GUARDIOLA THIRD MAN

🧩 1. Exercise description

Tactical exercise of offensive circulation with third man play, focused on creating and exploiting positional advantages. An action is simulated in which a line of pressure is overcome by means of a pass and quick return, to attack the depth with precision and synchrony.

🗺 2. Organization and development

• Players distributed according to animation:

  • One pin (first man).

  • A player between the lines behind the defenders (third man).

  • Close companions who will act as second man.

  • Two defenders in the intermediate zone, who can only act within their own zone.

• Development:

  • The passer initiates with a direct pass to the third man, located 12-15 meters behind the defenders.

  • The third man gives a touch back to the second man.

  • The latter seek to finish in small goals, which symbolize unmarked teammates in the attacking zone.

🎯 4. Tips or main aspects

• Accuracy in the initial pass and proper timing of the third man' s unmarking.

• Quick return to the second man with an advantage.

• Synchronization in the depth attack after the return.

• The position of the defenders must force the attacking team to find real tactical solutions.

🔄 3. Variants

• Change the orientation of the pass (frontal, diagonal).

• Allow an additional touch to the third man according to technical level.

• Add a passive defender in the end zone.

• Reverse roles after each action to rotate all players.