Even the best football coaches sometimes make a crucial mistake when integrating dribbling artists into their tactical system – here’s the surprising truth!
In major matches, decisive moments often come down to a 1-vs-1 dribble – especially in critical phases when a team has one or more technically gifted players on the pitch. It is essential that these dribbling skills continue to be developed and integrated within the coach’s predefined tactical framework.
Unfortunately, it happens time and again that young, highly talented dribblers lose their edge after moving to a bigger club. Some even regress. Many coaches demand unconditional adherence to their tactical plan, which can result in the neglect and stagnation of individual player development.
A prime example of this is the dribbling evolution of Julian Brandt. As a regular starter for Bayer Leverkusen, he controlled the ball with such confidence that he could handle pressure situations, maneuver past opponents, and free himself with turns or dribbles. He demonstrated these skills as a national player during the 2018 World Cup match against Sweden. Since moving to Borussia Dortmund, however, Brandt has frequently lacked the brilliance he once showed in 1-vs-1 encounters. This suggests that he no longer practices these situations intensively enough.
The crucial question is: who is responsible for this decline? We believe the primary responsibility lies with the coach, who may prioritize tactical discipline over individual expression. Only secondarily is the player accountable – perhaps he has forgotten how essential it is to consistently train 1-vs-1 situations in order to maintain or improve his level.
The same issue applies to Jadon Sancho. In the 2019/2020 season, he dribbled with impressive efficiency. But in the first half of the 2020/2021 season, he seemed to lose this edge. The Borussia Dortmund coaching team should consider how to reignite and support the 1-vs-1 skills of both Brandt and Sancho. The same challenge awaits with rising talent Moukoko.
A similar situation exists at Bayern Munich, particularly with Leroy Sané. He proved his individual brilliance at Manchester City. Perhaps Pep Guardiola let him go because Sané sometimes placed too much focus on his personal strengths. But was it the right decision? We don’t think so. Time will tell whether Sané’s abilities progress or regress.
One important point must not be overlooked: all of these exceptional players build SELF-CONFIDENCE through this style of play. When they are denied the chance to play their natural game, their overall performance suffers – including ball control, presence on the field, goal scoring, running, focus, and general ball security, all of which are closely tied to dribbling efficiency.
This connection applies to players in every league and at every age. Coaches have a great responsibility to strike the right balance between individual talent and team tactics – aiming for a true win-win outcome. It is crucial that such highly skilled individuals are allowed to integrate their dribbling strength into the system to make a decisive impact on the game.
So, is it only the coach and his insistence on a rigid system to blame for the loss of dribbling ability, or are there other causes? We strongly believe that many players today no longer train 1-vs-1 scenarios sufficiently. This individual factor is another decisive point often missing in modern football.
That there is another way becomes evident when looking at Bayern’s star Robert Lewandowski – FIFA World Player of the Year 2020. Through targeted individual training, he has steadily improved his dribbling while remaining fully aligned with Bayern’s tactical setup. Perhaps we should ask him how he managed to keep improving well into his 30s:
What is his secret? How important is talent – and how important is hard work? Which exercises help develop top-class dribbling skills? How crucial is mental strength? How can a coaching team support young players in this regard?
Another extraordinary player is the Brazilian Neymar – perhaps the best dribbler in the world today. We’d love to ask him how he has managed to maintain his level for so many years. How much time does Neymar regularly dedicate to 1-vs-1 play?
Top-level coaches like Hansi Flick and others must never forget to nurture the individual strengths of their stars – because these strengths can decide the outcome of any game. And once again: such exceptional players can only reach their full potential when allowed to express their individual brilliance.
Authors: Matthäus Wdowiak Andreas Wdowiak Agnieszka Czerwińska
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