This video is about staying connected to the attack when you're not the player attacking the box.

A lot of midfielders think being deeper automatically puts them in a better defensive position. The reality is that counter-pressing is usually about proximity, not distance.

The players most likely to start the counterattack are the players that matter most. The closer you are to them, the quicker you can affect the next action if possession changes.

Being connected to the play doesn't always mean receiving the ball. Sometimes it means being close enough to immediately pressure the next receiver, prevent the turn, and stop the counterattack before it starts.

The best sixes don't watch attacks develop from distance. They stay connected to the players who could become dangerous next.

When they do, the whole team becomes more compact, the back line can step higher, and the team becomes harder to play through.

Stay connected.

Think player before space.

Who receives next?

Counter-press through proximity.

Defend the next action.