Defending made easy with Phil Jones: Part four

One of football’s most undervalued skills is decision making. All the best players have the ability to digest a surge of information, process it and make the right choice in a split second.

It’s a high stakes business for defenders. One false move in and around the penalty box and it can cost their team a goal. The world’s greatest defenders – Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Alessandro Nesta – were all able to detect danger and nullify the threat by making a crucial decision.

Certain situations require a centre back to desert their position and cover their team-mates. For instance, if a tricky winger skips past the full-back and makes a beeline for the goal, should the centre back abandon the strikers in the middle and block off the winger’s path or should they stick to their job and let the goalkeeper make a stand?

Manchester United’s Phil Jones – a great defender in the making – believes the danger should have been averted further up the field, but if you’re left exposed you have to close down the player in possession.

“If there were two strikers in the box, I would mark the one closest to the ball, or try to read where the winger is shaping up to cross the ball,” the England defender told FFT.

“By closing down the near post you’re narrowing the angles, making the ball to the back post more difficult.”

This isn’t the only option. Jones weighs up the selection the process in this video, giving unique insight to a defender’s thought process when he’s outnumbered and under pressure.

Phil Jones wears the Puma PowerCat 1.12. For more information visit puma.com/football

Also see:
“What’s the key to a good defence? Talk, talk, talk”
Defending made easy with Phil Jones: Part one
Defending made easy with Phil Jones: Part two
Defending made easy with Phil Jones: Part three
Defending made easy with Phil Jones: Part five
Defending made easy with Phil Jones: Part six

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