Transition — the 5-second window

How it works on the pitch

Offensive transition (won the ball): attack space quickly before the opposition can reorganise — the counter-attack. Defensive transition (lost the ball): either execute the counter-press (win it back within 5 seconds) or drop quickly and reorganise (fall back). Guardiola's '6-second rule' comes from this principle.

Gaffer FC teaches 12 concepts like this one with interactive examples and a tactical minigame where you make the call. See inside the app.