West Ham training ground video shows practice pitch implementation

West Ham have undoubtedly become a more pass and possession heavy team under Manuel Pellegrini. This training video shows that what is being learned on the practice pitch is coming full circle in the Premier League.

Retweeted by the manager himself, Manuel Pellegrini, West Ham’s training ground drill has been used to stress the importance of body positioning and quick passing to spur the attack forward. EFootball’s expose on Pellegrini’s passing drill shows how players can develop their attacking mentality by incorporating teammates in quick passing triangles.

EFootball is an app that allows coaches to share their drills, mentalities, and expertise to help grow football from the top down. Pellegrini is clearly invested in this new-age approach and has endorsed the video of his team upping their passing game.

As seen in the video, the drill sets up very simply but includes multiple players in each phase, essentially waterfalling the next step’s beginning when the previous step has been concluded. The first player takes the ball and makes the opening pass which is received by the second player who sends it back and moves around the man-marker, open to receiving the next through-ball to start the phase over again.

Each play requires both players to make a crisp pass then follow up and reposition on the second ball, changing the angle of their body to pass and receive the ball and press onwards. In practice, this drill stresses the importance of being fluid and changing positions when you have control of the ball.

The implementation of this drill was shown against Crystal Palace which you can see HERE. The Hammers were hemmed in their own end against the sideline and the trio of Declan Rice, Aaron Cresswell, and Felipe Anderson all make quick one-touch passes, shifting their position after delivering the ball and eventually Rice literally steps around his marker and outlets the ball up the pitch for the eventual goal

By all accounts, Pellegrini has been reluctant to share training pitch videos of the team, either to save face in the media or to keep the tactics of the team under wraps. In this instance, Pellegrini opened up and we can clearly see that practice makes perfect for the passing Hammers.