This is part 3 of our Game Strategies Series.

How Chile Played under coach Marcelo Bielsa

One of the National teams to play this way was Chile with Marcelo Bielsa in 2010. This was the basic set up which can be seen as a 1-3-1-3-3 or a 1-3-3-1-3 or 1-3-diamond-3 (1-3-1-2-1-3). Pep Guardiola formerly of BARCELONA experiments with Bayern Munich at times using this system philosophy; as well as other systems of play also now; so with this in mind I believe it is time to discuss this method of play in full; as top coaches like him start to look at how it works. Guardiola is one of the top managers in the world of soccer and at the same time is a great admirer of Bielsa so I believe it is time to look at this system of play that both employ. Perhaps this is the future of Soccer?

How Bayern Munich sometimes Play under Pep Guardiola

Note the fullbacks / WING BACKS OF Bayern tuck in to overload the center and middle of the field (Thiago and Lahm).

One can also have these two players touchline wide when in possession to spread out the midfield and open up spaces between opponents to play through.

The same can apply to right and left center backs breaking touchline wide also so we have 3 players in wide areas on both sides of the field in possession of the ball.

Staying this way with More Detail

This is the defending team shape (defending start position) of a 1-3-3-1-3. The positioning of the wing fullbacks defensively is somewhat alien to most set ups in other formations and you must explain and show in detail to your players how this works and why.

The players in our system of play

This is the attacking team shape (attacking “start position”) for a 1-3-3-1-3. Zone 14 is the area between the opponents back three or four and their midfield..

This is the attacking team shape now possibly a 1-2-3-2-3 depending on the moment. This can also be the attacking team shape we change to when we are chasing a game perhaps losing 1-0 and wanting to be more positive in attack. So this now would be the start position.

Changing the team shape if we lose the ball from the attacking set up

Let's say we passed the ball forward and lost it on the edge of the opponents penalty area. Immediately both fullbacks tuck inside to offer to fill central spaces and overload the area. (7) presses INSIDE towards (9) and (10).

Always try to force the ball INSIDE in the attacking and middle thirds to where our numbers are.

Forcing the ball inside to our strength in numbers

Even in a wide position, based on the pressing player (7) showing the ball inside both wing fullbacks tuck inside because the ball is being forced into the central areas.

Forcing the ball wide and adjustment of defenders

(7) Cannot get positioned quickly enough to force the ball inside so forces wide and this means some adjustment behind him or her for the right wing fullback and the right center back especially.

NOTE: (2) and (5) positional changes.

Interchange and rotation

Movements up front have been effected creating a diamond of support for striker 9 who becomes 10 and so on. These movements will be described in much more detail later.

Potential interchange movements

Great rotation between players should cause a lot of confusion in the opponents defending set up. We can establish some set routines initially using a situation to set it off (6 gets the ball to feet with time for example). Like a set play in open play to teach the players simply.

A preferred Phase Five when losing the ball: A Full Team Press

We may press up from the back too leaving opponents offside; should they get a chance of a counterattack. Defenders must decide in a split second which course of action they take.