SÉRGIO CONCEIÇÃO’S COMMANDEMENTS

DEFENSIVE ORGANIZATION OF FC PORTO

HUGO DIAS
 First Phase
Keeping the team close
Blocking inside connections
to scoring areas

High Pressure COLLECTIVE THINKING Agressiveness

Conditioning outside connections Cohesive and dynamic block

HUGO DIAS
 High Pressure

Immediate pressure on the ball carrier when he reaches the

side corridor or when he plays the ball interiorly. Coordinated
movement of the entire team, which moves forward in the
pitch and cuts passing lines.

HUGO DIAS
High Pressure

HUGO DIAS
 Agressiveness

Sergio Conceição seeks players with great intensity and

aggressiveness. That’s how he puts into practice his game
ideal at this moment. Here, in this subprinciple, more than
tactical and technical issues, we talk about behavioral
aspects. Sérgio Conceição doesn’t intend only to shorten
spaces, he wants the balls to be recovered.

HUGO DIAS
Agressiveness

HUGO DIAS
 Keeping the team close to scoring areas

Is there a better defensive proposal than defending close to

the opponent’s goal? Sometimes we can think that FC Porto
is closer to scoring when it defends than when it attacks.

HUGO DIAS
Keeping the team close to scoring areas

HUGO DIAS
 Conditioning Outside Connections

The wingers/side midfielders are positioned between the

opponent’s center back and full-back and they try to condition
the build-up in the side of the pitch.

HUGO DIAS
Conditioning Outside Connections

HUGO DIAS
 Blocking Inside Connections

The forward conditions the build-up between the center backs

and the inside midfielders move forward in the pitch and block
inside passing lines.

HUGO DIAS
Blocking Inside Connections

HUGO DIAS
 Conditioning Outside Connections
+
Blocking Inside Connections
=
Forcing the opponent to play long balls

HUGO DIAS
Forcing the opponent to play long balls

HUGO DIAS
 Cohesive and Dynamic Block

When, by strategic option and the impossibility of blocking the

short build-up from the opponent’s defensive zone, FC Porto
establishes a cohesive block, where the position of the ball is
the reference.

HUGO DIAS
Cohesive and Dynamic Block

HUGO DIAS
 Second Phase
Winning the second balls Reducing spaces

Reactive block COLLECTIVE THINKING Cooperation

Defensive Coverage

HUGO DIAS
 Winning the second balls

FC Porto is usually rather strong in attacking the area where

the ball drops. Coordinated behavior of the whole team and
aggressive attitude of each player to win rebounds and
second balls.

HUGO DIAS
Winning the second balls

HUGO DIAS
 Reducing Spaces

The players, taking the position of the ball as a reference,

must make the pitch smaller, reducing spaces, and avoiding
that the opponent can play inside those same spaces.

HUGO DIAS
Reducing Spaces

HUGO DIAS
 Reactive Block

Whenever the opponent passes the ball backward or receives

a ball with the back turned to the opponent’s goal, the
defensive block, in order to reduce spaces and be more
pressing, must move forward in the pitch.

HUGO DIAS
Reactive Block

HUGO DIAS
 Cooperation

Creation of a collective dynamic that provides compensation

movements between players, making these an essential
routine in the team’s success. As an example, the cooperation
between the full-back and the winger/side midfielder, and
even with the inside midfielder, to reduce spaces and/or to win
the ball in the lateral corridors.

HUGO DIAS
Cooperation

HUGO DIAS
 Defensive Coverage

If one of the center backs comes out of his defensive line to

press the forward, the other elements of the defensive line,
specifically the other center back, must cover his teammate’s
position. The defensive pivot is extremely important as it is
responsible for completing the defensive line.

HUGO DIAS
Defensive Coverage

HUGO DIAS
 Third Phase
Depth control Being present in key zones

Cooperation COLLECTIVE THINKING No risks

Perfect alignment

HUGO DIAS
 Depth Control

Watching out for uncovered balls and properly read the

opponent’s body posture to more successfully annulling a ball
played on the back of the last defensive line.

HUGO DIAS
Depth Control

HUGO DIAS
 Being Present in Key Zones

Occupying in advance the zones where it is most likely to

concede a goal (first post, second post, penalty box, semi-
circle).

HUGO DIAS
Being Present in Key Zones

HUGO DIAS
 Cooperation

Collective cooperation in the last defensive third of the pitch:

compensations and coverage.

HUGO DIAS
Cooperation

HUGO DIAS
 No Risks

Creating conditions to start the offensive transition, where a

player positions himself further on the pitch. Preferably, an
interception should be made to make the ball playable. But
the order is not to take risks and, if necessary, to clear the ball
forward or kick it out of the pitch, without conceding corners.

HUGO DIAS
 No Risks

HUGO DIAS
 Perfect Alignment

Maximum concentration of the last defensive line when

marking, which must be led by the player closest to the ball.

HUGO DIAS
Perfect Alignment

HUGO DIAS
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