Football, Tactics | Oleg Braginsky, Alex Brown
Building a competitive team that consistently delivers top results is increasingly challenging, especially with limited financial and player resources. Together with Oleg Braginsky, founder of School of Troubleshooters, and football expert Vlad Burlaka, we analyze Professor’s strategies showcased during Kyiv masterclass.
In August 2024 Ralf Rangnick conducted a workshop, offering a rare glimpse into his revolutionary methods in action. Recognized for transforming the tactical landscape of the game, the manager emphasized the critical role of transition phases, which account for over half of all goals scored.
During the session, he demonstrated practical exercises and strategies embodying his philosophy, showcasing how structured training and high-intensity drills can seamlessly translate into on-field success. These methods, explored in detail throughout article, provide a blueprint for teams striving for excellence.
Introduction
Considering that 55% of all goals are scored during transition phases, it is reasonable to consider this component a key focus in the training process. Based on the exercises presented during the masterclass, several observations can be highlighted regarding the practical application of this approach:
- Warm-up can be carried out in a manner specialized for the direction of the training session, using a huge number of passes in pairs and triples in dynamics, short sprints for 2-5 meters to activate and bring the body under the main work, and drills for attention and concentration.
- Exercise 4v4+3N used in variations selected for specific tasks the head coach sets. For example, there are four goals in the corners of the court: cutback areas of the field, the position of players controlling the ball behind or inside the playing area, the number of touches and other restrictions.
- Drill 4v4+3N can be interpreted as a situation on a specific field area at each moment of the game and apply the patterns developed in training to recognize and implement them on the field.
- Positional games, such as 9v9, with neutral players for three goals or three zones, allow players to expand their arsenal of combinations based on 4v4 or 7v4 by adding elements and constraints inherented in the real game situation, thus solidifying the basic patterns in their heads.
- The basis considers applying continuity principle in transitions from defense to attack and vice versa, where each player, regardless of position, participates in pressing and counterattack with an emphasis on verticalization (the fastest possible delivery of the ball to the final third).
- Key components of such work are intensity and concentration in switching when the situation on the field changes.
Let’s dive into the practical training session part:
Transition drill in 4x4+3 neutral players
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Applied with conditions for both sides, ball control in attack with finishing after ten passes without a loss and, at the same time, instant scoring in defense immediately after taking the ball. Structure can be modified by changing the rules, increasing work intensity, or introducing additional variables to complicate or simplify game situations. The possession threshold for the case was lowered from 10 to 8 passes. |
Technical:
- developing finishing and dribbling skills in dynamics
- constant pressing and screening passes
- improving agility and coordination skills
- rising quality of short passing.
Tactical:
- enhancing “one-two” and “third man” concepts
- improving speed of decisions in small spaces
- constant passing line creation
- utilizing overload situations.
Physical:
- work on increasing speed endurance
- dynamic strength development.
Psychological:
- enhancing team communication skills under the pressure
- constant focus every single second during active phase
- aggressive small group mentality during transitions.
“Deep runs” drill in 9v9+2 neutral players with three goalkeepers
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Provided attacking team variation in ball possession with a three-player advantage (two neutrals and the goalkeeper) with the condition of offside when attempting to attack the far goal. Condition of one point for scoring in the near goals and three points for realizing an attack in the far, players ignoring common sense tried to attack. Team did not use numerical superiority and did not create a positional advantage; the game was not focused on verticalization. |
Technical:
- individual ball handling technique under pressure in a small area
- improving quality of short and medium range passing
- developing screening, cutting passes, dribbling skills.
Tactical:
- utilizing real-time game overload situations on the areas all over the field
- development of group and team tactical interactions
- improving speed of decisions in small spaces
- constant passing line creation.
Physical:
- developing strength and explosive speed
- maintaining endurance.
Psychological:
- constant focus on every second of the game in transition phases
- improving communication in real-life situations
- aggressive teams’ mentality.
“Three zones” drill in 9v9+2 neutral players with two goalkeepers
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The essential exercise was adopted as close to the game, with four central midfielders and two neutral additional players as attacking options. The pitch is divided into three zones with limitations, working in the second one using only vertical forward passes except a back pass. |
Technical:
- individual ball handling technique under the pressure in a small area of the pitch
- improving screening and cutting passes in the midfield and final third
- developing dribbling skills to create a positional advantage on wings
- increasing quality of mostly short passing.
Tactical:
- improving speed of decisions in real-time game situation
- developing team tactical interactions in transition phases
- constant passing line creation in the midfield
- creating a variety of overloads play.
Physical:
- developing strength and explosive speed
- increasing endurance.
Psychological:
- improving group and team communication in real game situations
- exceptionally aggressive teams’ mentality during transitions
- constant focus on every second of play in transition phases.
Conclusions
The proposed training session highlighted the need for significant improvements in players' individual, group and team performance in Ukrainian academies, particularly in transition phases.
Emphasis was placed on creating goal-scoring opportunities efficiently, avoiding unnecessary resource usage on prolonged build-ups involving square and backward passes with multiple touches.
Exercises revealed players struggle to execute three-on-two, four-on-two, or even five-on-two scenarios in the final third effectively. A lack of tactical awareness was evident, with players unaccustomed to analyze game situations in real-time and making optimal decisions to enhance performance quality.
An essential aspect of the session was the detailed feedback provided by Ralf Rangnick and his coaching team. They offered clear guidance on training session, explaining every element's purposes, rules, and potential game applications.
However, despite the detailed instructions, the quality of execution often fell short, limiting the players' ability to implement the intended strategies. Nonetheless, the effort and enthusiasm of the young players were apparent throughout.
The session concluded with a structured training plan tailored to the youth team. The workshop emphasized key aspects of the game, statistical parameters (55% / 30% / 15%), and fundamental principles (such as the 8- and 10-second rules), providing a solid foundation for future development.