How Pros Defend Faster Players | 4 Techniques

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About Me
Name: Matt Sheldon
Age: 29
Height: 6' 0"
Weight: 170 lbs
Nationality: USA
Job: Professional Soccer Player
Current Team: Charleston Battery
Current League: USL Championship (USA 2nd Tier)
Last Team: FC Tulsa
Previous Teams: Tulsa Roughnecks, Waterside Karori FC, Saint Louis FC, Orange County Blues, SG Kinzenbach
Position: RB/LB/RM
College: UC Davis (D1)

[@BecomeElite]

Yo, what’s up guys, I’m really sorry about the backwards video and distracting text overlay. This video should fall under “Fair Use Protection” since I am using short segments of copyrighted material in the form of commentary and/or education, but I every time I uploaded the video it was being blocked from being viewed worldwide… Not just being blocked from being monetized, it literally was blocked worldwide by be viewed by anyone. This was the only way I could get the video to be uploaded. It’s really frustrating to follow all the rules with fair use and copyright infringement and still have to spend hours altering the video and re-uploading it over and over again. But I’m glad it finally worked haha.

[@roxbylife6917]

All good understandable 😂

[@daconvertiblebaby69]

Now the opposite, how to attack against a defender faster than you? Or for slow attackers

[@soundlysouth2962]

Hey Matt... all we can say is thank you... you are dedicated , and we really appreciate ALL your vids. Keep up the bomb work. 💥💥

[@matthewdodge3122]

Great performance against Loudon! Any input on why you got shifted out to LB?

[@simonkramaric7641]

@@daconvertiblebaby69 play like zlatan

[@moody1437]

the "Screw you FIFA, stop copyrighting me." watermark was the best part

[@binhbnbnguyen645]

As an ageing sunday league defender this is sooo helpful for me thank you very much!!!

[@kenmmita346]

True. Can help to deal with the younger and faster players

[@Kaayb_96]

I am a fast winger and this helped me. Always good to see how defenders think

[@roymuzuwa7108]

*“I’m in danger“* - Probably Every Defender Now...

[@dominicekezie2011]

THEYRE ON TO US!!!

[@aczfootball3371]

Yes, that s true, be one step ahead of the oposition.

[@leviombata4853]

Facts

[@AhmadMalik-xl5ex]

definitely

[@footxfit]

Great video, Matt! Excellence lies behind the details. It's always good for up and coming players to learn those "secrets". They can make a huge difference! ✊

[@bachvutuyetvoi3789]

Tip number 4 is something really enlightening to me! Thank u so much for a great video as usual. Actually I had a kind of a bad day and whenever I have a bad day, I watch your video and I feel better. Thank u again Matt!

[@1445hijri]

I just want to say, I love you, Matt, you're truly an inspiration, and to have seen you grow until this day is absolutely amazing. I remember watching you before I reached puberty, it's been a long but ultimately wonderful journey, thank you!

[@macjob836]

Just found this channel, I love the stretching/yoga and the dietary, that’s the area I need to focus on. Thanks keep the vids coming

[@ballersfindaway]

Brilliant detail and use of clips to demonstrate what you're saying Matt. Love the video 👏👏👏

[@xandercoats]

This exactly what I needed! Thank you!

[@1joeLEGEND]

Thanks Matt. good "refresher course", as I get older and slower it's a good ti get these basic tools to be more effective when facing younger, faster opponents

[@davidbugarin]

I was the 1000th like!🤗 Excellent video btw. Sound tips on defending amongst a congested pool of offensive/attacking focused videos.

[@neymarjrsen8200]

Thanks man it helped me a lot.... eager to learn more as my team situation demands me to play various positions ... I play as winger , defender and sometimes even as a striker 💗💗💗⚽️⚽️⚽️⚽️

[@athenadia4743]

Super insightful! Thanks again!

[@devikasingh1841]

Thank you for these tips! Both my daughters are wingers and for them to understand a defender will help them in their game. Also, we love watching your videos 😊

[@notgentlebag]

this was really helpful man. i appreciate it👍

[@HeGetsTheBluesExcited]

As a defender agree with everything but also can add that even if you're not close enough to push attacker when he receives the ball you can still keep him from turning around. For that you have to be 1-2 steps in behind (if you too close you'll be dribbled past as Matt mentioned) and as soon as he trying to turn you can step up agressively and make a tackle. No one can turn that fast so you won't be able to make a tackle from 1-2 steps distance.

[@boybandit6129]

Hey Matt brilliant to the point! Excellent advice thanks.

[@MomentOfMagic]

Incredibly practical tips!!

[@haiqal8369]

thank you, this is a true pro footballer tips that you rarely get from anywhere else. Even pro player know how to do it very well but can't explain it as good what as you do sheldon

[@spacebar1111]

Incredibly insightful information. I was definately too honest when I played full back. Also the self aware ‘how did I do on time?’ made me chuckle.

[@williamdavis5677]

Thank you for this very insightful video. Patience also helps because it increases the chance of a mistouch that a defender can capitalize on.

[@sause4u947]

This video helped me as a winger understand the defence a lot better and I appreciate that. You're the best Matt thank you

[@JChoi-rh8mq]

Actually hyped to use these tips

[@HellbenderSTL]

Great video! Thank you! Similar tips for CBs? #4 seemed most helpful.

[@alexx_cn1174]

Really helpful video🤝👏👏

[@afghansupporteducationandt6715]

These are the best defender tips! Love this

[@matthewbrandenburg922]

Thank you, I plan on using your tips to teach my U-12's how to play some defense. This was very helpful.

[@gijshus2388]

It helped me so much thank you!

[@jackjohnnygaming720]

Thank you! I’m going up against bigger and faster attackers and appreciate the advice!

[@Coacharandolph]

excellent man! These are amazing!!!!

[@rameshyeshu5842]

Massive Congrats For Your 100 USL Game! ❤

[@terry2544]

Amazing, I needed this one

[@JuanGarcia-uq6vr]

Great video!! Thank you

[@SpiceBoy7UK23]

loved it & subscribed!

[@jrgenhaugsvr529]

WOW Matt! Best two minute Tuesday ever

[@heidiwoodhouseschmit6973]

Thanks for the tips😃

[@bbens999]

Thanks dude!!

[@Briixyx]

You are so helpful thank you 😢

[@_op_294]

this is what i need it (defending fast players ) matt your the best

[@mcischke]

Great info!

[@coldisx]

Thank you Matt 👍🏾

[@soccerskillz7911]

Extremely exited for your useful tips and teqnuiqes! Absouloutle legend!

[@manuelbaut1044]

Can you please do more analyze type videos? I know you probably don’t have time but if you do, try doing another one You did RB,CDM and now try winger and CB 🙏

[@Nupe-rd7dz]

Love this video, showed it to my son a 100x. Great Video!

[@seanvincent7318]

One of the best tips ever!

[@JUANXAVIERNUNEZ]

Amazing tips

[@josephkamuzu2117]

All those tips work well I agree with you 💯❤️

[@olimob0854]

You to!

[@Dossou2625]

Great video

[@joegonzalez3669]

This really helped

[@jonas9402]

This really helped me, but do you have any tips when it comes to throughballs?

[@user-gd5jz6hw9x]

I am a slow wingback and you re really helpful

[@daniellora1403]

the first tip he mentioned is done alot by Ronald araujo from Barca. Man he is a beast and really underrated.

[@kenmmita346]

This is the best video I've seen ... and I came here to see how wingers play. Tip #4 is the best

[@nejiso2]

I'm really glad this video exists because the way that the people I play against in rec leagues defend fast players is by fouling them before they get a chance to run away with the ball

[@jporridge5954]

Thanks a lot

[@ayomikunayodiran3246]

Nice.....very nice....thank you so much

[@chasekonduru]

Q&A: Is it possible to get the physique I desire (in this case it’s lean with a fair amount of muscle) while training for football? If so, how?

[@en9587]

Yes you just need to make changes to your diet and your other types of training like bodyweight/gym training.

[@larsheijne4586]

eat a more proteic diet and eat enough calories to replenish your spent energy

[@bhekumuzimacdonald5967]

hii Matt great content man l follow your videos, am a forward 20 aged player l have been out of playing for about some months and wanna get back into my rhythm fast but my joints and hips are killing me whenever l play with the ball, which best exercise, recovery ways and food could help me prevent that and also injury prevention ways

[@beazt955]

Yeah same my hip has been killing me and I can't run

[@BornAgainFitness]

Good stuff.

[@olucreativeteam2339]

Thanks for the video, I'll be passing on this information to my youngsters.

[@ozzy9964]

Thank you

[@violationz4842]

Great video I always play against guys faster than me its hard to stop them one thing I always do is initiate contact but never really put my hand on their chest n that

[@JM-zg2lg]

Sound advice 👍

[@forreal4643]

Great informational content

[@roxbylife6917]

Hey Matt any tips for preparing for an upcoming state championship? Its in 2weeks thanks

[@tide5617]

Try your very best on the game and no matter the outcome. You’ll at least know that you did everything within your reach and not blame yourself after the game

[@roxbylife6917]

@@tide5617 thanks for the advice👍😊

[@johncatalano7101]

Can you give me advice about hip injuries? I tore my hip labrum about a year and half ago on my left side, and I just tore my right side a few days ago. How did you overcome your hip injuries? Also, does it still affect you today?

[@deadwiredff8669]

Thnx😊

[@Playboyarya7x]

Please a make video for side back 3 or 5

[@flyingbanana4179]

Ay Matt what do you think about Milwaukee possibly coming to the USL Championship?

[@dondonoplimo]

I love the watermark over the game clips 😂😂😂

[@BodyTrust]

I'm usually bigger (and slower) than wingers. I have an advantage now. Thanks!

[@GiulianoIbarreta]

last technique, dark arts 👌

[@james5137]

I need this video😅

[@Thatlime]

For the last one on my first contact with the player do I go for the ball?

[@ThatoneCM]

As a cdm lb rb cb cm this is helpful

[@twhiteofrd_1102]

The intro's for two minute Tuesday just get funnier everytime

[@ultimateathlete123]

LMAO the watermarks 😂

[@gerrysgaming5754]

Bruhh I kinda just started using this as a stronger than he looks but still really skinny average height defender had to kinda just play w my brain but loved that it was so clearly explained

[@lemat579]

I feel helped🙂

[@magepenguin3704]

Is it better to do 1 day all dribbling, 1 day shooting, 1 day passing or mix of all in each day?

[@ooizhingyao8388]

Recently i lost my final match because of a crazy fast winger at my side, feels like destiny wanted me to watch this after the loss.

[@TheCaptainjuicy]

Hoping you get your redemption bro.

[@ASBSoccer]

"TWO MINUTE tuesday where I answer a question in less than 20 minutes" This is why Matt is the goat. Peter Mckinnon vibes.

[@bennythegoat7370]

Sorry to ask this but what defensive position do you play

[@tsidbanda]

What a banger

[@miguelpadilla31]

The watermarks tho!!! 🤣🤣

[@Me7o527]

Hey man can tell me how you compare the Ucl and all the other divisions of teams you played with to the Mexican second division liga de expansion mx I’m thinking about trying out for one of the new teams in the league and want to know what type of competition I’m facing please reply my dude thank you

[@Martin-sy4jt]

Everything is a little bit better. Speed of players, ball control, speed of play, passing etc. Everything is on a higher level as you go up the chain.

[@Me7o527]

@@Martin-sy4jt well yes but I want comparison to know what I’m going up against

[@jonathan.sutley]

Heya Matt, I hope you're doing well. I've got a question for you, if you have the time. I've been trying to work on my nutrition lately, and I'm finding it difficult to simultaneously meet my calorie goals and my body's needs for potassium. Potassium is one of my nutrition focuses because I've had a couple past games where my quadriceps cramped up almost immediately and I figured I was potassium deficient. I almost want to avoid overeating and staying fit, so I'm finding that I can't squeeze the 3400 to 4700 mg of potassium I need into my diet every day. How do you manage it? As a professional athlete who does a serious amount of exercise and running, do you worry about potassium at all? Thanks for your time, Jonathan

[@robertfelter9078]

potatos, brocoli, bananas

[@dizzy7509]

can someone tell me the intro or outro song pliss?

[@i_dont_have_ideas_of_name_help]

Im not fast but i have good dribbling plus im not even an st or cf im a gk or cb but i always be gk bc our team doesnt have a good gk and this video may help me bc in next grade i may be an cb bc the goals will be too big i already i seen it and im only lke 150 cm i think its 5 ft

[@zaqfitness1590]

@2:41 if your winger is quick you never want to send him outside because he will burn you. You want to send him inside towards support. Where your teammates can assist.

[@contactgranimals606]

mate if you force the winger outside he's forced to get a cross in as opposed to getting a shot on goal/ playing a teammate in through channels between defenders. And the second one is a lot more dangerous than the first one, thats why at least 9 times out of 10 you force players away from goal. Except rare circumstances like overload on the wings, etc which is when you force them inside (where they dont have numerical superiority, and lesser space to exploit). Please understand that this guy is probably much more experienced and has spent a lot more time analysing the game than you have, before putting forth such hasty ideas as facts.

[@zaqfitness1590]

The only one here putting forth “hasty comments” is you. You are judging me and my knowledge based on opinion. Most top level professionals/coaching staff will agree with me. Think of it logically as well. If you are defending anywhere on the pitch and your opponent is quicker than you, your best option winning is sending this player into support. So that if he does beat you, someone is there to defend, because you do not have the recovery pace. The last thing you want to give this opponent is open space where there is no support. Because you will not have the ability to recover, or allow your teammates to close them down. You are entitled to your opinion, and that’s fine. Try it out your option, and then mine and let me know how it goes. Speak with other sources that you believe are credible and get their opinion. Matt is just an average player at best, and me not knowledgeable providing hasty comments(as you said).

[@faterskai]

@@zaqfitness1590 he doesnt get open space if u force him outside. if u force him to your teammates thats where the chaos begins in defending. you will open up space in the middle, open space will be created by your support and they can play there so many goals come from this situation, when your support is 1 step behind and he cant block his shot/pass. just look at mbappes last minute goal against real madrid. 3 players tried to stop him

[@soundlysouth2962]

I get the idea... I've often found that when you play him inside though, this can and usually does cause chaos... often times, that will pull a CB out of position, and widen the channel between CB'S which allows strikers or a CAM to slide right through. I think your idea can def be effective, but only with a world class back line. Good thought though!

[@aameengoyal5985]

@@zaqfitness1590 mate what world are you living in? Matt might be an average player in your diary and probably I am too then, but at least we've played Football and understand the game. What the hell are you talking about and nobody who understands the game will every corroborate what you're saying. It makes no sense. Getting penetrated from the middle is always going to be more dangerous than getting balls into the box which your team is in shape to defend. That's why every defense in the world stays compact and forces opposition outside, which the opposition tries to counter by creating overloads on the wings and creating space to produce quality crosses/cutbacks. This will be my last reply because i already know you're not capable of understanding this today, but my stupid hands tried one more time. Cheers.

[@wotinthewherld3434]

5:27 first good harry maguire clip lol

[@eliupadhyay6531]

The "screw you FIFA" is hilarious

[@braybray8323]

Coach Wes made me watch this

[@shaantimeditationvideos870]

video help me very much wallahi

[@Johny_D]

The copyright text 😂

[@soundlysouth2962]

Case in point, body ody ody ody ody ody ody ody

[@user-jo7xx1yk4u]

really ggod pal

[@guleed5329]

Nah fr thank u now I know what to do

[@slightcurve98]

the problem with getting tight on a fast player is they can use the aggression to their advantage and then they can spin you and then you're out of position its a risky game if the player is good