Individual Principles (Dribble the Ball) by Fabio Napoletani (Patreon)

There are numerous individual principles, or sub-sub-principles, that find application within construction situations referred to from the back. One could dwell on the technical gestures of football and ball reception, fundamental gestures for both short game development, to provide continuity necessary for seeking the free man or for their execution precision against strong opponent pressing, as well as for long game development, as we saw in the example of Ederson and Aguero, which would have been impossible without adequate technical competence. 

One could focus on individual tactical skills for ball retention, also fundamental, especially in situations where opposing teams tend to apply strong man-oriented pressure, for creating space recognition to attack or occupy, or for choosing between passing and opting for a dribble, like the cut often used by full-backs. 

However, I have chosen to dedicate more space to the action of Dribble the Ball, exploring its different strategic purposes. In this paragraph, three distinct modes of ball control will be discussed:

• To attract
• To overcome
• To fixate 

Dribble the Ball to attract is a type of low-speed dribble that aims, in relation to its execution mode, to attract the opponent's pressing, with one or more defenders thus moving towards the builder. From the opponent's pressure release, spaces or teammates will then be freed up, who must be reached directly or indirectly, through a third player, by the ball carrier. This is a gesture often used by early builders, mostly goalkeepers or center-backs, which is also emphasized by the use of the sole of the foot. 

In this regard, Roberto De Zerbi explained with the following words how this tactic was exploited to trigger strong opponent pressure: "It happens to find a player who, when you talk to him about the sole of the foot, thinks it's about aesthetics or something self-contained. I had a player [...], Antonio Vacca, in Foggia. He was a lover of the sole of the foot. Sometimes I told him, 'if the sole of the foot is needed, you must use it, if it's not needed, you shouldn't use it.' He replied, 'Coach, when I use the sole of the foot, the opponent presses me harder. I use the sole of the foot, in that moment, to make the opponent press me more strongly. If you think about it, that's how it is: the sole of the foot unconsciously gives the opponent the desire to press you more aggressively [...]." 

Dribble the Ball to overcome, on the other hand, is the individual technical gesture that allows a player to escape from a situation of individual opponent pressure or to surpass a pressing line. For this reason, the execution speed will certainly be higher than the previous gesture. 

Finally, in Dribble the Ball to fixate, it is the ball carrier who guides towards an opponent who does not press, with the purpose of "blocking" them and then passing the ball to a teammate who will have more time and space for action.

Reference: 1001 ways to build up from the back (Fabio Napoletani)