At the 2023 UWCL final, Giráldez tactical adjustments for Barcelona at half time - adjusting Mariona and Aitana's positions - helped the team overcome Wolfsburg aggressive mid-block and find advantages to create chances and come back to end up winning their second UEFA Women's Champions League
Ewa Pajor is known for her skill, vision of the game, and specially for her goal-scoring ability. This talented Polish forward has left an indelible mark on Wolfsburg and football in general. In this article, we will explore how Pajor plays and why she is considered one of the best players in her position.
The idea of high pressing has gained a significant weight in modern football. It is a key factor for teams who want to be proactive in the game and dominate their opponent with the ball. But, is there only one way to press high? The answer is obviously 'no'. At Ekkono, we have been analyzing these approaches and categorized them into two styles: Pressing in Block and Pressing in Duels. In this article, we will explain the main characteristics of each style, their pros and cons, and show some examples of teams who press using each style.
Arsenal has been playing great for most of this season. Mikel Arteta has managed to build a team that plays beautiful and bright football in a combinative style, dominating most of its opponents. In this article, we will analyze how Arsenal plays at both the offensive and defensive phases and highlight the characteristic principles of the team.
Typically, coaches do not pay attention to the individual fundamentals of the goalkeepers as carefully as they usually do when it comes to the other players. Most of the time, they concentrate on the objectives of the players in the defense and attack and do not clarify the expected objectives to the goalkeepers. However, the goalkeeper role cannot be underestimated in both offensive and defensive phases, so we decided to propose some solutions that would help improve the performance of the team.
When it comes to the Brazilian footballer Vinicius Jr., the slogan 'power is nothing without control' couldn't be more fitting. As a player, Vinicius possesses a rare combination of explosive speed and incredible ball control, making him a constant threat to opponents on the field. His dribbling skills and ability to beat defenders one-on-one are particularly impressive, showcasing his exceptional control over the ball. It's no wonder that he has quickly become a key player for Real Madrid and a rising star in the world of football.
Offensive transitions are one of the unfairly underrated topics in nowadays approach to football analysis. Compared to the attack and defense, transitions stay in the shadow. In this article, we explain the different subphases inside offensive transitions and which tactical intentions teams should have for each of them.
Leo Messi has found his new wingman. The seven-time Ballon d'Or winner forged a terrific society with Jordi Alba for over a decade at FC Barcelona and he now seems to have found a new partner at the Argentinian national team with Nahuel Molina. The 24-year-old right back from Atletico de Madrid has proven a very solid mutual game understanding with 'La Pulga', becoming the "Hidden Key" for Argentina in the World Cup
In the past years there has been a huge evolution when it comes to game models. But, has it been in the right direction? In Ekkono’s view, building a game model is like drawing a tree. In order to be successful, you must draw a very detailed tree full of tiny branches first and then only keep those branches that will be part of the game model.
What does Griezmann, Morocco and Argentina have to do with Nara Club (Japan)? In this article we talk about the ‘Performance Keys’, as part of the Ekkono Method Pros approach to game models. These concepts help teams elevate their performance throughout the season. At Nara Club (Japan), three performance keys were implemented last season, helping them keep a very solid level throughout the whole season and helped them become champions and promote in the J-League.
