DE ZERBI THE INNOVATOR

I'm a possession-based football lover first of all. A certain Roberto De Zerbi of Brighton therefore thrills me, with his unique style.

He employs a 2-4-2-2 system, which is unconventional. The popular one is the 4-3-3 system which has a single pivot in midfield. Zerbi's style means that he has 6 players in the midfield area. Thus, he insists on having numerical superiority in the build-up phase of his attack.

Also the line of ball passing Zerbi employs during build-up play is carefully crafted to tempt the opposition to press and press high. But it's actually a bait because as soon as the opposition commits, Zerbi's team begins to exploit the spaces that have opened up. For example, if the opponent commits six players to the press, Zerbi's team pounces on the space and creates a 4 versus 4 situation in the attacking phase and advantage Brighton, with their customary vertical passing high-speed attacks employed here.

So summarily, his style can be termed a high-risk, high-reward kind, as it turns a high-risk build-up, into a high-reward attacking opportunity.

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More Features of his 2-4-2-2 style:

1》 Two centre-backs will drop deep and wide, effectively making the keeper the third(and middle man) in a back-line of three.

2》 The full-backs push vertically forward into the midfield to join two midfielders who act as a double pivot. So it's 4 players in one line, which often creates midfield superiority and multiple passing options.

3》 Zerbi insists that the full-backs of Number 2 above, should stay in line with the double pivot, in other to provide width in attack and stretch the opponents press– with them now committing more players for the press.

4》 The striker and attacking midfielder will take up spaces in the midfield, looking to feast on gaps in the opponents defense as well as making themselves available to receive the ball at pace.

5》 The two wingers are instructed to stay high and wide. You can guess by now that this tactics is meant to stretch the opponents defense as well as providing a passing outlet as Brighton advances goalward.

Cheers