[THREAD] @PepTeam Guardiola’s “1-3-1-3-3” system in the 2011/2012 season:

The game model was purely based on positioning.

No more than 2 players can be in the same vertical lane and no more than 3 players can be in a horizontal line.

This enforces to always be adjusting your position based off your teammates to constantly create maximum space.

The regular positions (CM, CB, etc.) hold little to no value.

The positioning of each player is dependent on:
1) location of the ball
2) the intention to force the opposition into vacating areas of the pitch to then take advantage of [position oneself in] said vacated space.

In Possession

Pep implemented a 3+1 base structure throughout the phases. Fluidity in the 3+1 set up facilitated for progression past the first lines.

Just this structure alone already creates 3 lines (or layers), allowing Barcelona to circulate efficiently to advance.

The 3+1 shape forced the opposition to either:

-Drop a forward back to mark Busquets.
This creates a 3v1(2) for the back line on the remaining forward(s), meaning the opposite CB is the free man to carry the ball and commit the next defender.

——As the free CB engaged an opposition midfielder, the interior would drop centrally.
This provides immediate support to retain the ball if no penetrative options materialize.
The interior holds the previous zone of CB -> CB moves to create overload in a new zone.

-The other option is to step (jump) a central midfielder out of the midfield line onto the +1.

This combined with the high number of players that Barcelona positioned centrally forced the remaining midfielders to pinch.
Space in the wide spaces.

To make the most of this relinquished space, the interiors (Xavi & Iniesta) would arrive deep into the wide space while Messi & Cesc operated off the shoulders of the opposition’s midfield.

This:

—Isolates the winger
—Messi or Cesc open if a CM jumps to interior

In order to prevent teams from stepping their back line to eliminate space between the lines, Barça always maintained depth by pinning defenders in the overloaded area.

Pedro & Villa most often were tasked with this. They were tremendous in recognizing when to run behind.

In Possession to Out of Possession Transition:

All 4 moments of the game intertwine; how you attack with the ball influences how you will be able to transition after losing it.

Due to the overloads and layers that Barça created in possession, they were able to implement a lethal counter press.

Positional play in small spaces acts as a block - it reduces the space that the opposition is able to progress immediately after winning the ball.

If you always attack overloads while containing multiple layers, when the ball is lost, you immediately have defensive superiority = able to win back instantly.