In partnership with

CELTIC

Neil Lennon
Counterattacking
masterclass
Overview:

Half pitch

1a

Equipment

35

Balls, cones, goal

Number of Players

15
Session time

Counter-attacking
game and half-pitch
game - 4x4mins each

What do I get the

players to do?
Counter-attacking
game
Setting up as shown,
this game is 5v5. The
object for each team
is to link up with clever
passing, break into the
end zone and score in
the goal (1a). Defenders
cannot retreat into
the end zone until
attackers enter it.
When a team scores,
the goalscorer has
to run around the
goal and re-enter the
playing area from the
other side. As he is
doing this, the server
plays a new ball into
the area to the other
team, therefore
encouraging them to
counter forward in a
5v4 situation (1b).
Players who were
previously on the attack
are now defenders,
their task being to
contain and recover
the oppositions attack
while their fifth player
comes back into play.
It is for this reason that
counter-attacks are
done at pace, so as to
make full use of the
one-man advantage.
However, players must
ensure moving at pace
isnt at the expense of
losing possession (1c).

In the counter-attacking
game, whites attack at
pace, move into the end
zone and score a goal

1b
35

The player who scores

must run around the goal,
and a new ball is served
immediately, thus creating
a 5v4 counter-attacking
overload

1c

35

25

4 march 2013

Area

25

When an
opposition
attack breaks
down, its
crucial were
ready and
prepared to
break quickly,
capitalising
on the fact
they are out of
position.

SET-UP

25

This session looks at

counter-attacking with
an overload. We run
this regularly because
when an opposition
attack breaks down,
its crucial were ready
and prepared to break
quickly, capitalising on
the fact they are out of
position.
We used this principle
to devastating effect for
our second goal against
Barcelona in this
seasons Champions
League. Leading 1-0,
and having repelled
a series of attacks
from the Spaniards,
we launched the ball
forward quickly and
Tony Watt scored with
a fantastic drive past
Victor Valdes to give us
breathing space.

counter-attacking masterclass

Key
Ball
movement
Player
movement
Dribble

But on this occasion the

counter-attack fails, and
whites find themselves
back on the attack
www.elitesoccercoaching.net

In partnership with

counter-attacking masterclass

Neil Lennon
CELTIC
Neil Lennon is manager
of Scottish Premier
Division champions
Celtic, and this season
masterminded a
tremendous 2-1
Champions League
success over Barcelona.
The Northern Irelandborn 41-year-old joined
the club as first-team
coach in 2008, but
was promoted to the
post of manager two
years later. In 2011 he
clinched the Scottish
Cup Final for the club,
following that up with
the SPL title a year later.
As a player, Lennon had
already made over 200
senior appearances
appearances before
he got his break in the
Premier League, when
signing for Leicester
City in 1996. He went on
to become a pivotal part
of the Foxes midfield
under then manager
Martin ONeill, before
moving on to Celtic,
Nottingham Forest and
Wycombe Wanderers.

Half pitch
Now we move to a half
pitch, with four groups
of three attackers
(2a), and two groups
of two defenders who
rotate frequently.
Blue attackers feed
whites on the halfway
line. These players
advance, attacking
3v2 (2b). As the attack
happens, blues
assume the positions
of the reds, ready to
commence the next
attack. When the white
attack finishes, players
exit to the opposite side
they received the ball
from.
To progress this
practice, we leave
two attackers on
the pitch after each
3v2, also adding two
extra defenders who
approach from behind
the goal. This creates a
5v4 (3).

What are the key

things to look out
for?
In each practice
players need to pass
and move at pace. If
too many touches are
made, or if players
fail to utilise good
movement and
positioning, attacks
will break down.

2a

In the half pitch game, the

ball is fed to the whites
who attack the goal 3v2

2b

Clever movement
and use of space sees
the attackers work a
goalscoring chance as
blues prepare to start

By leaving two attackers

up the pitch and bringing
in two defenders, we
change the game to a 5v4

5 march 2013

www.elitesoccercoaching.net