Hernan Crespo’s innovative Defensa y Justicia
Hernan Crespo is one of Argentina’s greatest striking talents as his long brown locks have been replaced by a furrowed brow and short greyed hair. He now enjoys watching and caring for his horses on the Argentine countryside and scrolling through news articles on his iPad. After short stints at Parma, Modena and Banfield, coached an enterprising Defensa y Justicia side that made it to its first Copa Libertadores and triumphed in the Copa Sudamericana. In the first phase of the Argentine Premier Division season, they failed to secure a win due to their playing schedule while they have fared better in the Copa Diego Maradona. Defensa y Justicia are a side that have focused on accruing talent in the loan market under the auspices of progressive young coaches as a steadfast belief in their processes have borne fruit.
Build-up
Luis Ezequiel Unsain is a goalkeeper that is comfortable with the ball at his feet as Crespo and his coaching staff have created build-up routines to allow him to move the ball and attract pressure in the first line before looking to shift the ball into the wide areas or play deep line-breaking passes in the centre. Crespo’s preferred formation is the 3-1-4-2/3-2-4-1 as two centre-backs will move into the box either side of the goalkeeper while the right centre-back or left centre-back will move into the midfield line with the deepest-lying midfielder positioned in the six-space or a deeper-lying wing-back. Defensa y Justicia will circulate possession by moving the ball to the centre-back to the fullback as the deepest-lying midfielder will move into space to receive possession as the fullback can work possession to him on the half-turn to thread passes into the next line.
Defensa y Justicia also have a routine where Unsain will work a pass to the centre-back to attract pressure before playing a pass back to the keeper as an eight will drop into the six-space, next to the deepest-lying midfielder to receive a deep pass from the goalkeeper to beat pressure and lay-off to his midfielder partner before driving the ball forward and looking to play a pass in behind or spreading the ball. Crespo loves to have movement and interchange in the six-space as at times, he will have Unsain push up in between the centre-backs which will allow Defensa y Justicia to vacate the six-space by pushing higher and wider before the goalkeeper works the ball into the wide areas for the deepest-lying midfielder to drop into the six-space to receive possession to turn and work a pass in between the lines or switch the ball to the weak side.
Unsain pushing in between the centre-backs allows one of the wide centre-backs to push into the midfield line in the wide areas with the wing-back and wide attackers as the centre-back will move the ball to the wide centre-back who will cut inside and drive into the centre as the deepest-lying midfielder will make a timed drop into the six-space to receive possession or attract a marker to thread a ball through the lines. When the wide centre-back drives inside, a wing-back will move into the wide areas to receive possession in space with a wide attacker moving into the wide zone to clear a passing lane to the nine space or the wide attacker will maintain a central position to receive a pass from the wing-back who will overlap or move into the central spaces to receive possession and move the ball to a teammate in between the lines in the centre or switch the ball. Moving into the centre allows the wide centre-back to make an extra man overlapping run to receive the ball and play a cross.
If the goalkeeper does not push in between the centre-backs and the opposition are utilizing a man-orientated press, the deepest-lying midfielder will drop in between the centre-backs to evacuate the six-space and attract pressure before his midfield partner will drop into the six-space to receive possession to turn and work a pass in between the lines. Unsain and Crespo are also not averse to playing a direct long ball as Defensa y Justicia can also employ a 2-4-3-1 build-up shape which enables them to play long balls to the striker to lay-off to the attacking three who will connections and spread the ball to runners in the wide areas for crosses into the box.
During games, Crespo is very flexible with his build-up shapes utilizing many different sequences to create space and move the ball through vertical combinations in the wide areas or deep line-breaking passes to the nine or ten space. Defensa y Justicia normally employ a 3-2-4-1/3-1-4-2 as it allows them access to vertical interchanges through triangular combinations to progress play and create space in between the lines. The Argentine side will normally have fluid positional interchange in the build-up phase to create space and open up passing lanes and angles to progress play and create high quality opportunities in the opposition box.
In the sequence above, the two midfielders are positioned in between the central centre-back and wide centre-backs to create triangles through player spacing while the wing-backs will stretch play with two free 8s in between the line and the central striker in the nine space. The opposition are in a 5-3-2 defensive shape as the central centre-back will look to push up with one of the deep-lying midfielders dropping into the three-chain to allow one of the wide centre-backs to push into the next line. The deepest-lying midfielder will then receive possession in the three-chain to move the ball in the wide areas for the wide centre-backs to drive into the centre to play the ball into the six-space or turn to move the ball to wing-back. Defensa y Justicia will also circulate the ball amongst the back three with wall passes to the six-space to attract pressure before moving the ball to the wide centre-backs to work a pass to the ball-near midfielder to thread a pass into the channels on the half-turn.
Defensa y Justicia will use the width of the pitch in build-up play, looking to circulate possession from flank to flank in order to open passing lanes for the centre-backs to work passes to Enzo Fernandez in the six-space. Once, Enzo Fernandez receives possession in the six-space, he will then work a pass to one of the free 8s in the next line. Another build-up routine that Defensa y Justicia utilize is the trait of divergent runs to create passing options for the player in possession, open passing lanes for deeper vertical lines and create space for opportunities in the final third. The centre-backs can work passes to the wing-back for the 8 in the half-space to drag a marker out of position with a run to the flank allowing the fullback to work a pass to Enzo Fernandez in the six-space or dribble into the centre for central attackers to drop deep to receive possession to facilitate combinations so Defensa y Justicia can switch possession to the opposite flank to create a low crossing opportunity.
Crespo’s side can add variety to these combinations as once the ball is played to the wing-back and the midfielder in the half-space makes a run to the flank to clear the space, the ball-near wide centre-back can push up with the ball-near attacker dropping into the space to establish an overload on the flank for wide connections. The ball-far free 8 and Enzo Fernandez in the six-space will also tuck inside to that flank as the centre-back can utilize a second dummy run for the wing-back to play a deep vertical pass to the ball-far 8 which will evade opposition lateral pressure as well as creating an opportunity for the 8 to drive the ball forward and thread a through pass to his attacker or switch the ball to the opposite flank for a low crossing opportunity.
One of Defensa y Justicia’s favoured routines is for the wing-back to receive possession to touch a pass to the attacker in the half-space before pushing up before the attacker will work a pass into the midfielder in the lateral zone to play it to the wing-back to thread a pass for the wide attacker in the half-space to have a high-quality crossing or goalscoring opportunity. One touch triangular vertical routines to release an attacker into the half-space for goalscoring routines are frequent as once the wide attackers drops deep with the wing-back or wide midfielder stretching play, they will draw the opposition fullback and centre-back in the wide areas creating space in the half-spaces as well as in the centre-back’s blind-side for central attackers to make runs to receive passes for goalscoring opportunities or for the striker to draw him closer to the by-line to create space for a cut-back to a deeper runner.
Crespo has the ability to create incredibly high-quality goalscoring opportunities for his striker’s due to dragging opposition players out of position and the clever utilization of space through divergent runs in the final third. Defensa y Justicia are also not averse to playing longer passes into the channels for the wide attacker to chase loose passes before playing a pass to the wing-back or free-8 so Defensa y Justicia can work connections for goalscoring opportunities. At times, Crespo’s side will play long-balls, so they can press the opposition goalkeeper and centre-backs to win turnovers or force a long ball so Defensa y Justicia’s centre-backs can regain possession at the halfway line or in a higher area, so they can begin to operate from there instead of being hemmed into their own box under opposition pressure.
Defensa y Justicia can also operate from a 3+1 build-up shape as no matter what formation they use in their build-up routines, the essential tenets of Crespo’s philosophy will remain the same as his side can tinker with the positioning and spacing of players to create easier passing avenues to the 8s in between the lines. Crespo’s 3+1 will be the build-up shape in a wider 3-1-4-2 shape to push an 8 higher allowing Defensa y Justicia to operate in a two-striker system for more effective rotations in the final third. Crespo’s side will normally shift into a variety of shapes in between and during games to manipulate the opposition man-orientated high press.
In the situation above, the opposition are pressing with three attackers while the right-sided centre-back has tucked in to draw a marker inside as this could open a passing lane to the wing-back on the flank. Defensa y Justicia could work a routine with the central centre-back playing a direct pass to the wing-back with the wide midfielder moving into the wide zone as usual, creating space for the wing-back to dribble inside where the deepest-lying midfielder will make himself available by moving closer to him while once he receives possession, his ball-near centre-back could make a movement into the six-space to receive a one-touch pass before playing the ball to the deepest-lying midfielder who could switch the ball or work a through pass. The centre-backs also have the opportunity to drive the ball forward to entice opposition pressure with deepest-lying midfielder dropping deep before the central centre-back works a pass to one of his wide centre-backs as the deepest-lying midfielder will drop closer to them to receive possession and turn to work a pass to the ball-far centre-back who will push up or to one of the free-8s in between the lines.
This shape is also advantageous for Defensa y Justicia because they could great a great amount of unfilled space in between the lines for deep passes to players dropping out of the front-line. For instance, the wing-backs could push to create a front five with two strikers and one free 8 before the deepest-lying midfielder will drop into the three-chain with one of the wide centre-backs pushing into the midfield line to receive possession in the wide areas or to veer into the central spaces to receive possession in the behind the first line of pressure. The defensive midfielder dropping in between the lines allows the opposition to push forward and press while the opposition midfield is in a dilemma or playing tighter to the centre-backs or pushing forward to support the first wave of the press. The opposition defensive line will push up but Defensa y Justicia are looking to create numerical superiority in between the central lines. Once the opposition press, the deepest-lying midfielder or one of the centre-backs can evade pressure by playing a direct deep pass to one of the attackers in the front line, making a late movement into the deeper-areas to receive possession. The first wave of the opposition press will trigger a player dropping deep to receive possession in between the lines.
The 3-1-4-2 also has the availabilities for triangular connections in between the lines with the deepest-lying midfielder making movements towards the wide centre-backs when they are in possession of the ball. If the central centre-back is in possession with a player pressing him, the deepest-lying midfielder will shift into the blind-side of the opposition attacker to receive possession or to be in the perfect position to receive a one-touch pass from the wide centre-back as once he turns, he has the option of spreading possession to the ball-far centre-back, playing a pass to one of the free 8s in between the lines or switching possession to one of the wing-backs. The goalkeeper is constantly utilized as an outfield player whenever Defensa y Justicia are looking for numerical superiority in the build-up phase as the centre-backs will form a two-chain with a wide centre-back pushing higher adjacent to the deepest-lying midfielder as this allows Crespo’s side to circulate possession from a different shape to beat opposition pressure.
Crespo will also use to a 2+3 shape in a more conventional 2-3-2-3 formation as well as a 2+4 in a 2-4-3-1 formation as the Argentine tactician is not averse to switching to two centre-back formations. He used two centre-back formations in the latter stages of the Copa Diego Maradona last year as his side was heavily rotated in between the mid-week Copa Sudamericana games and the weekend Copa Diego Maradona ties. The tenets are still the same from a three centre-back system as Crespo creates formational fluidity by educating his side on certain facets of play. A two centre-back system results in a higher use of the keeper, a greater reliance on wide combinations as well as circulating possession to create passing lanes to the six-space.
In the sequence above, the opposition are pressing with two attackers as Defensa y Justica have managed to shift the defensive block and switch the ball to the weak side to progress play into the second line. The deepest-lying midfielder in the six-space will make a movement to the left-back in possession while the free-8 will drop into space to receive possession as the fullback will also have his winger and ball-near attacker moving closer to him to receive possession. He also has the possibilities to drive the ball into the central areas while to attract pressure from the second-line of the opposition while his teammates will move to their blind-side to receive possession.
Positioning their players in a 2+3 shape with two fullbacks positioned closer to the touchline in Marcelo Bielsa-like away creates width when Defensa y Justicia circulate the ball from side to side in the build-up phase as they search for passing lanes to the six-space. One of their favoured build-up sequences in this shape is for the centre-backs to work passes for the fullbacks as the deepest-lying midfielder will continue to move from side to side to receive possession in the six-space where he can work a deep vertical pass to one of the free-8s in between the lines. In certain situations, one of the fullbacks will drop into the defensive line to create a three-chain which will entice the opposition to press one flank where Defensia y Justicia will switch the ball to the far side to work a pass into the six-space.
In certain situations, one of the centre-backs will push into the midfield line to play deep vertical passes to the ball-far free 8 in between the lines so he can flick onto the nine space or lay-off to the six-space to instigate vertical passing moves in the opposition half. When Crespo’s side are in the 2+3 shape, he encourages his centre-backs to push up and work passes through the lines as in certain situations, the ball-far winger will tuck inside to create an overload with the attacker and free 8 on the flank as the centre-back will push up to play the ball to the flank where they can work quick one-touch passing routines. In this sequence, the fullback will not immediately overlap as a turnover would give the opposition the opportunity to counter as he will wait for the trio to establish themselves on the flank with vertical connections before making a timed overlapping run to receive possession and have a crossing opportunity.
Defensa y Justicia will also work wide connections as once possession is moved to the fullbacks, the ball-near free 8 will make the same diverging run as Crespo’s side will look to work lobbed passes into the channels. However, in the latter stages of last season, Crespo’s side utilized a 2-4-3-1 to have a double-pivot in midfield as the ball-near deeper midfielder would make a dummy run for the fullback to work a pass into the ball-far midfielder. When Crespo’s side are utilizing a double pivot then they will look to use the midfielders to drag markers out of position to open passing lanes into the next line. One of the midfielders will drop into the defensive line to create a three-chain when the ball moves into the wider areas for his midfield partner to make a late drop into the six-space to receive possession and evade the first line of pressure.
In the 2-4-3-1 system, this also facilitates longer ball build-up sequences as his side can play direct into the central striker to lay-off to one of the attacking midfielders behind him, so they can work rotations to create shooting opportunities. Once the ball is laid off, the players will make runs to create space for the player in possession not prioritising width but the creation of space to create passing lanes for through ball and direct shooting opoortunities in the centre. Deeper players like the fullbacks will make overlapping runs while Crespo’s side would not be against playing back-passes to one of the deeper-lying midfielders in the double-pivot for Defensa y Justicia to establish themselves in the opposition half as the deeper-lying midfielders would have a better overview of the pitch to switch the ball or thread passes through the lines.
Whenever Crespo’s side are utilizing a two-chain then the goalkeeper will be highly involved in build-up play, especially when the ball is played back to the centre-backs from the higher areas and the opposition are looking to apply pressure as the goalkeeper, Unsain will push high to receive possession outside his box and work a pass to the ball-far centre-back as an extra man to give his side numerical superiority without a deep-lying midfielder dropping to create a three-chain or a fullback dropping into the defensive line to receive possession. This allows the rest of the outfield players to maintain their positions in their zones to draw opposition players out of position as they circulate the ball to open passing lanes and progress play.
Positional play
Crespo employs the essential tenets of modern-day positional play but has innovated in terms of blind-sided movement and connections in between the lines to create incredibly high-quality goalscoring opportunities for his attackers. His side can move the ball directly and vertically to create opportunities as well as employing more patient passing moves to break down deep defensive blocks. In Crespo’s system, the main objective is for players to create good passing angles for the player in possession through constant movement within the framework of playing one-touch triangular connections to release runners into space for low crossing and shooting opportunities. The intriguing issue is how skilled Defensa y Justicia are at the fundamentals, especially with regards to directional first touches in between the lines.
In the situation above, Defensa y Justicia are in their 3-1-4-2 system as they have established compactness in the opposition half as well as triangular player spacing to move possession quickly with one or two touches in between the lines. The left sided centre-back is in possession as his most direct pass is to the six-space while his ball-near free 8 is making a movement towards the blind-side of the opposition attacker who is directly pressing him. This blind-sided movement not only creates a higher quality passing option for the player in possession but also clears a space in between the lines for the striker to drop into the ten space to receive possession. The player in possession can work a pass to the six-space for the deepest-lying midfielder to play a one-touch pass to the striker in between the lines as he can lay the pass back off to the deepest-lying midfielder to switch the ball to the flank or thread a pass through for the attacker in the half-space who will make a run once the striker receives possession and lays-off to the six-space.
Defensa y Justicia’s movement and triangles are well-engineered in between the lines to create space and open passing lanes. For instance, when the ball is played to the six-space, the deepest-lying midfielder will know he has to play the pass with one-touch as the striker receiving the ball in the ten space can play a basic lay-off or flick through a pass for a runner in behind to have 1v1 opportunity against the keeper. However, Crespo’s side are well drilled with their directional first touches in between the lines as the striker also has the option to drop deep to draw a defender with the space in front of him being open to allow the ball to roll across his body to dribble his marker so he can drive at goal or have a better passing angle to move the ball to the flank where and make a run to the near post to drag a marker out of position for a cut-back to the top of the box.
The beauty of Defensa y Justicia’s play in between the lines is the free 8 who is dragging the marker to clear the space can then move back once the striker receives possession to receive a lay-off to lob a pass to the opposite flank before moving to the top of the box to receive a cut-back or threading a pass to the ball-near wing-back making an overlapping run to make a run to the near post so the wing-back can cut-back to the strikers for a high quality goalscoring opportunity. However, he could also receive possession from the left sided centre-back to turn and play a back-pass to the six-space for the deepest-lying midfielder to work a pass to the ball far free 8 or thread a pass in between the lines for the striker. However, if he continued to drive the ball to the flank then the wing-back would make a run inside as a passing option in between the lines to work a one-touch pass in behind for the ball-near striker to have a high-quality shooting opportunity.
If the left-sided centre-back decides to push up and hold the ball for longer then the deeper-lying midfielder and free 8 will move into the open spaces to provide better passing opportunities for the man in possession while creating an overload in that area of the pitch. They could also drag opposition markers into this zone for the man in possession to switch the ball to the far side for the ball-far centre-back to push up and drive the ball into the opposition half as the central striker and free 8 will drop into space to receive possession as he could work a pass to one of them to lay-off to the other to lob a pass for a third man runner making a run in behind to have 1v1 with the goalkeeper. Crespo’s side seek to create organized chaos in the opposition half by clearing spaces and working quick passing connections.
Wide combinations as well as movement and interchanges in the wide zone and half-spaces are critical to Defensa y Justicia creating opportunities. Crespo likes to utilize fluid movement in these areas as well as overloads to drag defenders out of position to move the ball back into the centre and switch to the weak side for a high-quality crossing opportunity or create a high-quality shooting opportunity from the same flank. In crossing situations, Crespo’s side will utilize subtle movements and runs to create opportunities as Defensa y Justicia create a great amount of low crossing opportunities from the flank or 1v1 shooting opportunities from the wide areas with impeccable movement and passing.
In the situation above, the midfielder in the half-space can work a pass to the wide zone for the player hugging the touchline to thread a direct pass to the striker in the nine space who will move closer to the flank to receive possession. The striker will then flick a pass through for the wide attacker in the half-space to have a shooting opportunity at goal. The player hugging the touchline can also lob a pass into the channels for the wide attacker before veering into the half-space while the midfielder moves into the wide zone as wide attacker can then play a pass to his teammate on the flank to pass for the player in the half-space for his teammate in the nine space to dummy for him to work a pass in behind to cut-back.
In the final third, Crespo encourages his players to hold the ball and dribble into the centre if the spaces are available to entice markers and create opportunities for movement and passing sequences. In the sequence above, the player in the half-space can work a pass to the wide areas for the wing-back to dribble into the centre to have better passing access to the ball-far free 8 who is in enough space in the centre to thread a pass in behind for a goalscoring opportunity. As the wing-back dribbles inside, the midfielder in the half-space will move into the wide zone to drag his marker out of position while the player in the nine space will drop deep as a passing option as he can receive possession and lay-off to the ball-far free 8 who will lob a pass for an attacker making a run into space in behind.
Even though the opposition have the numerical superiority, Defensa y Justicia have spacial superiority as they have passing avenues out of the zone to the nine space, the opposition fullback is moving to close down the player in the half-space which gives the Argentine side the opportunity to move a player in the wide zone to receive possession. They can also work a movement where the midfielder in the half-space plays the ball into the wide zone for the attacker to make run into the channel to receive possession as the player in the wide zone makes a forward run into the half-space. This would manipulate the opposition’s man-marking system for the player in the half-space to receive possession and have a crossing opportunity.
Movement in the box to receive crosses is also an essential part of the way that Defensa y Justicia attack opposition boxes, especially with the movement of the attackers in the wide areas. For instance, if an attacker moves into the wide areas to drag a man out of position, the ball-near midfielder will veer around him and attack the open spaces in the box as Crespo’s side prefer to attack the opposition box with three players minimum. The ball-near attacker will be tasked with attacking the near post or making a supporting movement to receive possession in the half-space while the ball-far attacker will attack the back-post or the central areas with a midfielder making a late run into the box to receive a cut-back. The supporting movement in the half-space is to provide the player in possession a high-quality passing opportunity with the ball-near wide midfielder moving around him to attack the space he has vacated as the ball-far midfielder will tuck inside to attack the top of the box.
Defensa y Justicia prefer to circulate possession in the opposition half through well-rehearsed triangular passing sequences as they will move the ball from side to side with attackers in between the lines dropping to receive possession. They will rarely work a direct switch from one flank to another as they prefer to switch the ball utilizing deep vertical passes from the wide zones to the centre, lobbed passes from the centre to overlapping runners in the wide zone and lobbed crosses from the half-spaces. However, they will frequently connect play with vertical interchanges on one flank to move the ball into the centre for one player to turn out of a challenge and drive the ball to switch the ball to the weak side for an opportunity for a 1v1, so teammates can attack the box.
When Defensa y Justicia are employing a back-four they will utilize a 2-3-2-3 in the positional play phase or a more conventional to 2-3-5 shape to circulate play and establish width on the pitch. Their goalkeeper will be highly involved as an outfield player, pushing up to receive possession in between the centre-backs and switch the play to the ball-far centre-backs and fullbacks to add some continuity to his side’s play. Defensa y Justicia will normally look to work possession through the central avenues with passes from the six-space to one of the two free-8s in between the lines as they will also seek to combine in between the lines through triangular passing sequences.
In the situation above, Defensa y Justicia are in a variant of a 2-2-4-2/2-3-5 shape as the attacker, free-8 and fullback are creating triangles on both side of the pitch with the fullback stretching play. One of the attackers has dropped deeper into the ten space to receive possession while his strike partner is preparing to make a run into the vacated space if his centre-back tracks him into the deeper areas. He is positioned in between the two centre-backs to occupy one centre-back while being prepared to make a run in behind his attack partner’s marker if the opportunity arises. Crespo’s side have also created a triangle with the two free-8s and the central striker. The double-pivot in midfield also have the possibility to attract markers for the opposition midfielders that will create space in between the lines or force the whole opposition defensive line to push up creating more opportunities for runs in behind.
With more space in between the lines, the free-8s can move closer to the strikers to receive possession and work integral chance creating triangular combinations in between the lines. If the left-sided deeper-midfielder receives possession with an attacker pushing up to mark him then the deeper-lying attacker will move to his opponent’s blind-side to receive possession with the ball-far free-8 tucking inside as the player receiving possession in between the lines to flick the ball to the attacker in the half-space. If the attacker in the half-space cuts inside, the deeper-lying attacker will make a supporting run outside him to give him a passing option for a low cross or clear some space for him to have a shooting opportunity. The ball-far 8 will tuck inside and make a run to the back-post if the central striker moves to the centre or he will attack the centre if the central striker moves to the back-post for a lobbed pass.
The ball could be played to the right-sided deep-lying midfielder as he can work a pass into the deeper-lying striker for a similar routine. Or the free-8 in the half-space could make a dummy run to open a passing lane for the fullback in the wide zone for the deeper-lying midfielder to work a pass into the wide areas for the fullback to play a one-touch to the 8 in the half-space or drive inside to allow the midfielder in the half-space to move outside him and the ball-near attacker to move into the half-space so he can look to facilitate a switch or work a pass outside him for the player in the wide zone to touch a pass to the attacker in the half-space to cut-back for a high quality crossing opportunity.
Counter-pressing
Defensa y Justicia’s player spacing and shape in the opposition half facilitates a solid residual defence for counter-pressing as if they lose the ball in a triangular vertical combination, they can aggressively squeeze against the opposition to force a back-pass where the attackers will chase the ball to force a turnover or a long-ball for the centre-backs to reclaim possession at the halfway line. At times, Crespo’s side will not be about applying counter-pressure with multiple players attacking the player in possession but rather, the player closest to the turnover applying the pressure while the players around him focus on their man-marking responsibilities. Defensa y Justicia’s attacking positioning can allow a player to hold his position to make a tackle and force a turnover as his teammates will look to attack the opposition box with pace and tempo.
In certain situations, the possibilities of the opposition player beating his man marker to establish a breaking situation on Crespo’s side as Defensa y Justicia positioning and player spacing is usually tight which will allow the closest players to engage the man on the ball in the second wave to force a loose pass for the highly positioned centre-backs to regain or to force a high turnover. If the turnover takes place behind the attacking line, then the midfielders will hold their position as the opposition attackers drive the ball towards them before making the tackle. This allows the deepest wing-back or fullback to track back and create a back four while the attackers caught ahead of the ball will also charge back to win a turnover or force a tactical foul.
There is an element of players covering for eachother after a loss of possession is if a wide player loses possession on the flank, he is willing to chase his marker into the central positions while the ball-near attacker will mark the opposition player on the flank as the defence will push up to suffocate the opposition and force a turnover. The first wave of the Defensa y Justicia press will begin with a singular man looking to regain possession as if he is beaten, the players in that area will engage the opposition player in possession to force a tackle or a loose pass for Defensa y Justicia to regain in their back-line. If Crespo’s side lose possession the deeper areas in build-up then they will be less passive in regaining possession with the closest players around the ball swarming around the opposition player in possession to force a turnover.
One of Crespo’s attacking routines is to play long balls into the central striker or the channels as the opposition can regain possession as Defensa y Justicia will swarm around a wide opposition player to regain possession with their players much higher on the pitch. After a turnover in the wide areas, Defensa y Justicia will aggressively press as a unit to hem the opposition player near the touchline or by-line to force a high turnover so they can look to work their vertical connections and construct an attacking move. They also have a higher opportunity of winning possession because the spaces are tighter so ball-far players can tuck inside as the defence can shift and push up to win possession through interceptions.
Another place where Defensa y Justicia will hunt the ball aggressively is if they lose possession at the edge of the opposition box as if the front five will aggressively press the ball inside the box as the opposition centre-backs will play the ball back to the goalkeeper with all five players pushing into the box to win the turnover or force a long-ball from the goalkeeper. They will look to deny the goalkeeper direct pass to any of his centre-backs as this could increase the opportunities of the opposition stringing together a counter-attack against a vulnerable Defensa y Justicia back-line. They may tease a pass to the flank which would continue the aggressive counter-pressing phase as Crespo’s side would look to win the turnover in the wide areas.
Pressing
Crespo’s side will press the opposition in a variety of formations, looking to apply an aggressive man-orientated press to force long-balls or high turnovers in order to create goalscoring opportunities. When they play with a three centre-back system then they will normally press as a 5-2-3 formation while they will also press as a 4-2-3-1 at times with a special focus on pressing the opposition goalkeeper. They can also press with a 4-3-3/4-1-4-1 if they are utilizing a two centre-back system as Defensa y Justicia will look to be aggressive in looking to regain possession in the higher areas.
In the sequence above, Defensa y Justicia are pressing in their 5-2-3 shape with the opposition switching to a back three formation in the build-up shape. The central striker has pushed up to press the goalkeeper and deny him access to the central centre back which allows the midfielder in the same zone to mark an opposition player in the midfield line. In whichever shape they utilize to apply pressure, targeting the goalkeeper is always crucial to force errant passes or longer balls as if the central striker was in a deeper area and one of the wide players were in the attacking line to press the goalkeeper then the wider attacker will push up to press the goalkeeper while keeping the centre-back in his cover shadow. In the situation above, the wide forwards are marking the centre-backs while Defensa y Justicia’s two midfielders are marking the opposition players in the midfield line.
The centre-backs will also track their markers into the deeper areas to look to regain possession with interceptions as once the ball is moved to the flank, the wide attacker, wide midfielder and wing-back will squeeze the opposition in the wide areas to force a turnover. Crespo prefers to have his players press as a compact unit without ample distance in between players so that if one player is beaten, the closest player will then engage the opposition player in possession. In the picture above, if the goalkeeper manages to lob the central striker to work a pass to the central centre-back, the midfielder and the two wide attackers are positioned perfectly to apply pressure and win the turnover to regain possession and launch a quick attack.
Defensa y Justicia will also press as a 4-2-3-1 with the central striker tasked with marking the goalkeeper and the centre-backs with the attacking midfielder closing down the player in the six-space while the wingers mark the opposition fullbacks. The double-pivot will close down the two midfielders in between the lines as if one of the opposition midfielders drop closer to the six-space then his marker will track him to create a 4-1-4-1 shape for Defensa y Justicia while the two midfielders will push up high to close down their markers. If the opposition switch to a back-three, then Crespo’s side will alternate their man-orientated press accordingly as they will switch to a 4-3-3 with two midfielders marking the opposition deeper players as regaining possession in the higher areas is essential to creating opportunities.
Defensive Shape
Defensa y Justicia had many issues in the Argentine Primera Division and Copa Diego Maradona because they defend in a man-orientated fashion like Gian Piero Gasperini’s Atalanta or Ivan Juric’s Hellas Verona as Crespo had to rotate his side from the mid-week Copa Sudamericana fixtures. This created many issues defensively as Defensa y Justicia would fail to score chances at one end then concede at the other through mistakes in the defensive shape caused by a lack of cohesion amongst the rotated players. His side are capable of dominating games by creating high quality opportunities and deny the opposition high quality shooting opportunities of their own when Crespo was playing with his first team side.
In the situation above, it is obvious that Defensa y Justicia are focused on their man-marking responsibilities with the opposition players in the final third closed down by a direct marker. The opposition player in possession has a direct access to the half-space because of this but once he releases the ball to his teammate, the player’s direct marker will attack his blind-side to win a tackle to regain possession while the Defensa y Justicia defenders will swarm him to regain possession and deny him the opportunity to turn with possession or lay-off the ball to a teammate. Defensa y Justicia are trying to force the opposition player in possession to turn and play a back-pass to the goalkeeper so Crespo’s side can initiate the pressing phase or a long-pass down the channels or switch ball which they will have a higher opportunity of regaining.
In the defensive phase, Crespo’s side will also cover for each other with the deepest-lying midfielder dropping into the defensive line to cover a space for a centre-back moving out of position to track a marker or a midfielder moving into the wide areas to cover for a wing-back who is also tracking his marker as these adjustments are crucial to regaining possession, especially when the opposition manage to make a dribble. In the photo above, the defender in the same zone as the opposition player in possession is pushing up to make a challenge while the striker is also in the same area to add direct pressure. The two defenders behind have their bodies directed to the flank to look to regain possession if the ball is down the line while the defender marking the opposition player in the half-space can swivel to make a challenge if the ball is played to his direct marker.
In the situation above, you can also see the issues and inherent risk of employing this defensive system as they are open passing lanes for attackers to move into to receive possession while man-marking systems can be manipulated with movement and quick ball rotations. The ten space is open as one of the strikers could drop into that space to receive possession with two opportunities for a lay-off while his striker makes a run in behind. Crespo employs an attacking system to manipulate man-marking but a defensive system that employs aggressive man-marking. Also, minor mistakes like a player missing a tackle can lead to the breakdown of the defensive system as Defensa y Justicia conceded goals through counter-attacks as well as deflected crosses or poor clearances on the box.
When Defensa y Justicia regain possession, they can also work quick connections to break on the counter-attack by using wide rotations to send a striker in behind in the channels for a cross or shooting opportunity. Meanwhile, one of Crespo’s favoured routines are vertical connections on the flank after regaining possession in their own half to then switch to the weak side to create 1v1s allowing the player receiving possession on the weak side to cut inside and shoot or cross. The tight player spacing and Defensa y Justicia’s ability to work quick one-touch passing moves at high tempo allows them to be a very lethal counter-attacking side as they move the ball through the zones in transition.
Conclusion
It has already been announced that Hernan Crespo will take over the Sao Paulo job as the Chilean National Team showed interest in him. It will be interesting to see if he can implement his ideals effectively without a long-term pre-season and in a 40 plus game League season with Copa Libertadores, state championship and cup responsibilities in a more demanding culture with Brazilian teams unafraid to sack managers after three game tailspins. He has proved that he has some intriguing ideas as there is the possibilities that all roads would lead to Italy with him as his family owns a house with a stable in Parma where his daughters reside while his style would be better suited to the demands of Italian football where he still retains hero status. His coaching career trajectory could be as long and winding as his playing career was.
