Hello and welcome to the latest episode of You Ask, We Answer. This is the show where
we put your questions to the game's best players, coaches and experts so you can improve your
game. Today, we're helping Adil Hussain who got in touch with us to find out how you can
get an extra half a yard in the box. To help him do that, we've had a word with Spain and
Chelsea striker, Alvaro Morata. Take it away, Alvaro.
I think it is important to be quick
in current football. We see in the Premier League, you have much less time to think - one
or two seconds is the difference between scoring or making a good pass which leads to a goal.
You have to make a decision as quickly as possible because speed - whether it's in your
head or in your feet - is the key to being a successful striker. If you're not that quick,
things are a bit more difficult. But, if you're intelligent in your movement and in the runs
you make, that can overcome a lack of speed. Above all else, you've got to be cleverer
than the defenders. I try to constantly be on the move to lose my marker, which is the
most important thing to do - other than scoring.
Some lovely tips there, Alvaro. Now, to put
that advice into practice, we've hooked with Elite Striker founder, Craig Reid. He
works with some of the Premier League's top academy prospects to help their finishing
in front goal. Let's see what he's got in store for us.
Craig, good to meet you.
And you.
Good to see you. Now, today - I want you to help me aid my movement, find the extra
yard in the box like Alvaro Morata. How are you going to help me doing that?
Okay, so today, we're going to work on a little bit of movement in the box, good first touch,
help you roll the defender and getting that
shot off as fast as you can into those bottom corners.
Sounds good, let's get going.
Okay Craig, what exactly am I going to be doing
here to get that extra half a yard?
Okay, so first of all, we'll start on the yellow cone.
And what we do is, we take a step towards the ball, we bring our right
arm up and protect ourselves from the defender. As the ball comes in, we'll be taking it with
the outside of our left foot and turning at the same time. Next stage is, head and shoulders
over the ball, keep it low with your right foot across goal.
So Craig, my body shape there when I was receiving the ball... I was tilted that way, was that the right thing to do?
What you were doing is, you were giving the defender a chance of nicking the
ball by holding off with your left arm, and trying to turn the same way. What I would say
is you should try and use your right side, keep your whole body in between the
defender and the ball, at the same time, using your body to shield the ball whilst you're
rolling the defender to get your shot off.
Craig, obviously the first touch is really important
in terms of getting that half a yard and moving off into space.
How is my touch there? What should I be doing?
Sometimes the touch was a little bit heavy. What I would suggest is when the
ball comes in, you just want to be redirecting the ball's path, just above the top of your fourth toe.
Just directing it, keeping it close to you so you can get that shot off. Anything bigger than that and the keeper
will come out and take it or the defender will be able to tackle you.
So Craig, when you're deep inside the 18-yard box now and this is where Morata gets a lot of his goals. What's
the idea here? What are we going to be doing?
The idea is that we're going to try and gain
a yard on the defender for a cut-back ball and then it's going to be a clinical finish
into the bottom corner.
Craig, loved doing that movement and finishing session. It was a lot of fun.
Before we go, you work with a lot of academy players every week - how
often should I be doing sessions like this?
For sessions like this, you should be training
at least four or five times a week to get the maximum potential out of yourself. As you can see, you don't
need a lot of equipment. You can do it on your own, down your local park and get the best out of yourself.
And any final tips for our viewers? Just to get that extra half a yard like Morata?
I think always move for the defender first to gain yourself a quick
yard and then when you've got that yard, be clinical, hit them bottom corners, head and
shoulders over the ball at all times.
Great stuff, cheers Craig, top man.
Thank you.
There we go guys, that's the session done and a few lovely finishes in the bag as well if I do say
so myself. Big thank you to Craig Reid for putting on that session for us. If you like
the video, make sure you hit that like button. If you're new to the channel, do subscribe
and if you have got any comments, any questions, please leave them in the comment section below.
Until next time, goodbye.