Man-marking or zonal defence? A quick test for the build-up

In my previous post about one-to-one video sessions, one of the filters for choosing clips was the sub-phase and what the opponent does. Today I am expanding on that second part. When the opponent defends, I always distinguish two situations: man-marking (1v1) or zonal defence. I will show you my quick test - how to recognise it during a match - and two ways to build up play: one against a zonal defence, another against man-marking.

Man-marking or zonal defence - why this question matters

Mid build-up against man-marking is something completely different from mid build-up against a zonal defence. Your team's structure can stay the same, while the players' actions change dramatically: who is free, where the space is and which runs make sense.

That is why, when I analyse the build-up, I rarely look at the whole formation. I look at the structures within it - for example our 3+2 in the build-up against three opposing players pressing - and at whether the opponent is marking or defending zonally.

You will find the full list of sub-phases I use, and the Barcelona - PSG action in which PSG man-marked even in a low block, in my post Sub-phases of play (with the clip).

Quick test: how to recognise man-marking and zonal defence

I do not need to watch the whole action to know what I am dealing with. One look in the right place is enough.

Look at the opponent's back line

Count the opponent's defenders against our forwards. If the opponent has one extra player at the back - for example two centre-backs against our one striker - they are defending zonally, and we have at least one extra player in the build-up.

If the back line is even and someone is marking our striker 1v1 with no cover, it is probably man-marking all over the pitch. Then there is a lot of space in P2.

Look away from the ball

It is usually chaotic near the ball. That is why I look at the far side - if it is 1v1 there, it is 1v1 at the ball too. It is best to look from the most static place, the furthest from the ball.

Remember the opponent can change it

If the opponent changes the way they defend, our way of playing in that sub-phase changes - even if your structure stays the same. For example, the player who was free a moment ago (and whose task was to position himself diagonally, scan and so on) is now constantly marked, so the solutions have to be different too (losing the marker, playing under pressure).

Building up against a zonal defence: find the free man

Against a zonal defence the opponent has one extra player at the back, so one of our players in the build-up is free. My order: free man → P2 → P3. P2 is the space between the opponent's midfield and defensive lines, P3 is the space behind the defensive line.

The free man has to be active - create a passing line, not wait. This is where the follow press helps: a midfielder moves right behind the pressing opponent, so that the presser finds it hard to step out to him. At the right moment he breaks away or shows to one side or the other - and he is free to receive.

Once the ball is in P2, we create the advantage by attacking space: one player runs towards the ball, another away from it, and a third runs in behind. The goal: get into P3.

When it does not work, I check three things:

• do the players recognise the sub-phase - against a zonal defence there are free zones, so there is no reason to panic with a long ball,
• is the free man active and creating a passing line,
• are there opposite movements in P3 when the ball is open in P2 (the player on the ball can play forward).

Building up against man-marking: you create space with runs

Against man-marking there is no free man - everyone has his opponent. But when everyone marks "their own player", some space becomes very big, usually P2. You have to open it and use it.

Ways to gain an advantage against man-marking:

• dragging and compensating runs - one player drops to receive and pulls his defender with him, another runs into his place,
• swapping positions - one goes higher to take an opponent away, the other drops lower,
• dropping to play in a triangle,
• dribbling and losing the marker - to create even a little free space.

On top of that, the third-man combination: the number 9 drops and pulls a centre-back with him, and the ball goes to the number 10. In my view, that is the main thing coaches look for against 1v1 pressing.

Questions I ask myself when the opponent man-marks:

• Do the strikers know they are 1v1 and that they are key?
• Do they drop to receive at the right moment?
• Does the player on the ball have his head up and see the options further away? Players often see only the nearest ones.
• Did the defender follow the striker who dropped? If not - play straight into the striker. If yes - is someone running into the space he left?

And watch out for the situation where everyone goes to the ball, everyone is close and nobody attacks the space behind the opponent.

That is how Barcelona scored against PSG in the action I broke down in the sub-phases post: two dragging runs took the defenders away, and a player from the second line ran into the free space.

What I change when the build-up does not work

Changing the structure is my last step. My order:

• Actions within the current structure - above all, distances. Shorter against a strong press.
• Follow press by the midfielders.
• Changing the structure - for example the number 6 drops and 3+2 becomes 4+1. That gives the player on the ball an extra second to lift his head.

I give tips through questions, not ready answers. For example: "The space is in P2 - what can you do to use it?". Players sometimes do not see what the structure is - and this is exactly where the coach helps.

Summary

Before you assess your team's build-up, check what it is playing against. One look at the opponent's back line and at the far side is usually enough. Against a zonal defence you look for the free man and a way into P2, then P3. Against man-marking there is no free man - you create space with a dragging run, a run in behind and a third-man combination.

🎯 Against a zonal defence you look for the free man. Against man-marking you create space with runs.

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