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Coaching the
3-5-2 Formation

W O R L D C L A S S C O A C I N G . C O M

Coaching
the
3-5-2 Fromation

Mariusz Kondak

by

and

Michał Jagiełka

Published by

WORLD CLASS COACHING

First published November, 2015 by
WORLD CLASS COACHING 12851 Flint St Overland Park, KS 66213 (913) 402-0030

Copyright © WORLD CLASS COACHING 2015

All rights reserved. No parts of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise,
without prior written permission of the publisher.

Authors – Mariusz Kondak, and Michał Jagiełka

Edited by Tom Mura

Coaching the 3-5-2 Formation

2

©WORLD CLASS COACHING

TABLE OF CONTENTS:

1.

Introduction

2. Theory behind 3-5-2 formation

3. Collection of drills

4. About the authors

Learn from an English Premier League
championship winning coach! In this special
set, Manchester City’s Assistant Manager
David Platt provides you with a tactical
playbook for exploiting and beating your
opponents formation.

This book
illustrates how to effectively
coach your team to beat an opposing team
that is playing the 3-5-2 system. The 3-5-2 is
one of the most common formations used
by teams all over the world. Regardless of
the formation you employ with your team,
understanding how to tactically beat the 3-
5-2 formation is a must for any coach.

©WORLD CLASS COACHING

3

Coaching the 3-5-2 Formation

1.

Introduction

The most popular formation employing three central defenders is a 3-5-2 formation. There is also
formation 5-3-2, but it is almost identical. Especially when we keep in mind the differences between the
terms of ‘formation’ and ‘system’. The only difference as for formations is the height of the starting
points for wing-backs. The specifications as for their involvement in attacking and defending is a question
included in the system’s details.

The thing we have to remind and now is a good moment for that, is that no formation is more ‘offensive’
or ‘defensive’. The formations pose some characteristic specifications for different moments of the game
and those characteristics favor specific styles of play, none formation says us anything about the
presented style of play.

For example, we may deduce that the team using 4-3-3 formation will try playing positional attacks, as
they will use 3 central midfielders and both full backs and wingers on the sides, but what if those central
midfielders are 2 or even 3 holding midfielders and full backs are banned from running forward?

The situation that this question is repeated most often is when talking about the coach using 1 or 2 or 3
strikers. The fans usually say, the coach „decides for more offensive play” as he exchanges one
midfielder for a striker, for example. But what if the midfielder coming off is a creative player and the
striker coming on the pitch is a limited player, effective mainly in air challenges? In such situation we can
say, that the coach forsaken the patient creation of chances and will want his team to try more direct
football, what is not more attacking, but more desperate.

Also systems with front-three players is not directly meaning there will be 3 strikers playing inside the
box. That can also mean there will be 2 wingers on the sides and those players may try to look for getting
inside, but also getting to the end line with the ball and cross the ball. All that shows us, that the
formation itself doesn’t say us much about the team’s system or style of play. As we have said, we may
have get some info about it, but we can know for sure, only from watching the team play.

We have reminded it now, as talking about the systems with back-three we have to remember that it’s
not „more defensive” formation itself, as all formations are neutral. Only teams using those add them
specific character. Back-three systems are often used by teams relying on counter attacking, but that is a
choice made by coaches, as they believe the specific formation would suit the expected style of play and
not the formation determining the play.

Coaching the 3-5-2 Formation

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2. Theory behind 3-5-2 formation

Back three systems gives good natural cover in the center of defence. We have three players blocking
the crucial zone in defence, but also three players covering the play, while in possession. That allows for
assigning more specific roles for other players. Formation of 3-5-2 also allows for more natural and
quicker overcrowding in the center, what also increases the covering of play, while opening up spaces on
the sides for quick and high-endurance players in wing back roles. The fact that Guardiola used 3-5-2 few
times, while often choosing also 3-4-3 also shows us, that calling the back-three formations „defensive”
would be wrong.

Analyzing specific formations, we should start with the back three. We have said already, that those 3
players won’t be involved in attacking directly. It is of course possible to allow one of them entering with
the ball higher up the pitch, but that would require other player to take his post immediately and isn’t
seen often.

©WORLD CLASS COACHING

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Coaching the 3-5-2 Formation

We would rather ask those players to cover the team, focusing 50% on giving an option of a safe pass
and 50% on possible counter attack by the opponent.

During defending those players can cover wider area than the standard central duo. They can easily
cover for wing back, while still leaving 2 players in the center. That gives more options and better
protection in defence. In the past, the standard pattern was that 2 of those defenders were man-
marking 2 strikers of the rival, while one player was providing cover from deeper position, the so called
„sweeper”. With the changes in the offside rule and increased speed of play, now those three defenders
play in flat line, defending zonally.

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In midfield, there are many options, resulting from the presence of 3 central midfielders. There are
standard options for such scenario, so they may play in line, or with one or two staying deeper. This
aspect should be decided based on the players’ characteristics and the expected style of play.

©WORLD CLASS COACHING

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Coaching the 3-5-2 Formation