingers can play in the half-space or on the touchline, depending on the instructions. In midfield, the centre is very compactly occupied with a holding midfielder and 2 number eights.

If the 4-3-3 is played with wide forwards staying wide, the flanks are doubled up and the opposition line is pulled apart. This makes it easier for the wide forwards, but also for the ball-side number eight, to run into the gaps. In addition, the wide position helps the winger to pick up more speed after receiving a pass and to win a 1 vs 1 against the opposing full-back.

Another way the wide forwards can shape the game is by dropping into midfield. This opens the flank for the ball-side number eight or the full-back. If, however, the opposing full-back does not follow the winger, the winger can turn in front of the back four after receiving a pass.

In the build-up, the holding midfielder usually has the task of showing for the ball behind the opposing strikers. Against a 4-4-2 he is often unmarked, because the opponent's two central midfielders often focus on the two number eights.

Last week introduced the dropping holding midfielder. This can also be used very well in a 4-3-3 to make your own game more flexible. The defensive midfielder drops between the centre-backs. The full-backs push up level with the number eights. This forms a line of four in midfield. In this case, the wide forwards play in the half-space. So the 4-3-3 becomes a 3-4-3. A solution that can be used against 2 strikers when the centre-backs cannot find productive solutions in the build-up.

Author Luis Österlein

Session 1

4 drills

The first session on attacking in the 4-3-3 is about bringing the wide forwards into play. It covers both passes in behind the back four and passes in front of the last line. Depending on whether the wide forward is operating on the wing or in the half-space, different approaches arise.

Against a 4-4-2, the wide forwards can very easily be found in the half-space by the centre-backs. The wide forward can also move in from the wide position into the half-space and does not have to stay there all the time. If the winger also comes towards the centre-back and drags the opposing full-back along, the flank opens up for the ball-side number eight or the full-back. If the opposing full-back stays in the line, the winger can turn after receiving a pass.

When playing against an opponent in a 4-4-2 with a midfield diamond, the overload on the wing can be exploited. A quick switch of play from full-back to full-back can already be enough for this. The full-backs can then easily play the ball down the line to the winger positioned wide. The wide forward should ideally be brought into play in an open body position so as to be able to pick up speed immediately for a 1 vs 1.

When playing with a 4-3-3 against a 4-3-3, diagonal lofted balls from the centre-backs to the far-side wide forward are particularly suitable. However, this option is only covered in the training session after next.

If the winger is to be played directly in behind, this can be done very well with a pass through the gap. If, for example, a number eight has the ball, the winger can move from the wide position parallel to the line towards the centre of the pitch. The number eight can now pass through the channel between the opposing centre-back and full-back. As the pass is played, the winger sets off in behind.

If one of the two wingers manages to break through on the wing with a dribble or a pass in behind, it is important that the dangerous spaces in front of goal are attacked. The far-side wide forward should definitely join in and attack the far post, while the centre-forward can move towards the near post. One number eight can also join the run. The second number eight operates in the cut-back area.

Coaching points for this session
  • Winger comes short and draws the full-back out of the line: number eight or full-back sets off in behind
  • Winger: get out of the cover shadow into the half-space or out wide
  • Wide forward: 1st touch as open to the direction of play as possible. Pick up speed immediately and dribble straight at the opponent
  • Attack both posts and the cut-back area. The far-side wide forward always makes a run in too
  • For a pass in behind, move parallel to the line from the wide position and set off in behind as the pass is played
Drill 1

Warm-Up: Coordination Training

20 min

First the players jog three easy laps through the course. Then the stations are completed as follows:

  1. Jump over the cross of poles.
  2. Over the hurdles with two contacts.
  3. Quick, short side steps past the angled poles — there and back.
  4. Through the hurdles with two contacts.
  5. Prescribed exercise through the agility ladder.
  6. Three knee lifts each over the medium-high hurdles.
  7. Jumps over the small hurdles and then to the side.

Variations: Change regularly at the jump hurdles and at the agility ladder.

  • Agility ladder: two contacts forwards and sideways; three contacts forwards; first one contact left, then two contacts in the square, then one contact right; two contacts with heel flicks or a knee lift of the right or left foot respectively; with two contacts two squares forwards and one back again.
  • Jump hurdles: with an intermediate jump, one-footed take-off, hold the one-footed landing briefly, sideways jumps.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: A course with seven stations made up of poles, hurdles, an agility ladder and cones.

Equipment: 10 poles, 11 hurdles, 1 agility ladder and 3 cones.

Players: The players go through the course one after another.

Coaching points

Coaching Points

Have variations carried out regularly at the jump hurdles and the agility ladder.

  • Agility ladder: 2 contacts forwards and sideways, 3 contacts forwards, first 1 contact left, then 2 contacts in the square, then 1 contact right, 2 contacts, always doing heel flicks or a knee lift with the right/left foot, with 2 contacts 2 squares, then 1 back again
  • Jump hurdles: with an intermediate jump, one-footed take-off, hold the one-footed landing briefly, sideways jumps
Drill 2

Shooting Course I

20 min35 x 20 metres

Group A: The player dribbles through the cone course in a slalom, starting to the left of the cone with the left inside of the foot and running with the ball using both feet — to the right of the cone with the right foot, to the left of the cone with the left. The shot at goal is curled with the right foot.

Group B 1: The player performs a jump feint in front of the cone and finishes: taking the ball with the right inside of the foot to the left past the cone, playing it to the right with the right outside of the foot behind the cone and shooting at the full-size goal with the inside of the foot or with the laces. The same sequence of movements is possible the other way round with the left foot.

Group B 2: The player dribbles around the cones with a free choice of foot and shoots with the right foot.

Group C: The player dribbles through the cone course in a slalom, starting to the right of the cone with the left outside of the foot and running with the ball using both feet — to the right of the cone with the left foot, to the left of the cone with the right. The shot at goal is curled with the left foot.

The groups either stay at one station for a set period of time or change clockwise after each shot at goal. If there is no goalkeeper, the shooter goes in goal after every shot that is not scored.

Note: A bet with the group works well as motivation, for example “You will not manage ten goals in three minutes” — the loser does 15 press-ups. A bet between the goalkeeper and the outfield players is equally possible.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: A shooting course with three groups next to each other. Group A and Group C each set up a slalom of 6 cones that leads to a mini goal. Group B in the middle has two lanes, B1 and B2, with 3 cones each; both lead to the full-size goal.

Equipment: 18 cones, 2 mini goals and 1 full-size goal.

Players: The players line up with their ball at each lane. The full-size goal is occupied by a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • The player dribbles through the slalom course at high speed.
  • The body feint is executed cleanly; the first touch and taking the ball in stride are one touch each.
  • Demand different shooting techniques: inside of the foot, laces, outside of the foot, inner instep and curling the ball.
  • Practise shooting with both feet.
  • Pay attention to the correct body position.
  • Do not stop before finishing, but shoot out of the running movement.
Drill 3

5 vs 3 + Wide Forwards

20 minHalf a pitch
  • In the semicircle the red team plays 5 vs 3 against the blue team. The red players have two touches, the blue players try to win the ball.
  • If the blue players win the ball, they pass it immediately towards the goal into the path of one of the two blue wide forwards.
  • As soon as the pass has been played, the players from the semicircle join the attack: the three blue players become attackers, the red team becomes the defending team. The second winger joins in as well, so that 5 vs 5 is played.
  • After a certain time Team Red and Team Blue swap positions.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: There is one goal on the goal line.

Equipment: 1 goal, at least 5 bibs and several balls.

Players: A goalkeeper goes in goal. Two teams of five are formed — Red and Blue. The five red players go into the semicircle at the halfway line together with three blue players. Of the two remaining blue players, one lines up on the left touchline and the other on the right touchline, on the halfway line.

Coaching points
  • The three players in the minority in the semicircle become attacking players immediately on winning the ball.
  • The pass is played firmly towards the corner of the penalty area.
  • The wide players stay focused and look for the quickest route to goal.
  • The players in possession in the semicircle control the ball and always have a central passing option in the middle.
  • On losing possession they sprint back to the goal immediately and try to stop the attack.
Drill 4

Playing in Behind with Through-Ball Zones

30 minFull pitch
  • The game is 9 vs 9 or 10 vs 10 between the through-ball zones.
  • To finish, balls may be played into the through-ball zone; the striker running in then plays 1 vs 1 against the goalkeeper.
  • The defending team may no longer intervene at that point and can only prevent the through ball.

Variations:

  • One defender may follow into the through-ball zone.
  • For an unpressured build-up, the two centre-backs may go into their own through-ball zone.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four tall cones mark out the through-ball zones; there is a goal at each end.

Equipment: 4 tall cones, 2 goals and several balls.

Players: Two teams playing 9 vs 9 or 10 vs 10 as well as two goalkeepers.

Coaching points
  • Watch for offside. In drills with play in behind, it is a good idea for a coach to take up a position in line with the last defenders — from there offside positions can be spotted well and the movements of the strikers can be coached.
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Session 2

4 drills

Today's session is about the 4-3-3 with wide forwards who operate in the half-space. To occupy the wings sufficiently in depth as well, the full-backs play relatively high. In possession, the system can also very easily be converted into a 3-4-3 by the holding midfielder dropping in between the two centre-backs.

Playing with wide forwards in the half-space is particularly suitable against opponents in a 4-4-2. The centre-back can very easily find the wide forward in the gap between the opposition's wide and central midfielders. It is important that the ball-side full-back and number eight move up quickly so that they can be brought into play with a lay-off, facing the direction of play.

To make the gap in the half-space playable, it is important that the ball-side number eight does not run into it. Instead, the number eight should tie up the opposition's ball-side central midfielder in the centre.

If the wide midfielder holds the half-space for a very long time in order to close it, the ball-side full-back can be brought into play very effectively. The full-back should be at least level with the opposition's midfield line and take the ball forward in the direction of play with the first touch and in an open body position.

Another advantage of the 4-3-3 with wide forwards in the half-space is that the opposing back four has no clear marking assignments. The opposing centre-backs and full-backs are therefore forced again and again to hand over the wide forwards. The opponent's two centre-backs also repeatedly have to pass responsibility for the centre-forward on to the player next to them. To exploit this, the 3 attackers can repeatedly move into the gaps in the last line quite deliberately.

Coaching points for this session
  • Number eight: do not run into the half-space, so as to open up a gap
  • Number eight and full-back: after a forward ball, move up immediately for a lay-off
  • Opponent behind: hold the ball up with the foot furthest from the opponent or lay it off
  • Full-back: play high, so as to beat the midfield line with 1 touch
  • 3 strikers: move into the gaps in the opposition back four
Drill 1

Passing Drill Circle

20 minDepending on the group size and the training objective

The work time is one to two minutes per variation; after that the players from the centre swap with the outside players.

  1. The central player moves towards any outside player and calls for the ball for a one-two; then that player breaks away to another outside player and again calls for the ball for a one-two.
  2. The central player moves towards any outside player, calls for the ball, receives it and turns. This is followed by dribbling at speed over five to six metres with the ball kept close — one touch per step, both feet are trained — and a powerful pass back to the outside player the ball came from. After that the central player immediately turns to another outside player.
  3. As in the second variation, but with a final powerful pass to a different outside player.

Note: If the players take too long in the third variation to find an outside passing option, two to three balls are taken out of the game. The rounds stay short but intensive.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark a circle.

Equipment: Cones and one ball per outside player.

Players: The team is divided into two groups. One group spreads out around the circle, each with a ball, the second group stands inside the circle.

Coaching points
  • Call for the ball verbally.
  • Establish eye contact.
  • Carry out the actions with the ball at a high, match-realistic tempo.
Drill 2

Finishing and Passing Combination

20 minHalf a pitch
  • Player A plays a pass to player B.
  • Player B lays the ball off first time.
  • Player A passes to player C.
  • Player C dribbles towards the goal line and crosses to player B.
  • Afterwards player A moves to B's position, player B to C's and player C to A's.
  • The drill is carried out alternately down the left and the right.

Variations: A far-side wide player makes a run in as well, attacking the far post, with player B attacking the near post.

Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the positions; there is a goal at one end.

Equipment: Cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Players A, B and C; plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Lay the ball off with the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • Play the pass to player C's front foot or into player C's run.
  • Player C takes the ball straight into the movement.
  • Player B first drops away to the far side and then makes a diagonal run towards the goal and the crosser.
  • Player B does not make the run too early.
Drill 3

Central Attack from a 4 3 3

25 min
  • The holding midfielder starts the play with a pass to one of the three forwards.
  • The forwards try to score a goal.
  • If the defenders win the ball, they finish into the mini goals as quickly as possible.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Cones mark the playing area; there are three mini goals at one side and a goal at the other end.

Equipment: 3 mini goals, 1 goal, cones and several balls.

Players: Two groups of four — one holding midfielder and three forwards against four defenders; plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Take the ball with the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • Do so in a sideways-on position to the opponent in order to keep the distance between ball and opponent as large as possible.
  • In this sideways-on position the front of the body faces the centre, so that the ball can be taken infield.
  • Finish attacks off promptly.
Drill 4

Small-Sided Game Wing

25 minHalf a pitch
  • It is played as a free game, 8 vs 7.
  • One team plays with a back four and a midfield three and tries to counter-attack over the halfway line.
  • The other team starts the game after a pass from the coach and plays with a midfield four and three attackers.
  • Their aim is to finish on goal.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Tall cones mark the pitch; there is a goal at one end.

Equipment: Tall cones, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: One team with eight players against one team with seven players; plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • The striker takes the ball with the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • The striker does so in a sideways-on position to the opponent in order to keep the distance between ball and opponent as large as possible.
  • In this position the front of the body faces the centre, so that the ball can be taken infield.
  • Attacks are finished off promptly.
  • The number eight pushes up immediately after a ball in behind in order to be available for a pass.
  • The number eight holds the centre and ties up opponents in order to open up the passing lane into the half-space.

Session 3

4 drills

Another way of bringing the wide forwards into play in the 4-3-3 is diagonal lofted balls. The lofted ball can be played in behind the defence or out wide.

The former is an option particularly against opponents positioned high up the pitch. The lofted ball is best played in behind the opposing full-back. So that the wide forward actually gets to the ball first, they should already be moving before the pass. To do this, the player starts from a wide position and moves parallel to the opposing back four. As soon as the lofted ball is played, the winger sets off in behind. If the ball has been brought under control quickly, it is often possible to cut across the opposing full-back's path and head straight for goal.

Lofted balls out wide are particularly suitable when the opposition's line shifts a long way across to one side in order to create an overload near the ball and make the space very tight. In such match situations, switches of play are an effective way of escaping the pressure and preparing an attack down the other side. What matters with switches of play is quick execution, which can also be achieved with lofted balls. If play is switched successfully with a diagonal lofted ball, no time must be lost in using the space gained. To do this, the wide forward must quickly bring the ball down, pick up speed and dribble straight forward.

Coaching points for this session
  • Full-backs and centre-backs: adjust positions immediately when the holding midfielder drops
  • Form a triangle
  • Dribble forward boldly but not hastily
  • Firm and accurate passing
  • Pass to the front foot of the dropping holding midfielder
  • Take the ball in your stride immediately
  • Remaining players: make the game deep
Drill 1

Passing + Coordination

15 min
  • Player A passes straight to player B.
  • Player B passes diagonally to player C.
  • Player C passes straight to player D.
  • Player D plays the ball diagonally back to player A's starting position, and the sequence begins again.
  • The players follow their passes.

Variations:

  • First it is played with two touches. If the players have no difficulties, the drill can be carried out with two balls and with one-touch passing.
  • Perform running technique drills on the diagonal running paths.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four cones mark a square.

Equipment: 4 cones and one to two balls.

Players: The players spread out evenly at the four cones.

Coaching points
  • As soon as two balls are used, make sure not to get in each other's way on the diagonal running and passing lanes.
  • Support each other with mutual coaching.
Drill 2

2 vs 2 on the Wing

25 min15 x 25 metres
  • In the marked area 2 vs 2 is played until a goal is scored.
  • The aim is to dribble through one of the two cone goals.
  • If the 2 vs 2 lasts longer than one to two minutes, or if a team has dribbled through a cone goal, the next two teams take their turn.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Red cones mark the playing area, yellow ones the dribbling gates.

Equipment: Cones in two colours and several balls.

Players: Several teams of two.

Drill 3

Attacking in a 4-3-3

25 minHalf a pitch

All three variations are carried out alternately. The players decide for themselves which action they start; however, it must be a different action every time.

  1. The number eight plays a pass to the full-back. The full-back plays the ball on to the wide forward in the half-space and runs in behind. The wide forward plays it back to the full-back, who delivers a cross. The centre-forward and the far-side wide forward make runs in, the ball-side wide forward attacks the pull-back zone.
  2. The number eight plays a one-two with the wide forward around the dummy in the centre and finishes immediately afterwards.
  3. The number eight passes to the centre-forward, who plays the ball first time into the wide forward's run; the wide forward finishes.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Four dummies represent opponents; there is a goal at one end.

Equipment: 4 dummies, 1 goal and several balls.

Players: Seven attackers and two defenders; with more players the positions rotate. Plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • In all variations, pay attention to a match-realistic tempo.
  • In the first variation, run in behind with pace, do not make the run in too early and attack the near post, the far post and the pull-back zone; play the cross first time or at the latest with the second touch.
  • In the second variation, dribble at the dummy in order to tie it up, and carry out an explosive change of pace immediately after passing.
  • In the second variation the centre-forward plays the ball with the foot furthest from the opponent.
  • In the third variation, pass firmly to the centre-forward; the centre-forward plays the ball on with the foot furthest from the opponent.
Drill 4

Positional Training Long Ball to the Wing 4 3 3

25 min
  • The game starts with the red holding midfielders in possession.
  • Team Red's aim is to dribble or pass into the wing zone.
  • After six passes at the latest, Team Red must play a diagonal ball into the wing zone.
  • If Team Blue wins the ball, it can score into a mini goal.
Equipment & set-up

Pitch: Two cones mark the wing zone; there is a goal at one end and three mini goals on the opposite side.

Equipment: 1 goal, 3 mini goals, 2 cones and several balls.

Players: Team Red attacking with two holding midfielders and one wide forward, Team Blue defending; plus a goalkeeper.

Coaching points
  • Where possible, play lofted balls against the direction of the shift.
  • Make the game wide and deep.
  • The wide forward is already moving before the lofted ball.
  • Play the lofted ball in behind the opposing full-back.
  • Play lofted balls with backspin and without swerve.
  • After a pass, dribble or lofted ball into the end zone, get to the finish promptly.
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