Ajax Defensive Phase A Tactical Analysis, Revealing the Skilled Thinking Behind Frank de Boer

Janary !", !#$% & The'()er*Role

Blind tackling

After gathering the challenging reigns of the Ajax first s+ad in !#$#, de Boer has ,rodced
r()ling -his,ers a(ongst fans as of late, s,eclating if the Dtch(an -as the correct (an to
a,,oint (anager for the cl) they adore in (agnani(os (anner, sch as Barcelona, .anchester
/ity, .adrid and (ore0 Franciscs de Boer has do(inated Dtch foot)all -ith cons((ate skill
since his contentios arrival, tilising his tea( to ca,tivate Ajax fans in ,heno(enal dis,lays of
skill, techni+e and consistency, ,roving to )e o)vios as,ects of his tea( as he closes in on his %th
1redivisie title in % years, a thing -hich has never )een co(,leted )efore in Dtch Foot)all,
n)ekno-nst to (any0
2ith historic do(estic -ins, all eyes no- glare at the vision that disgrntles (any Ajax fans
kno-ing they are so far a-ay fro( it0 3n short, Franciscs de Boer4s vision is to ,ro,el the Dtch
giants to the ,innacle of 1ro,ean foot)all0

This is the next ,hase for de Boer4s s+ad and he is flly a-are of it, re,ortedly trning do-n
varios offers inclding Tottenha( 5ots,r in resolte fashion0 Bt is it a realistic, doa)le o)jective
for the side that has failed to )reach the challenging stone -all of the 61FA /ha(,ions 7eage
8ro, Stages once (ore this year9 2ith gli(,ses of )rilliance ,ortrayed in this Dtch:Do(inant
s+ad vs F/ Barcelona, it has (any trning their heads in ad(ira)le notice0
This ,iece is intended to )e (ore of a re,ort on Ajax throghot this season so far, not an article0
Frank de Boer4s Philoso,hy ;f The 8a(e
Ajax se a %:<:< syste( on ,a,er0 3t is clear that de Boer is constantly -orking to refine this syste(
on the levels of )oth gro, and tea( tactics0 Ajax4s defence is largely ,ro:active and attack:oriented
-ith a high ,ressing -ith a high line -hen the o,,onent is constrcting ,lay throgh their defensive
lines0 They ai( to regain ,ossession +ickly and high , the ,itch so they can transition into a
dangeros attack -ith high n()ers thanks to the defensive ,ressing a,,lication0 They initiate an
i((ediate aggressive ,ress -henever the )all is lost high , the field in the o,,onent half0 The
nearest )ody (oves ,resses +ickly to the )all =one, -ho is s,,orted )y , to < ,layers in this
,ress )oth challenging for the i((ediate regain of ,ossession and the !nd )all0 The )ild:, ,hase
is largely )ased arond slo-:te(,o rhyth( fro( /B4s circlating ntil ,rogression , the field can
)e fond in a variety of -ays0 Frank de Boer clearly ,refers a ,ossession ga(e and extre(ely high
a(onts of interchanging fro( %th lines >Positional s-a,s? -ith diversional (ove(ents )eing key
in offensive transitions as -ell as (idfield ,atterns and )ild , ,hase0 These (ove(ents are
i(,erative to de Boer4s ,hiloso,hy as they ,rovide de,th )y decoying o,,onents fro( =ones
creating s,ace allo-ing it to )e occ,ied )y advancing (ove(ents0 3t is fair to say that Frank4s
,hiloso,hy is )ased on creating s,ace and ex,loiting the s,ace created0 Position:orientated ,ressing
in defensive ,hases is key as de Boer has indoctrinated a flidic ,ress into this syste(0
Frank de Boer has clearly i(,le(ented his syste( and ,hiloso,hy into this Ajax side in fierce
(eticlos (anner, orchestrating his side -ith s,er) detail allo-ing scarce deleterios inflences
to de)ase hi(0
'otes
$0 Pressing A,,lication
: @ery Aggressive Pressing Syste(
: /o,ing 2ith 7ong Ball after 5igh Press
: Pressing Syste( vs 5igh:Tier Tea(s

!0 /o,ing 2ith ;,,osition /irclation 3n .idfield
: Ajax Defensive Syste( A ;)jectives vs the %:<:<
: Ajax Defensive Syste( A ;)jectives vs the %:%:!


<0 /overing Syste( To /o,e 2ith ;,,osition .ove(ent Bet-een 7ines
%0 Retaining Sta)ility in Defensive Transitions



Ajax ,ossess a very detailed ,ressing syste( that varies de,ending on s,ecific tea(s that they ,lay0
2hen Ajax -old face a tea( that does not ,ossess great skill dring )ild:, a very aggressive
,ressing syste( -old )e sed0
2hen Ajax -old face a tea( -ith a higher skill dring )ild:, >Sch as PS@, Feyenoord,
@itesse? a less aggressive syste( -old )e e(,loyed0
5o-ever, Ajax ,redo(inantly se a set of Btriggers4 that -old )e exected fiercely -hen activated
no (atter -hich tea( they -ere ,laying0
Ajax, (ain triggers for $st and !nd defensive ,hase ,ress
:FB&/B&8C receives lo- te(,o ,ass hori=ontally or )ack-ards ,ass
:FB&/B carries )all into se(i:lateral&lateral ,osition
:FB&/B receives fro( )ody -ho ,assed -ith )ack to Ajax goal
Det, Ajax -old not ,ress dring the o,,onent (idfield ,re,aration ,ossession ,hase -hen /B4s
are circlating at half line as the risk of ,ressing conceding too (ch s,ace -old )e too high0
3nstead Ajax -old cover all availa)le o,tions and ,ress $st receiving line <v%, leaving the (an in
,ossession n:(arked forcing ,lay long -here Ajax -old sally recover ,ossession de to their
large height and ,hysicality >Average height *E$?0 Ajax -old kno- -hen to carry ot this ,attern
-hen o,,onent /B4s are facing ,l

Pressing A,,lication
: Ajax @ery Aggressive Pressing Syste(
3n this syste( de Boer4s ,ressing is extre(ely flid and he ,er(its no strctred Bdefensive
sha,e&for(ation4 in $st defensive ,hase )t instead ,refers ,osition:orientated ,ressing -ith ,layer
orientated as,ects in it against tea(s that lack +ality in )ild:,0 2hen the $st ,ressing -ave of %
is )reached -ith a ,ass Ajax i((ediately concede to n(erical e+ality in defensive transition )t
their strong $v$ ,layers sally licence this high ,ress and see ot (ost of o,,osing conter
attacks0 3f the o,,osing tea( after )reaching the $st ,ressing -ave cannot (ove for-ard fast
enogh >D. closes o,en )all sitation in defensive transitions, halts ,rogress? then Ajax
i((ediately restrctre into a %$%$ (edi(:)lock sha,e in !nd defensive ,hase -ith ,layers
leaving their (idfield lines to carry ot the ,ressing a,,lication -hen triggers occr and force ,lay
)ack to $st ,hase, seeing the %$%$ re:alternate to the flctating ,ressing syste(0
Ajax $st def ,hase, ,ressing a,,lication -hen !< in left central =one
Ajax ,ress $st receiving line %v% -ith -ingers do)le =onal (arking -ith intelligent skill0 5ere
Schone is in his standard ,ressing sitation do)le (arking /. and 7B, >/. he (arks correlates
-ith his -ing&channel ,ositioning? initiating a ,ress to-ards the 7B -ho is a)ot to receive a lo-
te(,o hori=ontal ,ass, a ,ressing trigger0
Ajax $st def ,hase sha,e
Ajax -ingers, Fischer and Schone in this ga(e, -old take , aggressive ,ositions occ,ying the
dee,est /B dring the 8oalkick ,hase0 5ere AD; Den 5aag4s R/B dro,s to the right:otside =one
ot of the )ox to receive in Bn(arked4 ,osition fro( 8C0 5o-ever Fischer has intelligently
,ositioned hi(self near the R/B -here he can let the o,,onent receive )t still )e in a ,erfectly
dangeros area to ,ress, forcing the R/B to a +ick:hasty decision on -hat he (st do -ith the
)all0 The -inger on the -eak side of the ,itch -old ,osition hi(self in a dee,er ,osition -here he
cold (ark do)le (ark the 7B and /., less aggressive $v$ (arking0 2ingers -old al-ays
,osition the(selves in these ,ositions -henever the 8C -as in ,ossession0
This ,ressing -ave is extre(ely effective against tea(s that lack )ild:, skill and -old rarely )e
)reached0 Ajax4s < (an (idfield -ith -ingers co(,act to their (idfield line >De to do)le:=onal
(arking, ,reviosly stated? A ,ressing a,,roach forcing o,,onent -ide -old virtally title the
,ress i(,enetra)le throgh vertical areas0 2hen the )all -old find ,enetration )eyond the $st
-ave in -ide areas, the FB -old i((ediately track the receiver and ,ress relentlessly as the
o,,onent received )ack to goal0

Ajax $st def ,hase, FB follo-s -inger dee, to ,ressre for !nd )all
5ere the RB tracks his direct o,,onent goal side so he can ,ress hi( )ack to goal as he receives,
forcing a (istake -hich -old lead to a !nd )all0 Ajax4s ,osition orientated defensive sha,e in the
(idfield area >!nd ,hase? -old see the tea( largely shift over to the )all =one -hich -old create
a strong side and sal overload of %v<, <v! in -ide areas0 This overload -old )e ,t to great se
in recovering ,ossession as the aggressive ,ressing of the co((on B)ack to goal4 ,hiloso,hy -old
see the o,,onent either lose ,ossession via )ad toch >3n -hich Ajax -old close the )all =one -ith
overload of n()ers -inning !nd )all? or try to dri))le his -ay ot of a $v$ or $v!0
After this high ,ress the o,,osition sally resorted to either a short risky ,ass to a (an -ho -old
)e ,ressed i((ediately or a long )all instantly ,rogressing ,lay , the field to Ajax4s defensive
line0 2inning the $st and !nd )all after these ,asses -ere key to retaining ,ossession0
Pressing A,,lication
: /o,ing 2ith The 7ong Ball After Press
Dealing -ith this long ,ass effectively -as of key i(,ortance to retaining defensive solidity as Ajax
co((itted a heavy a(ont of )odies dring ,ressing ,hases, sally leaving the defensive line
isolated0 3f the $st )all -as lost, then a dangeros transition -old occr0
Ajax fields a high line -hen de,loying the very aggressive ,ress (ainly to cage ,lay into the
o,,ositions half and to cover free =ones that )eco(e vacant -hen then (idfield tri(virate are
advancing to ,ress0 3t is also very effective vs the long )all0 This is )ecase the )ack for realise
-hen the o,,osition is a)ot to concede ,ossession riskily )y ,laying long and they ,sh for-ard
leaving the o,,onents offensive ,ositioned ,layers in offside =ones0 The signs for the extended ,ass
of corse is -hen the o,,osition ,layer is srronded )y Ajax )odies and all o,tions are
intelligently covered0
Ajax $st def ,hase, dealing -ith $st and !nd )all after goal kick
5ere is a screenshot of ho- the long )all is to )e dealt -ith0 ;ne /B >/losest to Ball =one? ,shes
off defensive line and the defensive line dro,s to ,rovide cover0 This allo-s easier dealings -ith the
!nd )all and a solid sha,e to track o,,ositions rns fro( goalside ,ositions0
5o-ever there -ere of corse ti(es -hen this (ethod did not go to ,lan0
PS@ %:#, !nd )all is n,rotected
After Ajax initiate the very aggressive ,ressing syste(, PS@ are forced long and the /B4s ,re,are
to deal -ith the $st )all0 5o-ever there is a clear (isco((nication )et-een the t-o centre:halves
and )oth of the( challenge for the )all in the air -ith a !v$ in favor of the o,,osition0 This allo-s
Park to rn onto the !nd )all in a gifted free:=one -hich he ex,loits and scores -ith ease0

Pressing A,,lication
: Ajax Pressing Syste( vs 5igh:Tier tea(s
Frank de Boer, like (ost tea(s, -old indoctrinate a ,ressing syste( -ith a ga(e:s,ecific ,lan that
-old vary de,ending on the level of Btier4 tea( that Ajax -old face0 Bar the ga(e vs F/
Barcelona, Ajax -oldn4t ,ress as aggressively against tea(s in the gro, stages of the /ha(,ions
7eage and tea(s in the ,,er echelons of the 1redivisie0 This is de to the skill that increases in
)ild:, ,hase -ith tea(s sch as PS@, Feyenoord, @itesse, /eltic and (any others0
The ,ressing syste( -old involve so(e key differences and so(e nchanged as,ects0
: 7ess aggressiveness in ,ressing
: Sha,e -old )e (ore co(,act at the cost of less ,ossession
: Pressing -old not )e as high in final third
: .ore focs on sha,e, ,osition orientated adjsting to )all =one
Ajax -old tilise a %$%$ (edi( )lock in !nd defensive ,hase -ith an a,,roxi(ate F:$! yard
distance )et-een the defensive and (idfield line0 2hen Blind -as the 5olding .idfielder )et-een
the t-o )anks of for, he cold cover half s,aces -ell -ith an increased level of skill in co(,arison
to other (idfielders and allo- the /B4s (ore freedo( to cover ,enetrative defensive line rns0
2hen Polsen -as the 5olding .idfielder and Blind -as 7B, Polsen cold not cover halfs,aces
as -ell de to his lack of (o)ility and the /B4s >or FB4s -hen the /B4s -ere occ,ied (arking
rns? had to ,sh off their line to deal -ith in:ste,,ing -ingers in halfs,aces0 This led to the
,ossi)ility of )eing victi( to defensive line ,enetration in exchange for the defensive ex,erience
and a)ility of Blind at 7B0 5o-ever, -hen Blind converted to a 5olding .idfielder, Boilesen rose
to the occasion and has excelled in the 7B ,osition since0
The ,ressing a,,lication -old )e (ore Bstrctred4 -hen )reaking ot of the %$%$ )lock to carry
ot ,ressing -hen a trigger -old occr0
Ajax $st def ,hase $
Ajax have forced Feyenoord ,lay frther do-n the ,itch -ith the togh:to:,enetrate %$%$ de Boer
has i(,le(ented0 Feyenoord4s $st receiving line carry ot a trigger and Fischer can initiate a
,ressing ,hase -hich reslts in ,ossession gain0
2henever o,,osition retracted ,lay )ack-ards, Ajax as a $# -old ,ro,el , the ,itch as a nit0


Ajax $st def ,hase !
5ere is the sa(e ,hase (o(ents later0 Ajax4s first -ave -old inclde at least one central
(idfielder ,ressing one of t-o /B4s >@aries on o,,osing tea(s? and the ST ready to ,ress the s,are
/B0 This first -ave -old s,ark fro( central areas and -old ,revent ,asses to the dee, /.4s0
Feyenoord ,lay a %:%:! and -ith the lack of (idfield n()ers Ajax cold ,revent the verticality
that Feyenoord thrive on -ith ease, ,reventing ,asses throgh central areas )y ,ressing directly
-ith )ody sha,e forcing o,,osition defensive line -ide0
Ajax $st def ,hase <
The third i(age in this ,ressing ,hase0 Ajax have sccessflly transitioned ,lay fro( Feyenoord4s
strong side to the -eak side lateral area in -hich Ajax overload the )all =one %v<0 Fischer originally
,resses the RB -ho received a lo- te(,o ,ass and forces the te(,o dangerosly high for defensive
line circlation, -hich sees Feyenoord )e hasted into +ick thinking in nco(forta)le scenarios in
-hich their only o,tion is the short ,ass to the RB -hich -old foresee hi( endre an aggressive
!v$ or ,lay long, sally conceding ,ossession0
/o,ing 2ith ;,,osition /irclation in .idfield, !nd Def ,hase
: Ajax Defensive Sha,e A ;)jectives vs the %:<:<
: Ajax Defensive Sha,e A ;)jectives vs the %:%:!
: The /overing Syste(
Ajax -old not often see the o,,osition circlate a(ongst their /B4s at the half line as Ajax -old
often relctantly )e that dee, de Boer4s (ain ideas is to al-ays field a high defensive line0 As a
reslt they -old ,ress at -hatever o,,ortnity -old arise, eager to )reak free of their dee,
,ositioning0
Ajax Defensive Sha,e A ;)jectives vs the %:<:<
%$%$ .edi( Block -old )e non:strctred, /.Gs -old reglarly leave their ,ositioning to ,ress
o,,osition -hen they receive )ack to goal
%$%$ .edi( Block -old )e non:strctred, /.4s -old reglarly leave their ,ositioning to ,ress
o,,osition -hen they receive )ack to goal
Ajax -old field a %$%$ (edi( narro- )lock -ith -ingers co(,act to their /.4s and the
(idfield triangle -old sally )e (arking their direct o,,onents goal side in order to have a clear
visal on -hat their o,,onents ai(ing to do and have the o,tion of ,ressing )ack to goal and
,revent the trn facing ,lay0 Ajax -old ai( to fnnel ,lay -ide -here they cold overload and
-in !nd )all0 This o)jective a,,lies to no (atter -hat syste( and sha,e they are facing0 The %:<:<
vs ,,er:tier tea(s cases Ajax the (ost ,ro)le(s as they have to face n(erical e+ivalence in
(idfield along -ith high activity (ove(ents looking to receive fro( /B4s that are skilled in )ild:
, ,hase0 As a reslt, Ajax -old find less o,,ortnities for ,ressing triggers and they -old )e
forced to re(ain (oderately dee,, covering all o,tions for /B4s to ,lay too instead of ,ressing
aggressively fro( )alanced ,ositions0
5o-ever, de to the (oderately dee, ,ositioning of Ajax4s otfield ,layers, the o,,osition -old
have to -ork to ,enetrate the )lock0 Tea(s -old often ai( for high activity (ove(ents, sch as
,acking the frthest line and overla,,ing )oth FB4 trying to tilise the -ide:areas that Ajax allo- to
)e controlled0 The n(erical e+ality in (ost ,arts of the ,itch -old reslt in an intense covering
syste( that has to )e i(,le(ented )y de Boer in order to track o,,onent rns fro( dee, ,ositions,
)t 34ll get to that later0
There -old )e an e(,hasis on goalside (arking vs ,,er tier tea(s0 This is to allo- easy visal
on their direct o,,onents and easy tracking of their rns, in exchange for less ,ossession0 This
co(,act sha,e reslts in a defensively sond tea( -hen facing o,,osition circlation0 2hen facing
lo-er tier tea(s, )alanced ,ositioning of ,layers in front of direct o,,onents -old )e in se0 This
is to acco((odate the very aggressive ,ress and allo- the high defensive line0
Ajax defensive sha,e 8;A7S3D1 .ARC3'8
8oal side (arking vs the %<< -old )e ,articlarly e(,loyed against tea(s -ith a lot of skill in the
,ossession ,hase0 All ,layers are in goalside ,ositions -ith their direct o,,onents0 A co(,act
(edi( )lock is the reslt -ith defensive strengths ho-ever Ajax lack intensity in ,ressing and
also lack of ,ossession as e(,hasis on defensive sta)ility is highlighted0
Ajax defensive sha,e BA7A'/1D .ARC3'8
Balanced (arking vs the %<< -old )e de,loyed against tea(s that lack the +ality in )ild:,
,hase to ,rovide a significant threat to Ajax4s co(,act defensive sha,e0 Ths, Ajax cold afford to
,ress very aggressively and field a high defensive line caging ,lay into the o,,ositions half0
Balanced ,ositioning -old )e encoraged -here the )ack for and (idfield line stay level -ith
their direct o,,onents allo-ing the( to ,ress the o,,onent )all carrier fro( distance )t at the sa(e
level (arking their direct o,,onent aggressively ,reventing the ,assing o,tion0 The t-o -ingers
-old lodge the(selves )et-een the /B and the FB0 3f the FB receives then he -ill )e ,ressed
i((ediately )y the Ajax -inger and the FB0 The ST -old hassle the /B4s and encorage ,lay
-ide )y )ody ,ositioning and ,reventing the vertical ,ass0 5e -old )e acco(,anied )y the /. in
this !nd defensive ,hase ,ressing a,,lication totalling in a %v% ,ress0
Assess(ent
2ingers ,ositioning -old often correlate -ith their o,,osition fll )acks, tracking their rns +ite
often into Ajax4s o-n third0 This tracking )ack -old )e (ade far easier de to the goal side
,ositioning in !nd defensive ,hase that -old )e sed vs ,,er:tier tea(s0 Against lo-er tier tea(s,
a )alanced ,ositioning -old take ,lace fro( -ingers and they -old sally stay high in
defensive ,hases0
/.4s -old (aintain goalside ,ositions -ith their direct o,,onents in this ,hase for the sa(e
defensive reasons as the -ingers -hen facing ,,er:tier tea(s0 5o-ever -hen facing lo-er:tier
tea(s the risky aggressive ,ressing syste( -old )e sed in -hich /.4s are in:front of direct
o,,onents ,assing on a larger role to the )ack for as they have to ,sh off their line to ,ress
o,,onents )et-een lines0
2hen facing a %<< the ST -oldn4t ,ress as high, -aiting ,atiently for triggers to leave =one0 5is
(ain o)jective is to )lock central ,assing o,tions )y standing H:$# (etres in front of the /B4s and
only )reak ot to ,ress once triggers occr -here he -old have the s,,ort of a /. -ho -old
)reach ot of <rd defensive line0 The ST cold not ,ress as high in these ,hases as there is
n(erical e+ivalence in (idfield and he (st ,atiently )lock ,assing vertical ,assing lanes fro(
/B4s0
This virtally ex,lains the roles of the Ajax tea( -hen facing the %<<0
Ajax Defensive Sha,e A ;)jectives vs the %:%:!
Ajax ,redo(inantly sed the sa(e ,ressing a,,lications as ,reviosly stated0 The goalside vs ,,er
tier tea(s -old )e i(,le(ented, and the )alanced vs lo-er:tier tea(s0 The sa(e co(,act %$%$
for(ation in this !nd defensive ,hase -old )e tilised )t the sha,e -old rarely )e seen against
lo-er:tier tea(s as Ajax sally finds (any o,,ortnities for triggers, and ,ressed the o,,osition
)ack-ards +ite often0
Ajax $st def ,hase, $ ,ivot t-o /.Gs, <v! in .F forcing ,lay into lateral ,ositions
5ere Ajax are facing Feyenoord, an ,,er tier tea( that ses the %%! as their standard sha,e0 Ajax
sing a %<<, -old have co((on <v! in (idfield that -old -ork to their advantage in forcing
,lay ot -ide, siting the defensive o)jectives0 Feyenoord4s ST ho-ever dro,,ed dee,er than his
,artnering front(an, restoring )alance to n()ers in (idfield and co(,li(enting their co((on
idea of verticality, (idfield ,lay focsed throgh the centre0 This forced Ajax4s holding (idfielder
for that ga(e, Polsen, to dro, )ehind the dee, ST leaving a !v! in (idfield0 As a reslt
Sigthorsson dro,,ed dee,er in !nd defensive ,hase ,ressing sitations and -as a short distance
a-ay fro( Feyenoord4s ! /.4s that reglarly dro,,ed to aid )ild ,lay0 This -as recrring the(e
against (any sides that tilised the %%! against Ajax0
Det de to the o,,osition lack of n()ers in (idfield, Ajax cold easily ,revent central ,enetration
)y overloading on a reglar )asis0 This aided the tea( and they stayed co(,act against (ost sides0
The <v! in (idfield also allo-ed Ajax to allocate an extra (an for-ard in ,ressing ,hases aiding
the ST, alternating the %$%$ ,ress to an asy((etric lo,sided ,ressing sha,e0
Ajax (aintain a flctating ,ress0 !<, F ,ressing !v! as F ,shes to $st receiving line )reakingot
of flat <rd line in Ajax def sha,e0 ",I covering -ide
Ajax (aintain a flctating ,ress0 !<, F ,ressing !v! as F ,shes to $st receiving line )reakingot
of flat <rd line in Ajax def sha,e0 ",I covering -ide
1riksen >F? (oves for-ard to (lti:task in the defensive ,hase0 5e ,revents the vertical ,ass fro(
the /B, threatens to ,ress and occ,ies the o,,osition /. dro,,ing to receive as *0 1riksen -old
,sh for-ard -hen there -as an overload in (idfield0
This %!%&%$!< -old alternate de,ending on varios stages of ,lay, orientating arond o,,osition
,layer and )all ,ositioning0 The high first -ave -old )e licenced )y the n(erical e+ivalence in
central (idfield0

Assess(ent
This syste( -as largely solid -hen defending against o,,osition (idfield ,re,aration, )t -hen
co,ing -ith ,,er:tier tea(s it -as difficlt to co,e -ith (ove(ents ahead of the )all0 Frank de
Boer indoctrinated a covering syste( to co,e -ith these (ove(ents )et-een Ajax4s )lock0


The /overing Syste(
De Boer4s ,hiloso,hy exh(es B/ryff4 vi)es and it is evident in his ,lay, )oth defensively and
offensively0 The high A (edi( )lock that Frank de,loys (ost ga(es re+ires constant effort fro(
the defensive line to co,e -ith endless (ove(ents )et-een the t-o )anks, relentlessly -orking at
all ti(es, kno-ing -hen to leave the line, kno-ing -hen to cover for a tea((ates covering rn,
etc0 This difficlt -ork is evident and at ,oints tiring as Ajax often strggle to co,e -ith ,,er:tier
tea(s4 as the o,,osition often find ,rogression throgh ,ossession -ith long ,asses ,layed to lateral
=ones or s,ace creating (ove(ent, forcing the defensive line )ack-ards into dee, areas of the
,itch, (ostly in the latter stages of the ga(e -here Ajax are endred -ith the fatige that has )een
ignited in their lngs fro( the high ,ress and ,ossession ga(e0 Bt in these fe- ,aragra,hs 34ll )e
reciting the covering syste( that has evidently ,racticed heavily on the training grond0
The covering syste( is focsed on ,layer orientated (ove(ent that -old see ,layers ,erfor(
singlar s-a,s of strctred ,ositioning, sch as FB4s ste,,ing in-ard and -ingers dro,,ing to
cover0 1ach ,layer -old have an o,,osing ,layer to (ark in the defensive ,hase0 The ST4s -old
follo- the /B4s sr,rising rns into (idfield, the -ingers -old track FB4s, the /.4s -old track
o,,osing /.4s and so on0 This -old foresee n(erical e+ality in all ,arts of the ,itch and if
(oved correctly -ith intelligence then the %$%$ sha,e -old )e (aintained -ith the only fe-
adjst(ents )eing the singlar ,ositional s-a,s of ,layers0 The covering syste( re+ires intense
focs to )e sstained at all ti(es0

Ajax !nd def ,hase covering syste(
5ere is an exa(,le of Ajax4s covering syste(0 Blind (arks inste,,ing -inger Park to (aintain the
(idfield triangle that the syste( is ,redicated on0 Serero sli,s )ehind and covers for Blinds
(ove(ents0



As a reslt of the high de(and of (aintaining of intense focs, there -ere of corse ti(es -ere the
,layers concentration -old )e scattered i0e B)all -atching4 and their direct o,,onent -old sli,
a-ay n(arked into s,ace0 ;ne of these occasions -as the %:# )attering Ajax scc()ed too a-ay
to rivals PS@0
Ajax !nd def ,hase, dangeros ,ressing fro( Blind5ere the PS@ ,layer receives )ack to Ajax goal0
This is a ,ressing trigger for Ajax as de Boer encorages to never let the o,,onent trn to face ,lay
-hen they can0 Blind carries ot this defensive aggressive ,ress and advances fro( his =one
in-ards )elieving Fischer to cover his ,osition0 5o-ever Fischer4s concentration has vanished and
Park ex,loits the free s,ace0 This ,lay reslts in PS@ finding the killer third goal as Ajax can4t
retreat and sta)ili=e defensive sha,e in ti(e0
;ne of the (ain as,ects in Ajax4s sha,e re:strctre -as the key to netralising o,en )all sitations
in defensive transitions and closing do-n the )all =one0 This leads (e to the next cha,ter0
Retaining Sta)ility in Defensive Transitions
;ne of the (ain as,ects in Ajax4s sha,e re:strctre -as the key to netralising o,en )all sitations
in defensive transitions and closing do-n the )all =one0 The defensive (idfielder -as key in these
,lays and had to cover lateral =ones if the -ide ,layers -ere navaila)le0 5e had to ,ossess the
as,ects of (o)ility >To cover lateral =ones?, defensive strength >Tackles against (oving ,lay?,
strong $v$ ca,a)ility and intelligent ,ositioning >For conter,ressing )all =one in these transitions
-hile rest of tea( is retreating?0 These de(anding as,ects reslted in the conversion of Blind fro(
7eft:Back to the holding (idfielder s,ot for (ost of the season as he is the only (idfielder to
,ossess (ost of these +alities, overseeing Polsen on the tea(:sheet on a reglar )asis as -ell as
the occasional ex,eri(ental start of Schone0
De to Blind4s exce,tional +alities he -as often the catalyst to retaining sta)ility in defensive
,lays, often (aking the correct decisions at vital ti(es0 5o-ever -henever Ajax ,ressing
a,,lication involved )alanced ,ositioning and aggressive ,ressing, Blind -as so(eti(es caght ot
of ,osition (isreading the sitation )y conter,ressing i((atrely in the incorrect circ(stances
and conceded vital s,ace that -as often ex,loited0 Blind is fielded -henever Ajax -anted to carry
ot an aggressive ,ress0
Polsen ho-ever -as an alternative -hen Ajax ,er(itted a goal:side (arking ,hiloso,hy0 This -as
)ecase of the sta)ility offered and ex,erience -hen defending against (idfield ,ossession ,lay0
5o-ever his (o)ility has deteriorated over the years and he stays strictly central in defensive
transitions forcing -ide ,layers to deal -ith lateral ,lay0 Polsen is fielded -hen a dee, defensive
)lock is the o)jective >Barcelona A-ay? and there is less intensity focsed on ,ressing0
Frank de Boer tinkered -ith the holding (idfield role for a short -hile -ith ,layers like Schone,
Polsen and Blind all sharing the role ntil the t-o latter fond consistency in the syste( over the
(ixed reslts of e(,loying Schone to the ,osition0
Ajax transition ,hase, %v%, D. stays vertical and in dee, ,ositioning, /BGs cover lateral s,ace
3n defensive transition Polsen stays central o)ligating (ore (o)ile ,layers >Blind, Dens-il,
Fischer, Schone? to cover -ide areas0
Ajax <rd def ,hase, if availa)le -inger tcks in )ehind 7B in $v$ scenarios to ,rovide cover
3f the )all -as ot in lateral ,ositions and the -ide ,layers -ere a)le to close do-n the )all ,layer,
the defensive (idfielder al-ays took a ,osition )et-een the -ide ,layer and the /B0 This -as to
allo-J
: /over for the FB in case he -as )eaten in a $v$ scenario
: A !v$ in the )ox as the /B didn4t have to cover, nllifying crossing threat
5o-ever there -ere significant set)acks in these scenarios0 3f the Ajax .idfield didn4t retreat in
ti(e, then the ct)ack =one -old )e totally free0 5ere is a case of this ha,,ening and Ajax -ere
forced to ,ay the lti(ate ,rice conceding the third goal0
PS@ <:#
3n the %:# thrashing that PS@ excelled in, Schone -as ex,eri(ented -ith as the *0 Ajax are in (id:
defensive transition -here the )all is no- closed, )t de Boer4s idea and Schone4s role of lodging
)et-een the /B and the FB fails inti(ately here as Ajax cannot cover the ct:)ack =one de to
/.4s not retreating in ti(e and 5ilje(aark receives and scores0 2hen the (idfielders -ere not
+ick enogh in defensive transitions to re:sta)ili=e the defensive sha,e after the )all -as closed,
the ct)ack =one -as often left nattended0 This -as a recrring the(e throghot the season and
can ,rove to )e an error in de Boer4s defensive transitional ,hiloso,hy0
D.Gs role in defensive transitions
5ere is an i(age -hich highlights the 5olding .idfielder4s >'()er $I? role in defensive
transition0 3t involved closing do-n the )all defsing the o,en )all sitation into a closed one,
allo-ing the )ack for to sto, retreating and allo- Ajax to sta)ili=e defensive ,ositions0 Blind -as
a)le to do this (ch (ore effectively and -ith consistent sccess, as co(,ared to Polsen0 Daley
Blind in essence licences the high ,ressing syste( as he ,rovides the (ch needed cover )ehind the
,ressing -aves, flly ca,a)le of covering (axi(al -idth -ith sfficient ease0 5e -as a)soltely
vital for the extre(ely high ,ress against Barcelona in the /ha(,ions 7eage for the first half0
Frank de Boer4s defensive ,hiloso,hy is clearly one that contains (icrosco,ic detail -ith n(eros
variations for each ,hase of ,lay, reslting in a treat to analyse0 3 -ill )e looking at Ajax4s offensive
organisation for (y next ,iece -hich -ill )e ho,eflly ot soon0
Ajax4s ;ffensive Phase A Tactical Analysis, Revealing the Skilled Thinking Behind Frank de
Boer
A,ril $I, !#$% & The'()er*Role

celticK!I!*$"H)

After gathering the challenging reigns of the Ajax first s+ad in !#$#, de Boer has ,rodced
r()ling -his,ers a(ongst fans as of late, s,eclating if the Dtch(an -as the correct (an to
a,,oint (anager for the cl) they adore in (agnani(os (anner, sch as Barcelona, .anchester
/ity, .adrid and (ore0 Franciscs de Boer has do(inated Dtch foot)all -ith cons((ate skill
since his contentios arrival, tilising his tea( to ca,tivate Ajax fans in ,heno(enal dis,lays of
skill, techni+e and consistency, ,roving to )e o)vios as,ects of his tea( as he closes in on his %th
1redivisie title in % years, a thing -hich has never )een co(,leted )efore in Dtch Foot)all,
n)ekno-nst to (any0


2ith historic do(estic -ins, all eyes no- glare at the vision that disgrntles (any Ajax fans
kno-ing they are so far a-ay fro( it0 3n short, Franciscs de Boer4s vision is to ,ro,el the Dtch
giants to the ,innacle of 1ro,ean foot)all0
This is the next ,hase for de Boer4s s+ad and he is flly a-are of it, re,ortedly trning do-n
varios offers inclding Tottenha( 5ots,r in resolte fashion0 Bt is it a realistic, doa)le o)jective
for the side that has failed to )reach the challenging stone -all of the 61FA /ha(,ions 7eage
8ro, Stages once (ore this year9 2ith gli(,ses of )rilliance ,ortrayed in this Dtch:Do(inant
s+ad vs F/ Barcelona, it has (any trning their heads in ad(ira)le notice0
This ,iece is intended to )e (ore of a re,ort on Ajax throghot this season so far, not an article0
Frank de Boer4s Philoso,hy ;f The 8a(e
Ajax se a %:<:< syste( on ,a,er0 3t is clear that de Boer is constantly -orking to refine this syste(
on the levels of )oth gro, and tea( tactics0 Ajax4s defence is largely ,ro:active and attack:oriented
-ith a high ,ressing -ith a high line -hen the o,,onent is constrcting ,lay throgh their defensive
lines0 They ai( to regain ,ossession +ickly and high , the ,itch so they can transition into a
dangeros attack -ith high n()ers thanks to the defensive ,ressing a,,lication0 They initiate an
i((ediate aggressive ,ress -henever the )all is lost high , the field in the o,,onent half0 The
nearest )ody (oves ,resses +ickly to the )all =one, -ho is s,,orted )y , to < ,layers in this
,ress )oth challenging for the i((ediate regain of ,ossession and the !nd )all0 The )ild:, ,hase
is largely )ased arond slo-:te(,o rhyth( fro( /B4s circlating ntil ,rogression , the field can
)e fond in a variety of -ays0 Frank de Boer clearly ,refers a ,ossession ga(e and extre(ely high
a(onts of interchanging fro( %th lines >Positional s-a,s? -ith diversional (ove(ents )eing key
in offensive transitions as -ell as (idfield ,atterns and )ild , ,hase0 These (ove(ents are
i(,erative to de Boer4s ,hiloso,hy as they ,rovide de,th )y decoying o,,onents fro( =ones
creating s,ace allo-ing it to )e occ,ied )y advancing (ove(ents0 3t is fair to say that Frank4s
,hiloso,hy is )ased on creating s,ace and ex,loiting the s,ace created0 Position:orientated ,ressing
in defensive ,hases is key as de Boer has indoctrinated a flidic ,ress into this syste(0
Frank de Boer has clearly i(,le(ented his syste( and ,hiloso,hy into this Ajax side in fierce
(eticlos (anner, orchestrating his side -ith s,er) detail allo-ing scarce deleterios inflences
to de)ase hi(0
'otes
$0 Bild 6, Phase, different variations, $st Phase
: 2hen Schone -as *
: 2hen Polsen -as * L* Short
ter( for 5olding .idfielder
: 2hen Blind -as *
: /o,ing -ith ;,,osition 5igh Press

!0 Possession Pre,aration Throgh .idfield, !nd Phase
: .ethods to evolve ,lay
: Diversional .ove(ents A 3nterchanging


<0 /irclation in ;,,osition 5alf
: Penetrative (ove(ent

%0 ;ffensive Transitions




Short Assess(ent of Ajax4s ;ffensive Phase
Ajax offensive (ove(ents
Ajax tilise a ,ossession )ased syste( -ith a ,ro:active ,lay:style i(,le(ented in every ,art of the
,itch0 The o)jectives are to circlate -ith /B4s at half line hori=ontally ntil a vertical ,ass can )e
fond to the %th line in -hich de Boer sees , to %)odies )eing fielded there0 3f a vertical ,ass
cannot )e fond or ,lay )eco(es too stagnant, then the /B ,lay4s a for-ard ,ass to the FB4s -ho
dro,s to $st line fro( !nd0 3f that does not -ork then Ajax carry ot a series of central diversional
(ove(ents giving vertical de,th for the defensive line to ,lay too0 Ajax rarely ,lay long in (idfield
,re,aration )t the large height and ,hysicality on %th line gives air to aerial ,asses fro( $st ,hase
-hen Ajax are ,ressed in dee, areas of )ild , ,hase0
Bild 6, Phase
;rganisation
;)jectives A Patterns
: 5ori=ontal /irclation ntil For-ard Pass can )e ,layed
: FB4s dro, to $st line fro( !nd to offer ,assing o,tion if $st R7 ,resses !v!
: /.4s on !nd line dro, if $st receiving line ,ressed !v!
: Dee,est /. on !nd line slides hori=ontally to create de,th for vertical ,ass
: Sy((etrical )alance is ,riority in this ,hase
Ajax circlate in this ,hase -ith ,assive rhyth( )et-een t-o /B4s in hori=ontal (anner0 A total
average of a)ot !&< ,asses are circlated )et-een defensive line hori=ontally ntil for-ard ,ass
can )e reached0 De to the sal n(erical e+ality in (idfield and the difficlty of )locking
,assing lanes to -ide areas, (ost of Ajax ,rogression , the field of ,lay ignites fro( lateral =ones
-here /.4s or -ingers&5igh FB4s -old receive, and then ,lay !nd )all into central areas as the
o,,osition are re:organising their defence as they retreat do-nfield0 3n ,articlar, ,layers sch as
Fischer >3nteriore? -old slide into central areas fro( -ide to receive to ex,loit central s,ace
vacated )y retreating defensive and (idfield lines0
5o-ever, the Sole:;)jective of Ajax4s Bild 6, -as to find the vertical ,ass to a central )ody
-here he can receive and trn0 2hen the central )ody cold trn it -old sally reslt in a chance
as Ajax have high n()ers on final line >%:*? giving n(erical e+ivalence in final third0 De to the
threat Ajax ,ose -hen receiving -ithot ,ressre in central areas, tea(s -old often e(,loy an
aggressive individal (an:(arking syste(0 PS@ tilised this to great effect0


Ajax !0H off ,hase, fielding % on %th line
Ajax fielding % on %th line, often resorting to as (ch as * -hen ,lay is too stagnant or Ajax trail )y
heavy a(ont of goals

Ajax $st off ,hase circlation and o)jectives
;nce the vertical ,ass can )e fond, ,rogression is (ade and a chance can )e created -ith high
n()ers in o,,osition half
Frank de Boer has ex,eri(ented -ith varios sha,es to (aintain the do(inance of Ajax in the
1redivisie, (ost nota)ly tinkering -ith the defensive (idfielder s,ot -ith )oth ,ositive and
negative reslts0 3t is -ithot +estion that the holding (idfielder s,ot is i(,erative to Ajax4s )ild
, ,hase -ith Schone, Polsen and Blind all having different effects0
7asse Schone
Schone, ,redo(inantly a right -inger, ,ossesses a rich skill set of )eing flly a)le to ,lay )et-een
lines and contri)te in )ilding ,lay fro( dee,0 5e ,rovides excellent angles for central (idfielders
)y sally taking , the ,osition in the right:centre half s,ace =one in (idfield ,lay and ,ositions
hi(self in front of ,lay dring circlation0 5e can also receive and trn in +ick sccession and has
excellent distri)tion, -hich (akes hi( key in Frank de Boer4s ,hiloso,hy0 5o-ever his defensive
as,ects are li(ited, -hich has seen hi( take , a R2 ,ositioning ,redo(inantly for (ost of the
season0
2hen Schone is the *, the tea( natrally )ild , in a !!!% sha,e -ith the <rd ! A % reglarly
interchanging to create vertical and lateral de,th0 5o-ever Schone4s (oderately high ,ositioning on
the !nd line can reslt in the /B4s getting isolated in ,ossession -ith a lack of o,tions as the lack of
(idfield n()ers can reslt in a lack of co()ination ,lay and link , in (idfield ,re,aration0 This
set , is often easily ex,loited )y o,,osition $st -ave set , in )et-een Ajax4s $st and !nd line
ctting off vertical ,assing lanes and is not hel,ed )y Schone4s lack of defensive Bknack4 as he
rarely is a-are -hen to dro, to <v! in )ild , and as a reslt Ajax often lose ,ossession0 Ajax are
es,ecially vlnera)le to offensive ,ressing transitions also -hen Schone is ,laying as * )ecase of
this0 These as,ects have largely seen Frank de Boer al(ost d(, Schone4s conversion to a *
entirely0
/hristian Polsen
Polsen is )y far the (ost ex,erience Ajax 5olding .idfielder, ca,a)le of ,roviding defensive
cover, >Particlarly -hen Ajax de,loy lo- )lock sha,e? as he is the (ost skilled in (arking direct
vertically ,ositioned o,,onents in the entire Ajax tea(, ho-ever his lack of (o)ility shackle Ajax4s
,ressing organisation as he cannot s-ee, )ehind -aves to ,revent o,,osition ,layers receiving M
trning0
5o-ever as +ite skilled as he is in the defensive ,hase, his contri)tion to offensive ,atterns
throghot the ,itch is -eak in co(,arison to the others, Schone and Blind0 De Boer recognises this
and e(,loys Polsen in a left:left:central ,osition in )ild , ,hase0 Another reason is that Polsen
cannot receive nder ,ressre as his technical skill is very li(ited0 This deleterios as,ect is a fatal
fla- in Polsen4s ga(e -hich sees hi( ,ositioned frther a-ay fro( central areas >2here the
o,,osition has the (ost )odies that -ill ,ress hi(?0 5e is ,t to se in this left:left:centre =one as
he ,rovides excellent cover for Boilesen and Blind4s rns, -henever the latter is fielded there0 This
reslts in an interchangea)le )ack < in )ild , ,hase0
@s /eltic, Polsen -as sitated as * as Frank de Boer did not ex,ect 'eil 7ennon4s /eltic to ,ress
as aggressively and as high , as they did0
Polsen as * : Ajax $st off ,hase, fielding an interchangea)le )ack <
2hen Polsen is * and Ajax $st receiving line are ,ressed !v!, Polsen dro,s to the left:left:centre
=one as he is not technically orientated and it is )est to ,sh hi( ot -ide0 3nstead, the ,layer in the
$st receiving line -ith the )est )all distri)tion takes , the central ,osition, in (ost cases Dens-il0
This a,,lies to all of Ajax4s )ild:, ,hase (ethods0
2hen Polsen is stationed at * the Ajax sha,e rese()les a <<%&<<$< -ith the $ )eing the frthest
/. )et-een o,,osition lines0 This /. -old sally )e the (ost attack orientated and -old have
the i(,erative as,ects of height, ,hysicality and ,enetrative line rns0 This -old sally )e either
De Jong or Claassen0
Daley Blind
Daley Blind4s conversion fro( a co(,act 7eft:Back to a 5olding .idfielder has allocated
n(eros advantages to this Ajax side0 ;ther than orchestrating )ild , ,hase, Blind has a hge
hand in defensive ,hases, covering the $st ,ressing -ave fro( Ajax -ith the a)ility to cover -ide
lateral =ones s-ee,ing )ehind, conter,ress, -in !nd )alls >Both aerially and at grond level? and
,rovide defensive sta)ility0 Bt the Dtch(an4s offensive contri)tion to the Ajax side is as ,ivotal
as his defensive -ork0
Dring the 8C Phase and /illessen ,lays short, Blind dro,s dee, )et-een defensive and (idfield
line, so(eti(es fll length (erging into $st line0 5o-ever, he only does this -hen the $st receiving
line is ,ressed high0 Dring these occasions, the /B4s s,lit a heavy distance0
Ajax $st off ,hase, co,ing -ith !v! ,ress0 /BGs stretch (axi(al -idth streching ,ressing -ave, H
dro,s in ga,
Ajax $st receiving line is ,ressed, )t they intelligently stretch the o,,osition -ave )y ,arting a
large distance0 ;nce the ,ressing -ave of ! is stretched, the * slots into the no- vacant ga,0
Blind as * : Ajax $st off ,hase Blind dro,,ing )et-een t-o /Bs, (ethod of evolving ,ossesssion
-hen ,lay )eco(es too stagnant
3n this area of the field Blind takes , a statary ,osition in )et-een the t-o /B4s -hen ,lay
evolves , the ,itch )ehind the half line and $st receiving line are ,ressed !v!0 This reslts in
@elt(an, Dens-il and Blind to <v! (axi(al -idth -ith Serero sliding centrally fro( left:centre
=one to create s,ace for vertical ,ass fro( the 7/B, Dens-il
/o,ing 2ith ;,,osition 5igh Press
As the season ,rogressed, it -as clear that Ajax -ere ndenia)ly vlnera)le to a high ,ress fro( the
o,,osition0 This -as clear after defeats to Barcelona, PS@, /eltic and nflattering dra-s to F/
T-ente occrred0 These o,,onents excellently ex,loited the significant ga, )et-een $st A !ndM
lines, lanching a %v% ,ress in -hich Ajax -ere inca,a)le of ,laying their -ay ot of, des,ite de
Boer4s (ethod of dro,,ing lines0
This (ethod -as incredi)ly effective vs lo-:tier tea(s, ho-ever as the o,,osition ,ressing skill got
higher, Ajax4s )ild , ,hase -as tested to the very li(its0 They -ere often forced long to ,lay for
!nd )all and even on rare instances ado,t a lo- )lock, ho-ever this -as only noted for
a,,roxi(ately $H# (intes so far this season0
The standard o,,onent in the 1redivisie fields a strctred %%! (edi( )lock in defensive ,hases
against Ajax -ith =onal (arking of Ajax4s frthest lines0 This is to nllify Ajax4s diverting A
interchanging (ove(ents in %th and <rd lines -ith the defensive line contesting H&%v%0 3t is also to
have large a(onts of n(erical e+ality on the ,itch allo-ing high ,ressing se+ences to occr0
Frank de Boer4s (ethod to tackling this high ,ress -old )e as the o,,osition ,ressed high, Ajax
then (oved as a -hole >$# ,layers (oving ?0 This reslts in the constant creation of s,ace as the
o,,onents ,ressing -aves fro( (idfield areas ,sh for-ard0 To ex,loit the s,ace, Ajax4s line
)ehind the o,,ositions ,ressing -ave -old dro, into the s,ace -here the o,,ositions ,ressing
-ave -old ,sh for-ard, and so on0 This (ethod -old occr in every line0
co,ing -ith o,,osition high PR1SS
;,,osition is circled )le
" M $$ N $st -ave
$# M I N !nd -ave
F M * N <rd -ave
Ajax are circled red
!H >Serero? dro,s into the s,ace created )y the o,,osition $st ,ressing -ave, dragging !nd -ave
creating s,ace0
! >@an Rhijn? A $H >Boilesen? dro, to s,ace created )y o,,osition $st ,ressing -ave, dragging
!nd -ave creating s,ace 0
$# > De Jong?, I >Fischer? A !# >Schone? dro, to s,ace created )y o,,osition !nd ,ressing -ave,
dragging <rd ,ressing -ave creating s,ace for " >Sigthorsson? to (ove into0
" Rns diagonally fro( =one sho-n for +ick co()inations or stays stationary for long )all and
lays off for dro,,ing ,layers >!# A $# in this diagra(?
An assess(ent of this is that Ajax tilise the s,ace created )y o,,osition -hen they (ove for-ard
to ,ress0 ;nce the ,layers have tilised the s,ace and (anage to receive, +ick co()inations are the
o)jective to )e ,layed -ith high diverting (ove(ents on the offensive transition0 This -old )reak
the ,ress entirely and Ajax -old )e re-arded )y n(erical e+ality in the o,,osition half dring
conter attacks0 3nstead of (oving for-ard dring ,ress to ,enetrate the defensive line, Ajax dro,
as a nit instead0 This e(,hasises the ,ossession ,hiloso,hy that Frank de Boer is so fond of0

/onstrcting Possession Throgh .idfield
: Ajax4s .ethods to evolve ,lay
3n this cha,ter 3 -ill )e -riting the (ethods that occrred the (ost ti(es over the corse of the
season0
3t is -ithot do)t that Frank de Boer4s ,hiloso,hy largely evolves arond creating s,ace )y
(oving to ex,loit it0 This is largely evident )y the heavy (ove(ents that take ,lace in Ajax4s %th A
<rd lines >3n -hich de Boer fields heavy ()ers, %:* at a ti(e? -ho constantly slide diverting
o,,osition ,layers ot of their =ones to create s,ace for another line to take advantage of0
;nce Ajax ,rogress fro( the 8C ,hase, the /B4s ,sh to-ards the half line and circlate
hori=ontally ntil a vertical ,ass can )e ,layed0 /B4s do not (aintain a Blevel4 ,ositioning, i0e one
stays a,,roxi(ately H (etres higher than the other0 This is so the /B can ,ass to his ,artnering /B
)ack-ards if he is ,ressed0 ;nce the dee,est /B receives, his ,ositioning can o,en , a diagonal
vertical ,ass to either the FB or -inger0 This (ethod is also effective at )reaking , o,,osition
,ressing -aves0
3f diverting (ove(ents and interchanging for( %th A <rd lines is not enogh to offer o,tions for
the /B4s circlating at the half:line, often the /B -old (ove for-ard )eyond the half:line and into
the o,,osition half0
Ajax !nd offensive ,hase, (ove(ent fro( %, /B encoraged to advance to disr,t PS@ )lock
5ere Dens-il is in ,ossession0 After defensive line circlation at the half:line and diverting
(ove(ents fro( frther lines are )oth not enogh to offer o,tions to the /B4s in ,ossession, a risky
(ove is ,layed0 Dens-il (oves for-ard in ,ossession to )reak , PS@4s sha,e and confse their
)lock0 This confsion is s,arked )y PS@ as they are nsre -hether to ,ress the o,,osing /B and
leave their direct (an:(arking o,,onent0 'ote Dens-il4s advance has created a <v! and Schone is
in a free =one as the PS@ ,layer has a)andoned (arking hi( to ,ress Dens-il0
This -as a risky advance in o,en ,lay )t -as a solid via)le o,tion as )oth of Ajax4s /B4s -ere
)oth excellent on a technical scale and can co,e -hen srronded )y a !:H (etre length <v$0 This
advance ha,,ened a lot in this ga(e as the /B4s -ere often ot of o,tions de to )eing isolated )y
high /.4s0 The advance, des,ite looking incredi)ly risky, -as actally a very neat -ay of finding
)reakthrogh into the o,,ositions half and (ore often than not the Ajax /B fond a (an0 The /B
often took , a central:central =one -hen advancing and ths allo-ed Ajax to (ove higher,
covering the *4s holding =one te(,orarily0
This -as an effective (ethod ho-ever incredi)ly risky -ith its o)vios dra-)acks0 ;n rare
instances the /B -old lose ,ossession and Ajax -old dangerosly leave the(selves o,en to an
o,,osition conter attack0This /B advance occrred at least %:* ti(es in each of the ga(es 3 have
analysed0
:Diversional .ove(ents A 3nterchanging
Ajax4s <rd and %th lines interchange and dro, constantly -ith a lot of (ove(ent -hen the defensive
or central dee, (idfield line are circlating0 This is to (axi(ise the a(ont of o,tions to ,ass as
the ga,s )et-een Ajax4s receiving lines are +ite high0 This can lead to isolation )et-een each
receiving line and can )e dangerosly ex,loited if (ove(ent is stagnant and stationary0
2hen the (ove(ent -as stationary and ineffective, the o,,onent cold field a high ,ress -hich
cold frther isolate the circlating line fro( the frther lines0 3n Ajax4s recent 1ro,e 7eage
fixtre, Sal=)rg tilised the ,ressing syste( heavily0
Tro)les )ilding , -hen faced -ith a $st -ave of %
Sal=)rg field a stationary $st -ave of % -ith the ,ress oriented arond interce,ting for-ard ,asses
rather than directly occ,ying the )all fro( the o,,onent0
'ot for the $st ti(e this season, Ajax fail to )reach the initial ,ressing -ave and cannot )reak into
(idfield ,re,aration as the defensive line is totally isolated and the (ove(ent fro( <rd A %th lines
to receive is +ite ,oor0
5o-ever, -hen the (ove(ent is effective >6sally against lo-:tier tea(s? Ajax e(erge as
do(inant and control ,ossession -ith high:te(,o0


Ajax !nd off ,hase (ove(ent interchanging
5ere Serero (akes an otside diagonal rn occ,ying the s,ace that Fischer creates )y dro,,ing to
receive fro( the 7B0 This has a chain effect and the /F for this ga(e Bojan dro,s into the s,ace
vacated fro( Serero0 By doing this Ajax (aintain the sa(e sha,e )y e(,loying rotational
(ove(ents and -ide co()inations0 The 7/. in !nd ,hase is often i(,erative to diversional
(ove(ents -ith the otside diagonal rn )eing the (ost ,redo(inant and effective of (ove(ents0
/irclating in the ;,,osition 5alf
/irclation in advanced areas ><rd Phase? is often a direct conse+ence of the defensive line finding
a diagonal or vertical ,ass for-ards to either the FB4s on !nd line or the t-o central (idfielders0
The %th line -old often )e too advanced and (arked too aggressively to )e in receiving
contention0 For the %th line to receive they -old often have to dro, to <rd line and atte(,t to trn0
2hen the receiver (anaged to trn, te(,o -old al(ost i((ediately reach a high level de to the
o,,osition +ickly reacting to close off ,assing o,tions to Ajax4s high n()ers on final lines0 3f the
o,,onent co((itted high )odies dring ,ress >HvH (ost co((on? and a ,enetrative ,ass -as
fond to Ajax4s frther lines then fast conters -old eventally occr as Ajax -old have
n(erical e+ality on the offensive transition0


Ajax !nd off ,hase, Classen (anages to trn after receiving fro( $st line and no- a dangeros HvH
occrs

5ere Claassen (anages to receive directly fro( the defensive line )ehind the o,,osition
(idfielders and no- faces n(erical e+ality on the offensive transition as a reslt0

<rd Phase -as also achieved via the !nd )all fro( either a direct ,ass for-ards and high0 This -as
often exercised )y )oth the 8oalkee,er and the central defensive line0 The long )all for-ard -old
al-ays go to the central =ones in -hich Ajax -old field a narro- set , so they cold contest the
!nd )all in their favor0

Ajax after 8C, kick al-ays goes to central =one >2here Ajax have height? And Ajax flood the area
-ith )odies to co(,ete for !nd )all

5ere the )all goes to the central =one -ith the o)jective of finding the Striker >De to his height? in
-hich the atte(,t -old )e to control the ,ass and knock on to -ingers )reaking the defensive line0
3f the )all coldn4t )e controlled Ajax -old )e in a favora)le ,osition to do(inate the !nd )all
=one -ith high ,hysical and tall /.4s M ST and central -ingers0


Ajax after 8C, dangeros HvH occrs after 8C as a reslt of AjaxGs hge n()ers for-ard
5ere a dangeros HvH occrs after 8C, a reslt of Ajax4s large n()ers for-ard0
Ajax4s final line of % -old contain t-o -ide -ingers and the central t-o )eing tall and ,hysically
do(inant ,layers0 The Bleft4 sided ,layer of the central t-o -old )e the Striker, and the Bright4
sided ,layer of the central t-o -old )e the advancing Right:/entre:.id0
2hen circlation reached lo- te(,o in <rd ,hase and the ,ositional strctre -as contered -ell,
Ajax -ere forced to tilise central s,ace -ith their vertical final line, the inside t-o ,layers )eing
the (ost ,hysical >The advanced (idfielder and the Striker? offering central co()ination ,lay,
crossing o,tions and the otside ! )eing the (ost technically gifted >2ingers?, ,ossessing the
a)ility to control ,lay in tight s,aces and finding ,asses that )reached the o,,ositions defensive
line0 3f -ide ,layers re+ired assistance then the FB -old overla, as a d((y rn or -ith the
o)jective of receiving and crossing0
/entral ,enetration -old )e the (ain o)jective ho-ever -ide ,lay -old )e al-ays on offer if the
for(er -asn4t availa)le0 ;nce the )all -as -ide high te(,o ,lay involving the -inger, FB and near
side /. -old occr on the edge of )ox -ith the o)jective )eing the )all carrier advancing
individally to-ards the goal0 3f this -asn4t ,ossi)le a cross -old )e ,layed0


;ffensive Transition Phase
Dring the offensive transition Ajax -old tilise extre(ely high diversional (ove(ents0 This
-old occr -hen Ajax occ,y the )all in dee, areas and the o,,onent has co((itted a large
n()er of )odies for-ard0 Ajax -old then exercise diversional (ove(ents and ,ositional s-a,s
to (ake the conter attack as difficlt to defend as ,ossi)le0
2ide =ones -old )e highlighted dring conters, ho-ever the res,onsi)ility of (oving into high
dangeros =ones -old )e non:strctred, i0e the =ones that -old )e attacked -old )e do-n to
the ,layer and not the (anager, ho-ever the initial interchanging -old )e strctred0

As stated the trigger for initial interchanging on the conter attack -old )e recovering the )all in
dee, areas0 The interchanging -old not occr -hen recovering the )all high and instead attacking
free =ones -old )e e(,hasised0
Ajax off transition ,hase, diversional (ove(ents ,roviding s,ace for ,enetrative rns
5ere the )all is recovered )y the defensive line and central s,ace is vacated )y ,layers sliding into
hori=ontal ,ositions to create s,ace for the dee,er central ,layers to ex,loit0


Ajax !nd off ,hase (id ,rogression to <rd0 Fischer receives in -ide area and (oves to vacant s,ace
gifted to hi( )y retreating def

Fischer trns inside after receiving fro( dee, and has an a)ndance of o,tions to ,lay too0 7ateral
s,ace has )een created )y Schone tcking in central and no- @an Rhijn overla,s0 De to Fischers
characteristics, he -old often take the inside a,,roach dring o,en ,lay0

Frank de Boer4s offensive ,hiloso,hy contains n(eros co(,lex variations in -hich 3 ho,e to
have ,ortrayed in this re,ort on the(