In this coaching clinic filmed exclusively for CV Academy, Chelsea loan technical coach Ed Brand delivers a two-part session that focuses on pressing in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

Brand, who first joined Chelsea as a nine-year-old trialist, has been at the club in various coaching roles since the age of 22. In that time, he has coached Chelsea youth graduates including Marc Guéhi, Conor Gallagher, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mason Mount, Reece James and Lewis Hall.

Here, he begins by explaining the key principles he looks to employ when preparing a team to press in a 3-4-2-1: first at opposing goal-kicks and in a high press, and then in the middle and defensive thirds. He goes into fascinating detail on the profile and role of specific players within those respective presses, with a particular focus on the number 10s, wing-backs and outside centre-backs.

He then introduces two practices he would deliver when looking to develop a team’s pressing. The first is a 10v10 multi-directional game in which the pressing team must protect central areas while trying to win the ball back and score in one of four mini-goals. The second is an 11v11 directional game in which the team in possession has a number of different ways to score. This encourages the pressing team to work on a number of different principles, including protecting central areas, staying compact, and angles and timing of press.

It’s an articulate and interesting clinic from a coach with great experience and pedigree. We hope you find it useful in your own coaching!