Tactics Explained | Three At The Back

Playing three defenders has become something of a fashion in the Premier League, following Antonio Conte’s successful change to the system at Chelsea last season. Arsene Wenger, who had previously eschewed anything other than a four-man defence, used the system towards the end of last season and even Jose Mourinho, almost dogmatic in his aversion to three at the back, has used it in pre-season with Manchester United.
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[alexlavers]

Just watched this and I'm a tactical genius

[ericd]

Imo the wing backs are the most important positions to make the three back system work. They are in charge of controlling the flanks of the pitch, and they must help the forwards in offense and help the three backs defend. The wing backs require a lot of stamina and great crossing skills

[mustsilm]

Wasnt Juve the team who initially brought the system back to football in terms of big teams? Around 2011-12. BBC of Barzagli-Bonucci-Chiellini.

[arunashamal]

Woah! No mention of Juventus!? Who made the 3 man defence fashionable again!!

[nitpicker]

The thing about the 3-4-3 or the 3-5-2 is that not very many players can fit into the system. With 4 defenders you can have many different types of players fit into the system. No one has ever said "I don't like this player he doesn't fit into a 4-at-the-back system." With 3 at the back however, you absolutely need wing backs with high work rates, center backs with some pace, and idealy someone like Kante in the midfield making tackles to win the ball back. My point is, you need very athletic players to fit the system and not every team can do that and it can take time to adapt to get the players needed for the system. Either by spending a lot of money on new players or converting players into positions that fit the system.

[chrisnorman]

Managers are thinking: 'Conte dominated with three at the back so we should do it also to try and keep up'.
Should they not instead be thinking: 'Conte dominated with three at the back, what is the best way to play against three at the back so we can surpass them'

[ForeverPurpleNGold]

Chelsea used 343 because of David Luiz, the rest of the league use it for the sake of using it.

[TheSnageye]

Great video als always. Next Bielsa 3-3-3-1/3-3-1-3 or how his teams press please! Thx.

[CharlieSnowball]

Maybe next on how Chile won 2 trophies in a 2 years, stopping Messi in the process?

[MussoiSka]

When I started playing senior football, I was a 15 yo libero. Those still remain my best years in football.. Never played again in a 3 men defense ever since, but I would recommend it to anyone

[Quirin]

Please do a video on Guy Roux. He coached AJ Auxerre from 1961-2005!

[JDefoe]

I think the three at the back gives you the most options... you can either play with wing back high up the field when the opposition defends deep or you can easily switch to five at the back and hold your ground. It's harder for the players though... center backs need to cover for wing backs, central midfielders have to cover everything, wing backs have to run like crazy, wingers have to defend etc. It's a hard system and only the best managers and the best teams are able to make it work. You can see how Pochettino worked towards his dream formation and style of play. First he bought Alderweireld (and found arguably the best CB in the world), Dier (young hard working enthusiastic player) and Alli (who apart from scoring and passing runs a lot and has impact on both ends of the pitch) then Wanyama (who could have easily been the best player in the EPL last season). Now he wants to strengthen the team even more with Sánchez from Ajax. Buying players who really fit the system is crucial and not many people understand this philosophy.

[fewik]

Small tip, when explaining formations, can you colour one teams dot in and the others hollow, great video

[afsoclife]

PS Poch used it before Conte in the EPL in recent times. Check the games between Tottenham and Southampton.

[JonnyInfinite]

3-5-2 was fashionable in the 90s, Liverpool and Aston Villa played it often, it's just no one had won the league playing it before. The best counter to any back three is extremely pacy and skillful wide players in a 4-4-2/4-3-3....the most famous example being Inter vs Celtic 1968.

[AdamLunn]

Really enjoy these videos. Currently playing a 3 man defense on FM17 with Malaga and I routinely find that the biggest threat is a 4-4-2 or 4-2-3-1 where the wide players play as traditional full backs and wingers. It constantly draws either one of the CM's across or, more dangerously, one of the CB's where runners from midfield into the space cause huge problems. Also 2v1 in wide areas making it tough to stop crosses from the byline. I think Man city did this very well against Chelsea at the Etihad last season and were extremely unlucky not to get something from it.

[MrRubenfifa]

Amazing video, but only important concern is no mention of Juventus. Let's remember that with Juve, it was the first time in a while that a competitive team that won championships used 3 at the back. Before, it was mostly used by small teams to defend. Juve and Conte brought the 3 at the back to the success again.

[moobslikejagger]

"That's the beauty of tactics" - love it

[jessecomitogianni]

Love the vid. I would Like to mention that Italy made the 3 man back big in Europe again. Back in 2011, there were more than a handful of serie A teams playing a 3 man back ( Juve, Napoli etc...)

[TheMrRewo]

One shouldn't forget about Rodgers using this system at 'pool for few months or so 3 years back. It changed the Liverpool side from being sloppy and inconsistent to somewhat solid which was probably the reason why he wasn't sacked right after the season.