⚽De Zerbi’s Build-Up Play at Marseille

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1. ⚽De Zerbi’s Build-Up Play at Marseille

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⚽De Zerbi’s Build-Up Play at Marseille

Build-Up Play from the Goalkeeper – De Zerbi’s Approach

In the first phase of build-up play, De Zerbi relies on a clear structure: his team forms a back four with two central holding midfielders. During goal kicks, the two center-backs position themselves close to the goalkeeper. One of them initiates the play by passing the ball back to the centrally positioned goalkeeper. This strategy has a clear purpose: the goalkeeper, stationed in the center, can better bypass the pressure of the opponent’s pressing, making it harder for them to close down effectively.

The remaining four attacking players position themselves relatively high, usually around the halfway line, intentionally creating an open space in between. This setup naturally varies depending on the opponent’s formation and pressing strategy. When the opposition presses high and aggressively—using six players to press and employing man-to-man marking in defense—the build-up from deep becomes much more challenging, even though the team theoretically has a numerical advantage with the goalkeeper involved.

In such situations, the goalkeeper often opts for a long ball into the open space. One of the four attacking players drops back to either lay the ball off or, if the situation allows, turn and continue the attack directly.

With this approach, De Zerbi successfully outsmarts opponents and adapts flexibly to different pressing strategies.

Build-Up Play in Open Play – De Zerbi’s Versatility

In open play, De Zerbi demonstrates impressive flexibility in his formations. Often, when transitioning from Zone 1, his team shifts into a 3-2-5 system to establish clear structures and passing options.

However, it’s common for the two attacking midfielders (No. 10s) to drop slightly deeper, occupying the space between lines. Depending on the opponent, this can form a 3-2-2-5, the renowned "box midfield," which creates a numerical advantage in central areas.

In attack, the three forward players maintain distinct roles:

• One player occupies the central area, often positioned between the opposition’s center-backs and making targeted runs in behind.

• The other two stay wide, hugging the touchlines to provide both width and depth to the attacking play.

De Zerbi’s team remains adaptable. In certain situations, the formation transitions into a 4-2-4, which frequently reshapes into a back three in Zone 2. Here, one of the full-backs moves centrally to create an additional passing option and a numerical advantage.

Adapting to the Opponent and the Zone

De Zerbi’s formations are heavily influenced by the opponent’s style of play:

• High pressing: Clever positional play is key to breaking through pressing lines.

• Midfield pressing or low block: Patience is essential, waiting for gaps in the opposition’s shape to exploit with precise breakthroughs.

The zone on the pitch also plays a crucial role. In Zone 1, the defensive zone, the emphasis is on security. De Zerbi usually deploys more players here for two main reasons:

1. More passing options: A stronger presence makes bypassing the press easier.

2. Ball recovery: In case of a loss near their own goal, sufficient players are in position to regain possession immediately.

Balance is Key

For De Zerbi, football is a game of balance. Every system and formation is carefully chosen to strike the right mix of risk and stability. This philosophy is evident not only in his tactical flexibility but also in his team’s ability to adapt dynamically to different situations and opponents.

Midfield Overload – The Key to De Zerbi’s Game

De Zerbi’s principles are clear and consistent, regardless of the chosen formation: the midfield must always create a numerical advantage. This overload allows his team to maintain control through precise, short passes while increasing tempo at the right moment. The ultimate goal is to advance dynamically into the final third, creating spaces and goal-scoring opportunities.

The Strategy Behind It

De Zerbi aims to lure opponents out of their defensive structure. To achieve this, he relies on short passing lanes and a compact arrangement of his players. The tight positioning provides several key benefits:

• Faster ball circulation: Shorter passing distances enable more efficient ball movement, keeping the opponent under constant pressure.

• Quick counter-pressing: If possession is lost, players are close enough to immediately apply pressure and recover the ball quickly.

Patience and Precision

De Zerbi’s midfield approach revolves around patience. His players retain control, circulate the ball, and deliberately wait for the opponent to make a mistake. Once a gap appears, it is exploited with precise, quick play to punish the opponent effectively and decisively.

Position Rotations and Structured Movements – De Zerbi’s Tactical Precision

De Zerbi’s system showcases clear and repetitive patterns, particularly evident in recent matches. Once his team enters Zone 2, the players adhere to a structured plan designed to force the opponent into tough decisions.

Full-Back in Midfield

One common pattern involves a full-back moving into the midfield, completing the box midfield. This movement is underpinned by a deliberate strategy:

• Option 1: The opposing player marks the inverted full-back, creating more space for the wide attacker. This is particularly effective for quick, skillful wingers who can excel in 1v1 situations.

• Option 2: The opponent ignores the full-back’s movement, allowing them to receive the ball freely and dictate play from the midfield.

Dynamic Dropping of the Holding Midfielder

Another recurring pattern is the situational drop of one of the two holding midfielders into the defensive line. This adjustment has multiple effects:

• Higher full-backs: The full-backs push up to provide width in attack.

• Advanced midfield presence: Players like Greenwood move into the half-space in midfield, utilizing their ability to turn under pressure and resolve tight situations effectively.

Automation and Flexibility

These structured movements ensure that every player understands and executes the next action seamlessly. When a holding midfielder drops back, the entire team knows how to shift and adapt, maintaining balance while occupying new spaces. This blend of automated patterns and tactical flexibility is key to De Zerbi’s approach.

Timing and Movement – The Art of Creating Space in De Zerbi’s System

Timing is a crucial aspect of football in general, but in De Zerbi’s philosophy, it’s a foundational element of his playing style. The focus is on finding the perfect moment to lose a marker, receive the ball with precision, and seamlessly continue the play.

Precision in Training

These movements are practiced daily in De Zerbi’s training sessions, with a key focus on:

• When should I break away from my opponent?

• How will I receive the ball—and on which foot?

De Zerbi’s approach shows that gaining just 1-2 meters of space can often be enough to make the next pass successful. These small, but decisive movements provide players with a fraction of a second advantage—an edge that can determine the outcome of a game.

Creating Space: Effective Movement Patterns

De Zerbi’s players often appear to act passively, positioning themselves just behind their marker or in their blind spot. Suddenly, they make a quick, explosive movement from the defender’s shadow to offer themselves as an option. This doesn’t require a lot of space—a short burst of 4-5 meters is often sufficient to create the crucial gap.

The Perfect Pass Timing

When the pass arrives at the right moment, the defender is often powerless to intervene. Here’s why:

• Short pass distance: This allows the ball to be controlled quickly and efficiently.

• Pre-planned actions: Players already have the next move in mind, ensuring smooth transitions in play.

Consistent Practice in Training

Mastering these movements isn’t left to chance. De Zerbi emphasizes the importance of repeated drills and meticulous coordination between passer and receiver. Through consistent practice, timing and off-the-ball movements become second nature, ensuring precision and fluidity in every game situation.

Patience – A Core Element of De Zerbi’s Philosophy

De Zerbi adheres to a clear and deliberate playing philosophy, implementing it with consistency—along with all its advantages and challenges. His goal is to lure opponents out of their defensive structure, provoke them into pressing, and create spaces for his team. Achieving this requires one critical virtue: patience.

Forcing the Opponent to Press

De Zerbi’s approach is no longer a secret, and many opponents now press more cautiously against his teams. However, it’s in the nature of the game—and human behavior—that opponents eventually attempt to win the ball. This is where De Zerbi’s side excels:

• With short passes and intelligent possession play.

• By deliberately provoking the opponent, sometimes holding the ball underfoot, daring them to engage.

At first glance, these moments might appear sluggish, but they are intentional, designed to tempt the opponent forward and then exploit the resulting spaces effectively.

The Challenge of Playing from Behind

Maintaining patience becomes especially challenging when the team is trailing. The natural instinct to force attacks can disrupt structure and lead to mistakes. Yet De Zerbi’s team demonstrates that discipline and composure are now part of their DNA, even in high-pressure situations—a testament to the team’s growth under his guidance, despite his relatively short tenure at Marseille.

A Transformation in Marseille

The transformation De Zerbi has brought to Marseille is remarkable. A team that previously played a completely different style of football now operates as a disciplined and tactically astute unit. It’s evident that De Zerbi has already left a significant mark—and in a very short period.

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