Coordinated High Press against Build-Up

Coordinated High Press against Build-Up drill diagram

Set up on half a pitch with one main goal and a goalkeeper, and three mini goals spread across the halfway line.
The build-up team is a goalkeeper, a back four, a defensive midfielder and two central midfielders, and they try to play out and score in any of the three mini goals on the halfway line.
The pressing team is a defensive midfielder, two central midfielders, two wingers and a striker, set up to press the build-up high.
The coach starts each repetition from the sideline by passing a ball into the build-up team.
Every time the ball goes out of play, the coach restarts instantly with a new ball to keep the tempo high.
The pressing team reacts and presses high and aggressively the moment the ball is played in.
The striker blocks the passing lane into the defensive midfielder, screening the centre so the build-up cannot play through the middle.
The nearest central midfielder jumps up to apply high pressure on the man on the ball.
The other pressers support by jumping up and pressing man to man, so every short option is covered.
The pressing team score by winning the ball and counter-attacking into the main goal; the build-up team score in any of the three mini goals.
Play for twenty minutes and then swap the roles.
Progression: limit the build-up team's touches, or set a time limit for them to play through the press.

The striker's first job is to screen the defensive midfielder: block the pass into the centre so the build-up is forced wide.
The nearest central midfielder jumps up aggressively to press the man on the ball the moment the trigger appears.
Everyone else presses man to man, jumping up to their nearest opponent so there is no easy short pass out.
Press high and on the front foot: the aim is to win the ball in the build-up team's half, not to contain.
Stay connected as you jump up, so the whole unit presses forward together rather than one player at a time.
Time the press to the moment the ball travels, arriving on the receiver as the ball does.
When the ball is won, counter-attack into the main goal at once, treating the press as the start of the attack.
If the build-up plays through, recover quickly and reset for the coach's next ball.

Replicates how Klopp's teams press high and in numbers against an opponent trying to build from the back.
Screening the holding midfielder and pressing man to man is exactly how a front line locks a back four and forces mistakes.
The instant restarts keep the tempo relentless, training the team to press wave after wave without dropping off.
Winning the ball and counter-attacking into the main goal trains the team to attack the moment the press succeeds.
Pressing as a connected unit, jumping up together, is what makes a high press win the ball rather than be played through.
This is the most match-realistic pressing exercise, with full units and real positions against a genuine build-up.

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