Bait the Press: Roberto De Zerbi’s Tactics for Creating Space to Build Up Play
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Time to read 4 min
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De Zerbi's Tactics: The Art of Inviting Pressure
One of the defining principles in Roberto De Zerbi’s coaching philosophy is the deliberate act of baiting the press. Instead of viewing pressing as a threat, De Zerbi sees it as an opportunity to exploit.
By encouraging the opposition to press high, his teams create and identify spaces that can be used to launch dangerous attacks. The goalkeeper takes on the role of a third centre back, inviting the first line of pressure. Centre backs and defensive midfielders intentionally hold deep positions and use short, square passes to trigger pressing actions.
The brilliance lies in how these calculated passes and movements open up space further up the pitch, turning a moment of potential risk into a platform for progression.
Total Control: Sole of the Foot as a Tactical Weapon
A subtle yet powerful technique underpins De Zerbi’s ability to manipulate the press: receiving and pausing the ball using the sole of the foot. This pause invites the opponent in, delays the next pass, and crucially, keeps all passing lanes open. By stopping the ball dead and facing forward, the player isn't committed to passing in one direction, unlike when receiving with the inside of the foot. This adds ambiguity and control.
This small action, repeated across the pitch, forms the foundation of De Zerbi’s controlled build-up play.
🗣 Roberto De Zerbi:
"If you receive the ball with the sole and from the front, you can play for the side you want. There you have total control of the ball."
Exploiting the Press: Creating and Using Space
- De Zerbi’s teams use short passes in deep areas and remain composed under pressure to lure opposition players forward.
- As these opposing players press, they leave key spaces behind them available.
- This is when De Zerbi's team’s structure becomes active.
Tactical Analysis (De Zerbi's Brighton):
Square Pass to Third Man + Break the Lines
Source: Roberto De Zerbi - 92 Build Up, Passing Combinations and Attacking Positional Practices Direct from De Zerbi’s Training Sessions
De Zerbi’s strategy is to lure the opposition forward by using short square passes across the back line, inviting pressure and drawing players out of position. The centre backs circulate the ball to trigger the press, while the defensive midfielders stay behind the pressing forwards, avoiding direct passes and instead waiting to receive via a third-man link.
The attacking midfielder typically acts as this link, receiving between the lines and quickly bouncing the ball into the path of a deeper midfielder. This player can then turn and exploit the space that has opened up behind the first line of pressure.
The high positioning of the wingers and forwards pins the opposing back four back, ensuring that the midfield area remains free of immediate resistance.
This well-structured bait-and-break sequence often removes six or seven opponents from the game and creates a quick route to goal.
🗣 Roberto De Zerbi:
“[Centre backs] have the pleasure of holding the ball, of building the game, knowing that everything starts from them.”
Roberto De Zerbi Practice:
Bait the Press and Play Forward
Source: Roberto De Zerbi - 92 Build Up, Passing Combinations and Attacking Positional Practices Direct from De Zerbi’s Training Sessions
This practice simulates a real match situation where the back line and goalkeeper face an aggressive forward press. Set up on a half-pitch with the GK, 2 centre backs, 2 full backs, and a defensive midfielder (5+GK) against 2 pressing opponents.
Sequence:
- The GK initiates by passing to the left centre back (LCB), who advances and finds the defensive midfielder (DM).
- The DM is marked from behind and immediately lays off to the right centre back (RCB).
- The ball is recycled across the line before the LCB receives again under pressure.
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LCB steps forward into zone 2 and finds the left back (LB), who continues the progression before playing diagonally across to the advancing RCB.
- RCB then carries the ball up to the halfway line to complete the escape pattern.
This practice works on calmness under pressure, horizontal recycling to provoke pressing triggers, and timing the breakout pass. It simulates how to absorb and manipulate pressure to create a clear route out and forward.
Conclusion
Roberto De Zerbi’s approach to build-up is not about avoiding pressure but using it. His method teaches players to stay calm, use precise positioning, and apply simple techniques to shape the opposition’s movement. When done correctly, this provokes the opponent to open up the exact spaces needed to progress the ball dangerously.
🗣 Roberto De Zerbi:
“To show quality, they have to be put in the right situations to play. And so starts the build-up, because we have to reach the No7, No9, No10, No11 with the ball in a good situation.”
Baiting the press is a hallmark of Roberto De Zerbi’s coaching style, using pressure as a tool to unlock space and build from the back with confidence and control.
This article breaks down how De Zerbi structures his build-up play to invite pressure, manipulate opposition movement, and progress through the thirds — with real tactical analysis and a training practice taken from De Zerbi's session.
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🧠 Game-realistic methods to develop tactical awareness, timing, and player coordination
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📐 Sourced from De Zerbi’s training sessions at Sassuolo, Shakhtar Donetsk, and Brighton
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