Firstly, he pulls out to the left flank, creating space inside for full-back Andy Robertson to run into. Then, rather than ask for a pass into feet, he sees that Fred is ball-watching whilst shuffling out to mark him. This is his trigger to make a “backdoor run.”
Fred slips as he tries to readjust, drawing Raphael Varane into action. The United centre-back is wrong-footed by Gakpo’s subtle body movement. The winger steps out to the left like he’s going to attack the byline, but instead uses this step to propel an explosive cut inside. This movement, combined with a precise first touch, creates space for a curling right-footed shot into the bottom left-hand corner.
So, how does Vrielink teach an elite player to execute these intricate steps? He breaks into a smile over Zoom. “Would you like me to show you?” He shares his screen and fires up a clip titled “Clear depth-run – backdoor side.”
We’re watching the Milwaukee Bucks against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Jrue Holiday has the ball around mid-court, looking for a pass. Torrey Craig is in the bottom right-hand corner, lurking with menacing intent behind Alec Burks, who is watching the ball. Holiday attacks the D, prompting Craig to run in behind Burks, “who has no idea what’s happening.” Holiday then makes the pass to Craig under the rim to pick up two.
“Obviously, in football, this position [Craig standing behind Burk] would be offside,” Vrielink says,” but whether it’s football or basketball there’s a moment where the defender has to do a head check to see where the ball is and this is a beautiful moment to run behind his back.”
Vrielink shows me how this translates to football using a clip from El Clasico in 2015. Barcelona’s Andres Iniesta drives infield from the left wing, catching the attention of Real Madrid‘s Marcelo at left-back on the other side of the pitch. In that split second, Lionel Messi runs in behind and Iniesta finds him with a pinpoint switch of play. Marcelo is able to recover, but a weakness in Madrid’s defence is exposed.
“If the timing and run are perfect, this would present a 1-vs.1 with the goalkeeper, but the run and touch aren’t quite right here,” says Vrielink. “He [Messi] should have run straight to the goal, cutting across Marcelo, rather than towards the baseline [byline] which takes him too wide.”
Now we’re onto a clip from the NFL, titled “best ankle-breaking jukes,” which delivers what you might expect. “Before you come in front of the goal you need to distract your opponent and lose them,” says Vrielink. “The body movement of players in the NFL and NBA is really sharp and creative. The details might be different — you either have the ball at your feet or in your hands — but the fundamentals are transferable.”
The terminology used for different sports can confuse this messaging, which is why Vrielink is working on a universal language.
“There are too many terms that players don’t understand,” he says. “We’re building our own dictionary of words that suits the players. If my mum understands it, and she doesn’t understand anything about football, then pro players should have no problems.”
