Johan Cruyff Game Model

1. How to Play an Attacking Game
Johan CRUYFF – Fútbol: Mi filosofia.
Cruyff Library, 2012

2. Defending in the opponent’s field
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1. To the team defending in the
opponent’s field it’s necessary
to know how to apply pressure
on the ball.
2. The team have to create as
many lines as possible (5). This
way, when we recovery the ball
have someone near and
someone in front of Goal.

3. 10 meters between the player with the ball and 2 teammates
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1. When n.º 10 wins the
ball, n.º 11, 9 and 8 are at 10
meters maximum of n.º 10.
2. If the teammates of n.º 10
are more than 10 meters from
him, the risk of lose the ball is
higher.

4. 5 lines with 9 meters distance maximum
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1. When we play in the
opponent’s field and we make 5
lines, the lines have 9 meters
maximum of distance.
2. When the players are close,
they work with more efficiency,
and we have more people to
the offensive transition.

5. Positional Game is very important
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1. In some teams, the Midfield
n.º 6 leaves his position and n.º
8 have to go inside.
2. This way, n.º 2 have to
defend a field of 20-30 meters
and not 9-10 meters. It’s very
important the positional game
of n.º 6.

6. Players close to difficult opponent’s transition
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1. When we lose the ball, with
the players close an individual
action from an opponent will
be defended by 6-7 players
minimum.
2. This way the long pass is
easily win by our players.

7. Players close to make a passing game
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1. If the players are close, the
triangulations, essentials to the
positional game will occur
naturally.
2. One player will pass, other
will receive and the third make
a move to receive the ball.

8. Construction from the Goalkeeper
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The 1st combination will be
passing the ball, short or
long, to one of the Lateral
players.
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9. Construction from the Goalkeeper
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When the ball go to the
Lateral, the “local” Winger
must give depth to open a
space that put the opponent
defense in troubles.
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10. 1st option when the ball is with the Lateral
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1. When the ball is in
(2), (9) go to the other side
(left). This way we open
space to (7) play 1x1 with
the opponent.
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2. If the ball enters
in (7) and we can go
to the end line and
cross, (9) come to
the 1st post, (11) to
the 2nd and (10)
appears in the
penalty mark.

11. 2nd option when the ball is with the Lateral
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1. The ball go to (7) and he
pass to (8) who escape from
his direct opponent.
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2. (8) receives the
ball and could
pass to (9) or (11)
who makes a run
to appear in front
of goal.

12. • With an attack of this kind, until ¾ of the team will
stand behind the ball and this way stays front to the
opponent Goal. This way we minimize the
counterattack risk and we could win the “2nd ball”;
• It’s mandatory that when a Lateral player is
attacking, our GK and the other three defenses
stays searching the adequate defending positions.
While we are attacking, our defense and the
Defensive Midfielder must be prepared to the lost
of the ball possession.

13. Anticipating the Play
• One Winger that wants the ball in the
foot, sometimes as to run in depth to receive the
ball and then play with tranquility;
• Can occur that we have to receive the ball back to
could run then in depth;
• To the Winger make a play with the foots, 1st have
to run in depth. But when the Forward go to that
created space, the space will become close
(Forward attracts defenders – this is a big error).

14. Playing against 10 players
• Sometimes the advantage becomes a disadvantage;
• This happens because the players do not know
what the do with the extra space they have. Usually
the ball is played in “Rondos” without go forward;
• The only way to resolve this problem is to search
1v1 situations in all the field. The great advantage is
that this increase the game rhythm. None opponent
player can manipulate the ball with tranquility and
lost the ball more easily, what creates more space
and superiority situations. In that moment all the
team must think in the Space to take more
advantage to the following play.

15. Logic Utilization
• Pass the ball to the teammate “good leg”;
• Defending 1v1 as Lateral, if we know that the opponent
usually go inside we close the interior space to force
him to go outside;
• Work the defenders and attackers heading (from the 2
shoulders);
• The players must seek the opponents weakness’s to
take advantage. They can try do the same with us. This
way we have to be smarter to surprise our opponent’s;
• The most important for a player is dominate the simple
actions (pass, conduction, receiving, playing with the 2
foots, shooting and heading);
• It’s mandatory combine the basic techniques with the
positional game.