Episode 01 · PRO-0001 · Build-up

The third-man run: beat a high press.

Our 4-3-3 building out against a 4-4-2 that presses high. Four phases, bait, wall, set and exploit, and a free session that trains it.

Get the free session →The four phases

Full episode coming soon with narration. This is a silent preview loop.

Run (solid)
Pass (dotted)
Dribble (wavy)
Us
Them
Third man

Phase by phase

Bait. Wall. Set. Exploit.

Player A has the ball but the pass to C is blocked. A plays into B. B does not turn: he sets the ball, first time, into C, who is already moving. One extra pass puts the presser on the wrong side of the ball, and C receives facing forward. The third man is the player who receives the second pass.

Bait

The centre-back carries the ball forward and waits. He wants their striker to press him. As the striker curves his run he cuts off the pass to the full-back. That's fine: we want him committed. Meanwhile the six shows for the ball with a defender tight on his back.

"Carry and wait.""Show for it."

Wall

The centre-back fires a firm pass into the six's front foot. The six feels the pressure on his back, so he doesn't try to turn: he's the wall. And the eight starts his run before the ball arrives, scanning over his shoulder.

"Firm and to feet.""Scan before it arrives."

Set

One touch. The six sets the ball into the path of the arriving eight, who receives facing forward behind the first line. Two strikers and a midfielder are now on the wrong side of the ball. One pass took three defenders out of the game.

"Show and set.""Go on the pass."

Exploit

The eight drives into the space: now it's 3v2 in the middle. The nine drops and drags his centre-back with him, plays it off to the ten running past. Same idea, different players. The press is broken.

"Face forward, play forward."

Coaching points

What to coach

Bait the press

Hold the ball long enough to draw a defender in. No pressure = no space behind it.

Set, don't turn

With pressure on his back, B plays to the third man with one touch.

Angles

A, B and C form a triangle, never a flat line.

Distance

10–15 yd between players for youth teams; 12–20 yd for HS.

Timing

C moves on the first pass, not before it. Early = marked. Late = window closed.

Cues

Say it in five words

“Show and set.”
“Scan before it arrives.”
“Go on the pass.”
“Firm and to feet.”
“Face forward, play forward.”

Common mistakes

C runs too early: the defender just follows him. The fix: Wait for the ball to leave A's foot.
B touches and turns: turns into pressure, ball lost. The fix: If you feel pressure, set it.
Soft first pass: B can't play it first time. The fix: Firm, to the foot away from the defender.
Flat line: the set pass has no angle. The fix: Get off the line, make the triangle.

"When you see it, freeze the play, show them the picture, and let them solve it."

In the pros (recreated, not filmed). Manchester City under Pep Guardiola and Brighton under Roberto De Zerbi made this a habit in build-up: the centre-back holds the ball to invite the press, plays firmly into the marked pivot, and the pivot sets first time to an 8 arriving from the side. Higher up, the 9 drops, pulls a defender, and lays off to a runner. No match footage, club marks or player images are used in this material.