⚽Why the third man is your pressing killer

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1. ⚽Why the third man is your pressing killer

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⚽Why the Third Man is Your Pressing Killer

Roberto De Zerbi, one of the most exciting tactical coaches in modern football, is renowned for his bold, possession-based style of play. One of his core principles: players must learn to make the right decisions, even under maximum pressure.

This statement highlights one of his key concepts: the third man. A principle often emphasized by top coaches like Pep Guardiola, Gian Piero Gasperini, or Julian Nagelsmann – designed to break down opponents through intelligent combination play.

What does “finding the third man” mean?

In football terms, the third man is the extra player in a passing sequence who ultimately receives the ball, even though the direct passing lane to him wasn’t available at first.

A typical pattern looks like this:

• Player A plays into Player B (the second man).

• B is immediately pressed by an opponent but can lay the ball off or redirect it.

• The pass reaches Player C – the third man – who has moved into open space.

This creates a triangle: A → B → C.
In this pattern, B acts as a wall player, bouncing the ball back or laying it off to allow the play to break through to C. It’s a way to play past tight marking: the direct pass to C wasn’t possible, but by going through B, the ball arrives cleanly at C’s feet.

This vertical pass – lay-off – vertical pass sequence is a classic method for breaking down compact or high-pressing defenses.

The key is intelligent positioning and timing by the third man. He stays just outside the defender’s cover shadow, then makes his move as the ball goes into B. If the timing is right, C becomes suddenly free and available without ever needing to win a duel.

As coaching manuals often put it: “Once the ball is played forward, either the passer or a third man must offer themselves as the next option for the lay-off. With this kind of vertical-lay-off pattern, teams can progress safely into depth, since no 1v1 duel is required.”

In other words: the third man creates an extra option where no clear gap seemed to exist before.

Why is it so effective?

Pep Guardiola himself underlined the importance of this concept – he once famously said: “The third man is impossible to defend.”

Why? Because defenders naturally focus on the ball-carrier (the first man) and his immediate passing option (the second man). The principle exploits exactly that: the third man arrives unexpectedly from the blindside.

The moment a defender steps out of position to press B, the third man sprints into the free space behind him. If the defender instead anticipates and tries to close C’s run, he leaves another gap elsewhere. The back line faces a dilemma: hold position or step out? Either choice can be wrong. B can turn and continue play, or C receives the ball and the defense is bypassed.

On top of that, third-man combinations often create numerical advantages. By combining quickly with three attackers in close proximity, the opposition is drawn into a tight area. The final pass then suddenly releases a teammate into open space, generating an overload and breaking the defensive shape.

This dynamic – luring defenders in, then shifting play at speed – is what makes the concept so powerful. No surprise that third-man combinations have become a staple of modern attacking football.

Experts and Coaches on the Third Man

Many successful coaches deliberately build their game around the third-man principle. Pep Guardiola integrates it deeply into his positional play: his teams constantly form triangles and always look for at least two passing options – often involving the third man – to break lines. Clubs like Manchester City rely heavily on these triangular combinations to dismantle defensive blocks. In Guardiola’s philosophy, there should always be a free passing option available – ideally the third man.

In Germany, Julian Nagelsmann frequently used such patterns during his time at Hoffenheim and Bayern. Supporters often described his style as “direct football with short vertical-lay-off and third-man combinations (creating overloads) through the middle.” His teams weren’t afraid to attack centrally, using quick one-twos and lay-offs to free a third runner bursting into space. That approach regularly created surprising breakthroughs right in the heart of the pitch.

A more current example is Roberto De Zerbi, who has impressed with his attacking possession football at Sassuolo, Shakhtar, and Brighton. De Zerbi’s approach is to lure opponents in and then break free via the third man. His build-up play often “invites” opposition strikers to press higher – through sideways or backwards passes – only to then release a free midfielder behind the first pressing line.

As one tactical analyst explains: De Zerbi uses a link player as a wall to bounce the ball into the waiting third man. Once this central player receives it, he can turn and drive into the newly opened space. Again and again, De Zerbi’s sides use this to bypass the press and attack the back line with numerical superiority.

Especially when building out from goal kicks, these third-man sequences are gold: “When building up from the goal kick, using third-man concepts helps to bypass the striker’s pressure.” No wonder De Zerbi – along with other modern coaches – considers the third-man principle a permanent part of his playbook.

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