At the elite level, teams are increasingly inclined to play an offensive, high pressing game. This requires them to deploy a high defensive line, as they look to simultaneously squeeze the space and dominate possession.
If you look at the data from 2023/24, the lowest average defensive line in the Premier League belonged to Nottingham Forest and was positioned 40.02 metres from their own goal. So, even less established sides are looking to maintain relatively high defensive lines in the EPL, in a bid to leverage both offensive and defensive advantages.
In this post, we’ll take a closer look at a high defensive line, and ask how you can successfully deploy this tactic as a coach.
Getting Started – What is a High Defensive Line?
Put simply, a high defensive line is one that’s positioned as close to the halfway line as possible. It’s an aggressive defensive strategy, in which a back four or five look to push their opponents away from goal and engage proactively rather than retreating towards the box.
The primary goal here is to compress the pitch vertically and force the opposition into tighter and more pressurised areas. It also lays a foundation from which a team can dominate possession in the middle and attacking thirds, sustaining attacks while minimising the risk of counter attacks. Here’s a summary of the main advantages of defending with a high line:
It Enables Proactive Defence: High defensive lines squeeze space and force attackers to receive the ball in tight areas. This makes it easier to initially engage them and win the ball proactively, as part of an attacking, high-pressing strategy that starts from the front.
Allow for Quicker Ball Recovery: High pressing is focused on rapid and effective ball recoveries, but its success relies on teams pressurising opponents as a unit. So, the back line must push higher during defensive transitions, moving in unison with the rest of the team and compacting the space further.
Dominate Possession: When your forward line presses, the objective is to encourage mistakes or force players to pass into a specific area of the pitch. High defensive lines subsequently make it easier to recover the ball and recycle it quickly, maintaining dominance of possession and territory simultaneously.
What are the Risks of Adopting a High Defensive Line?
Of course, adopting a high and aggressive defensive line is not without its risks, especially when playing against quick or tactically flexible opponents. Here are some of the key vulnerabilities to keep in mind:
Teams Can Exploit Space in Behind: While a high defensive line can compress the space in front of it, this leaves significant space in behind. This can be exploited by direct counter attacks and rapid switches of play, in which fast wingers and midfield runners can come into play.
The Reliance on Individual Defenders: In instances where opponents do look to launch direct counters, your centre backs and full backs may be exposed in one-on-one scenarios. In this instance, you’ll have to rely on your defenders to be quick, strong and capable of engaging forwards successfully.
There are Minimal Margins for Error: As a high defensive line can be breached with a single pass or break through the lines, it offers minimal margin for error. The high reliance on individual defensive expertise also means that mistakes or poor positioning can allow the opponent to create high quality chances.
How to Defend in a High Line?
The key to successfully defending on a high line is to focus on maximising the advantages while minimising the possible risks. But what are the key principles and strategies that can help in this regard:
Use an Efficient Offside Trap
In order to nullify the threat of counter attacks, you may want to utilise an offside trap. This will require your defensive unit to step-up seamlessly and in unison at the right moment, in order to catch one or more forward runners offside. However, this requires strong positioning and coordination between players, which must be honed through training and repetition.
Field a Sweeper-Keeper Who Reads the Game Well
Most teams that play a high defensive line field a so-called sweeper-keeper, in the mould of David Raya or Manuel Neuer. Such keepers will adopt a high starting position just behind the defensive line, in order to clear long balls into the space and potentially engage attackers one-on-one. Sweeper-keepers must have excellent positional understanding and be able to read the game well.
Identify the Right Profile of Defensive Players
Your outfield defensive players will also need certain attributes if they’re to excel in a high line (both collectively and individually). More specifically, players must be quick, athletic and physically strong, and capable of defending in direct one-on-one scenarios. They must also read the game well and be capable of making good recovery runs, in instances where the ball is played successfully in behind them. Defenders should also maintain a constant line of communication during games.
