I would explain compact build-up as short distances, mainly vertically but also horizontally to an extent, between the main contributors to ball progression from the static goal kick. It involves greater commitment to deeper regions of the pitch in terms of numbers from the static goal kick than expansive build-up whereby there would be greater distances between players meaning the coverage of more advanced areas would be greater. I would say this is an extreme example, but the following image illustrates compact build-up to me with regards to the short distances between players.
As the distances between players involved in build-up are shorter, the passes are also shorter, meaning the pressing distance for the opposition is shorter. I would define pressing distance as the total distance from a players’ starting position to where they are able to engage with the player in possession. For example, an opposition winger begins narrow and moves wide to engage with the player who has received possession: this would be their individual pressing distance. As a result, in order to be successful, I would say that compact build-up requires options between the lines (between opposition defence and midfield) in order to prevent players receiving the ball from being quickly isolated.
Options between the lines essentially means opposition wide players (or any player tasked with pressing the full-backs when they receive the ball) cannot afford to ‘jump’ to the full-back until the pass is played. ‘Jump’ refers to when the defender initiates their movement towards the player they are tasked with pressing and I think it is more suitable when the pressing distance is short. They cannot afford to jump early in case of a line breaking pass from the centre-back or goalkeeper which would access the player between the lines and thus eliminate the opposition’s first pressing line. The wide players often stay narrow and block this pass, meaning the full-backs are the next obvious pass. In essence, options between the lines delays the pressure the full-backs will receive, thus buying them crucial time and space upon reception of the ball which aids overall ball progression.
I would say it’s important for these central options to be roaming and have access to move to different areas of the pitch depending on the ball side because it means this can happen all over the pitch. I would say there is greater need for roaming options between the lines compared to a more expansive structure in build-up because with that you already have increased pitch coverage which means greater coverage of advanced areas (such as multiple options between the lines) as a result of greater commitment to deeper regions. Whereas, compact build-up = greater deeper commitment = less coverage high up between the lines, so more need to alter position depending on ball side.
This ability to roam into different areas to support the ball facilitates something that I have realised is fairly common when watching teams who are compact in build-up. When the full-back receives possession, the central player (between the lines option who was preventing opposition wide player press until ball was played) moves close to the touchline to offer a short vertical option. This is easier to execute for the full-back because the pass is shorter and I would say typically this movement is less tightly tracked than a winger dropping down the touchline to receive to feet.
The only thing that can be awkward with this is you naturally receive the ball facing the touchline given the movement of the midfielder is from a central area to a wide area meaning they are typically facing that way. If pressured closely by the defender, this can lead to build-up being restrained as the touchline almost acts as an extra defender for the team without possession. Hence the importance of dynamic superiority which is crucial in creating 1-2 yards of space between the midfielder and the opposition player who is tracking. This allows the midfielder to receive without immediate pressure and therefore reduce the constraining effect of the touchline due to extra time and space to act; small amounts of these factors (time and space) are crucial in moments like these.
I would say this also highlights another necessity when building in a compact structure: vertical and horizontal stretching through the forwards. Due to the deeper commitment, the opposition naturally begins higher in order to be closer to the ball to initiate their press, and therefore it is imperative that you pin players back to ensure the press does not become overwhelming. This vertical and horizontal stretching means opposition full-backs can’t jump to pressure wide dropping centre midfielders as they have to stay with vertical / horizontal stretcher in case of the long pass to find them in behind the defensive line with lots of space to run into. In essence, these wingers and also sometimes centre-forwards prevent the defensive line from stepping up and engaging with midfielders which buys more time and space for them between the lines, which has a knock on effect in the way the first line of pressure acts, which essentially affords more time and space for the deep contributors in possession.
The wide midfielder does drop deep sometimes, I assume because they are on the same vertical line as the full-back and therefore it is only forwards movement towards the ball which is required which can take place during the pass, whereas centre midfielder has to move horizontally wide to be an option and move out of the cover shadow of the opposition presser, so it essentially takes greater amount of time which isn’t available when pressing is intense on the full-back as they must release the ball quickly.
I would say the winger dropping down the touchline to receive from the deep full-back is crucial to compact build-up ball progression because as mentioned previously, the full-back is often the player with most space and also the original distance between the winger and the full-back is too big due to the depth that both players are offering (full-back offering depth in deeper regions, winger offering depth close to the half-way line). Therefore this movement towards the ball offers a progressive option for the full-back who is perhaps under more aggressive pressure once the defender has reached them due to the constraining effect of the touchline.
Regarding the constraining effect the touchline can have on deep, wide possession, I would say the extent of this depends on the exact positioning of the full-back. Being wide but not ‘touchline wide’ is important in reducing this effect because I feel as if opposition wide players are more likely to press with greater aggression if the ball is closer to the touchline as they see it as an opportunity to force the ball out of play and then trap from the resulting throw-in. However, when the ball is wide but not ‘touchline wide’, perhaps the pressing becomes slightly more cautious and also more ‘block’ oriented rather than ball oriented.
What cannot be ignored with regards to successful compact build-up especially are the technical elements. Having watched a lot of Roberto De Zerbi teams in recent weeks, it appears that ball speed is imperative to successful ball progression. Ball speed is crucial in buying more time and space in possession. For example; slower pass = presser is closer to the ball, can engage in less time and reduce the time the player has to make a decision in possession. Whereas, quicker pass = less time for pressing team to react, more time and space for player in possession to make a decision and execute it without significant pressure.
Another vital technical element is passing to the correct foot of the receiver. Passing to the correct foot essentially makes the process of receiving and moving the ball on a lot quicker than if the ball is passed to the receiver’s weaker foot. I feel receiving the ball on your weaker foot is suboptimal anywhere on the pitch but is exacerbated in deeper areas where opposition pressure is high and intense. So therefore it is another crucial factor which contributes to the creation of time and space upon reception for deep contributors.
Example vs Schalke is good here as the combination of vertical and horizontal stretching + ball speed + passing to correct foot is visible as deep full-back receives on back foot and is facing forward with time and space to make decision before forwards pressure arrives.
Finally, there is also great potential to create dangerous transitional moments through press baiting. Due to the deeper commitment in build-up, opposition who seek to win possession high up the field behind higher, however they are also pinned back by the vertical and horizontal stretchers which creates space between the lines. Heavy opposition commitment to winning possession high up always presents an opportunity to escape deep pressure and try to access the players between the lines or on the frontline immediately with the hope of them being successful in their duel and a transitional moment being created as a result. The higher the opposition forwards begin and engage, the greater this space will be.
A good example: creating a transitional moment for Marcos Antonio through 1) weight of pass from goalkeeper, 2) significant deeper commitment (compact) to lure opposition forward, and 3) horizontal and vertical stretching to prevent defensive line stepping up and engaging with ball which increases danger of transitional moment due to more space for Marcos Antonio to travel into.
Overall I think compact build-up has advantages because passes are shorter and it’s more difficult for the opposition to react in time and press the ball if technical details such as ball speed and passing to the correct foot of the receiver. It depends on the pass but also for the majority of the time, passes that are shorter are simply easier to execute. What’s crucial is the dynamic superiority that attackers have ahead of defenders to reach passes when marked tightly; this only really applies when the ball is passed forward to the attackers / between the lines. This ultimately allows them to receive the ball before the defender which helps maintain possession. Options between the lines with freedom to roam and vertical and horizontal stretching via high and wide attackers buys more time and space for deeper players to make and execute technical decisions which facilitate ball progression, the overall aim of build-up play from the static goal kick.