UtdArena
UtdArena

@UtdArena

8 Tweets 20 reads Aug 14, 2020
THREAD:
Here is a thread of footage demonstrating the importance of gravity and off-ball movement.
I will build upon this thread bit by bit.
Here, we see Leo Messi carrying the ball and assisting.
Look at the runner to his right and how that draws the top defender and then look at how the bottom defender gets drawn to Messi himself. This creates space for the pass to Dembélé:
This is incredible. Look at Mbappé. He drags the defender out wide making it harder for the defender to recover. Then, he makes the run in behind him. Dragging him out to the flank and this is intentional by Kylian:
Ronaldo enhanced his goalscoring prowess when his off-ball movement peaked. Here, he makes an initial straight run and both defenders follow him. The CB even looks at him. A second later, Ronaldo changes his run and the rest is history:
This one is slightly different. In this situation so many forwards in Martial's position get caught offside. Martial bends his run well and even has to slow down a little before Rashford passes. It's a nice clip displaying his spacial awareness.
This clip is amazing.
Lewandowski drops and his gravity drags two defenders with him. Kimmich sees the space and exploits it with excellent off-ball work. Then, Müller follows him and illustrates his all-time great spacial awareness to find Lewandowski.
Rashford makes a run with Martial and the defender closest to Fernandes looks at Rashford twice. He makes the decision to move centrally to mark Rashford and Bruno ends up in space.
Maguire, Matic, Mason and Marcus all played vital roles in this:
This is a fantastic goal. Rashford makes an initial run to the near post and Matip sees this and follows. Then, Rashford waits for Matip to commit, anticipates a far post cross from James and changes his run entirely.
Lovely off-ball movement.

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