Attacking the Space
Look at this gif, its mesmeric isn’t it? Look how Anderson skips past the opposition. He sees the space and just goes for it. It’s beautiful. He pushes the whole play forward, going for the jugular and it leads to us scoring.
Now, I’ve read that Anderson is one of the few players that are capable of such a run in our team. I ask why? Why shouldn’t more of our players go on such runs? When the opportunity presents itself, why not go for it? Why not attack the space when it opens up?
At times it can be the quickest route to a goal, you see the space and you just go for it.
It brings the whole team forward; you go past players without the use of step overs but just taking the initiative. You beat them
indirectly. It’s so simple but so effective.
When Eto’o scored against us in the CL final in 2009, the goal came about from Iniesta doing just that. Using the space Carrick and Anderson left between them Iniesta glided through the gap and we were completely sucker punched.
In fact a lot of Barcelona players do this, and so do Arsenal ones. Look at Jack Wilshere, he’s a genius at it. He shifts play forward while shielding the ball, so he’s capable of pushing the team forward with defenders still on him, moving through the gaps.
It’s instilled in these clubs, I have no doubt they practise it non-stop in training. For Barcelona it is key for them always getting into the opponents box, keeping possession and creating so many chances. Notice how calm and collected their players are in the final third, it’s because they are constantly aware of the space around them.
Going past players is priceless for any team, especially in the middle of the park but you don’t have to always beat them directly. Step-overs and circus tricks are quickly becoming a thing of the past. There is more than one way to skin a cat.
Let me list a few players whose game significantly utilises ‘attacking the space’:
Lionel Messi, Mesut Ozil, Ricardo Kaka, Andres Iniesta, Marcelo, Zinedine Zidane, Paul Gascoigne,Robben, Yaya toure,Ramires, Anderson,Dimitar Berbatov, Pique,Song, Nasri, David Silva, Ryan Giggs,Wilshere, Eto'o Lassana Diarra just to name a few.
When they see the opportunity to go past a couple of players, their eyes light up and they take it. When there is space, there is a way. They can go around defenders, between them, across them while shielding the ball, it doesn't matter. These players go where the space allows them.
Look at this goal at 1:10:
Attacking space is a key to Messi’s game. When he was describing his infamous goal against Getafe in 2007, he said he was
‘attacking the space like always.’ In this video he sees the gap and he goes for it, drifting past the defence and slotting the ball past the keeper. The defence are left stunned to what just happened.
Genius right? Well the finish certainly is but I believe more players are capable of taking such initiative when it comes to attacking spaces. It’s can be the quickest route to goal, when you see the gap, go for it.
Of course, not everyone is as good at it Messi/Iniesta who can worm through the smallest gaps and dribble in telephone booths but you don’t have to be. There’s always going to be larger gaps to manipulate as we saw with Anderson’s run.
Attacking the space is also key to keeping possession and keeping the ball away from opposition players. Here’s an example:
You draw defenders in, and dart off in other direction, attacking the space they leave behind. It’s genius on the eye, but it’s all calculated. These type of players are the coolest on the ball, they always know what there are going to beforehand.
(
just watch this video on mute for the first 5 second it constantly repeats)
See? De ja vu? When the space closes in one direction you dart off in the other direction...beating defenders in the process. You maintain possession and keep things ticking, drawing players out of position in the process.
Look at even the likes of Busquets doing it to Kaka:
Zidane
Zidane was arguably the greatest manipulator of space
Look at this infamous goal Zizou scored against Ajax.
It’s just brilliant isn’t it? Look how when the gap closes for him in one direction, he darts off in the other, attacking the space the defenders have left, allowing him to even take a couple of touches in a penalty box before scoring fabulous goal. He attacks the space so well.
Zidane was arguably the greatest manipulator of space, it’s why he could beat so many players while being as fast as a grandmother.
Football is always pushing forward, and more teams and players will be finding
the quickest route to goal.
How many good examples of players attacking the space can you find? Have a look at this one, Anderson sees the space and just goes for it! Similar to the gif I posted at the start of this post.
some others:
Between the defenders:
Ronaldo seeing the space and going for it early in his Madrid career:
Gazza: