Bielsa’s Tactical Truth: We’ve Been Seeing Systems the Wrong Way

Marcelo Bielsa rarely speaks publicly about tactics, and when he does, the football world pays attention. His newest presentation is one of the most revealing and thought-provoking tactical lectures he’s delivered in years — not because of a new pressing trigger or possession pattern, but because of how directly he challenges the way coaches think about formation. In the presentation, Bielsa argues that football doesn’t have endless systems, trends, or reinventions. Instead, he claims the modern game has only 11 real structures, and that most of us dramatically overcomplicate what a system actually is. According to him, the problem isn’t that coaches lack creativity — it’s that we’re thinking about the game through the wrong lens.

This week’s Modern Soccer Coach Breakdown takes a deep look at how Bielsa frames one of the 11 systems (the 4-3-3) , why he believes we misunderstand them, and how he uses the 4-3-3 to illustrate his thinking.

Why Bielsa Thinks We Misunderstand Systems

The foundation of Bielsa’s argument is simple but confronting:

Systems aren’t philosophies — they’re reference frames.

Where many coaches see the 4-3-3 or 3-4-3 as a fixed identity, Bielsa sees them as just starting points that should shift based on the opponent, the match-ups, and the relationships between players. He believes modern football demands versatility, not rigidity, and he makes the case that youth players should be exposed to all 11 systems as part of their development.

He also challenges the traditional idea of “Plan B.” For him, changing system shouldn’t require substitutes — it should come from how the same 11 players reorganize within the match.

Inside the Breakdown: Bielsa’s 4-3-3 Like You’ve Never Seen It

One of the most eye-opening parts of the presentation is how Bielsa draws the 4-3-3. Instead of staggering the 6, 8, and 10, he places all three on the same horizontal line. This visual allows him to highlight what he sees as the key requirement of the modern midfielder: the freedom to move across multiple lines and channels based on the moment.

From there, Bielsa layers different pictures of how he attacks with six players while defending with a “three plus one” structure. He shows how those six attackers can be formed in several different ways:

• A front three plus a midfield three

• A back three with a pivot to support

• Three attacking “pairs” that reorganize the structure

• Asymmetrical pushes from the weak-side fullback

• Rotations where the eight drops and the fullbacks advance

  
  

The message is consistent: the shape itself matters less than how the players inside it combine, rotate, and solve the match-up in front of them.

You can watch the full MSC Breakdown below. Please 'like' and subscribe if you enjoy!

Also you can watch the full Marcelo Bielsa presentation below:

The MSC Advanced Tactical Analysis Course is now available at a limited-time 50% discount for coaches who want to deepen their understanding of modern tactics and game analysis. The course covers advanced concepts such as systems, match-ups, rotations, pressing, build-up structures, and real-game breakdowns used at the highest levels. If you enjoy our MSC Breakdowns and want to take your tactical work to the next level, this is the perfect opportunity to jump in. Click here and use code MSCTACTICAL to get your special discount and start today!