The space behind the full-back 🧠

Watch the opening ten minutes of PSG against Arsenal in the last Champions League final. Arsenal scored early through Havertz, but the more useful detail came after. PSG's full-backs, Hakimi and Nuno Mendes, pushed high and narrow. That left Trossard and Saka free to receive in the space behind. Arsenal just could not connect the final pass.

The structure told the story. PSG kept the ball, but the gap between their centre-backs and full-backs was visible. Arsenal's midfield never stepped into that lane. The first goal came from a different route, but the pattern was set.

Look at where the full-back stands, then look at who is standing behind him.

Question: When a full-back pushes high, is the winger tracking back or is the centre-back stepping wide?