Mazraoui shows us how to prepare, plant, and launch as a defender

16 December 2024

The player that impressed me in the Manchester Derby was Noussair Mazraoui for Manchester United. Few defenders have guarded Jérémy Doku as effectively as he did. It was all in the position of his feet, to be first to face the ball after the challenge.

Figure 1.1 - Noussair Mazraoui goes in to challenge Jérémy Doku.

Figure 1.2 - Jérémy Doku puts the ball through Noussair Mazraoui's legs. Mazraoui plants his right leg into the ground, with his left foot facing infield.

To prepare for the pivot to the left, see how Mazraoui points his left foot infield, away from his hips. He is preparing his body to pivot to the left as he engages in the challenge.

The first goal is to win the race to face the ball once he pivots. Let Doku win that battle, and he’s gone because of his acceleration.

Figure 1.3 - Noussair Mazraoui turns to face the ball. His right foot is off the ground.

Figure 1.4 - Noussair Mazraoui plants his right foot and launches off his toes facing the ball.

And then this is the important part.

In order to gain separation, Mazraoui needs momentum. In order to gain momentum, he needs to plant his right foot in the ground.

He won the battle on the turn, first to face the ball with his hips. Now he plants his foot quickly to launch towards the ball.

First he faces the ball with his hips, then he launches towards it. And he doesn’t waste time; he doesn’t wait for his right heel to make contact with the ground, he launches off his toes.

Figure 1.5 - Second step with the left foot to separate.

The entire movement is quick and seamless. He is being proactive by always positioning his feet to counter the direction of his hips, ready to turn to win the battle to the ball, and then he quickly plants the right foot to launch off his toes. Challenge won.

Figure 2.1 - Noussair Mazraoui jockeys with Jérémy Doku for a longer ball from the goalkeeper, Ederson.

Figure 2.2 - Arm to the chest to switch to the inside to force Doku outside.

Figure 2.4 - Noussair Mazraoui full stretch across the body of Jérémy Doku while planting the back foot facing infield.

Figure 2.5 - First lunge to knock out the ball, failed.

Figure 2.6 - Second lunge to knock out the ball, successful.

Figure 2.7 - Noussair Mazraoui lands flat-footed.

Figure 2.8 - Noussair Mazraoui plants his right foot and launches off his toes facing the ball.

Here, he has his left foot facing where he wants the ball to go as he makes the challenge, where he expects the ball to go. That way he simply has to move his trailing leg, the right leg, over to face the ball. Left leg stays pointed at the ball, trailing right leg makes that small move over to plant. He then quickly plants that right foot and launches off his toes towards the ball.

Most defenders don’t move at this speed, they would let Doku win the battle of the hips. The key is the hips and who wins the battle to face the ball. Mazraoui won that first battle to face the ball, which gave him the time to plant his feet and launch towards the ball before Doku even got his feet set.

Figure 2.9 - Body leaning fully forward after launching off his right foot.

Figure 2.10 - Noussair Mazraoui wins the race to the ball and makes contact with his left foot.

Figure 2.11 - Jérémy Doku attempts a diving tackle.

Figure 2.13 - Noussair Mazraoui passes infield, square, to Rasmus Hojlund.

Figure 2.14 - Rasmus Hojlund plays Bruno Fernandes in, through on goal.

And when you win the battle on the wings, and force a turnover, more often than not it will quickly lead to a high quality chance at the other end of the pitch.

This was Manchester United’s best chance of the entire game, and Bruno Fernandes nearly chipped Ederson to tie the game, 1-1. They would later go on to the win the game through a comedy of errors on City’s part.

Match: Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United, 15 December 2024

View all posts