Next up in our series of stars from the Euros is Portugal’s playmaker Bernardo Silva. He’s one of the best in the world at taking players on, and this helps him create the space for the skills we covered in the last two blogs: playing killer passes and scoring goals.
Player: Bernardo Silva
Nationality: Portuguese
Club: Man City
Position: Midfielder
Bernardo Silva is famous for his ability to beat players using his 1v1 skills. These helped him get in great positions to score 5 goals and provide 9 assists last season for Manchester City. Here’s a clip of him showing off some of these skills at his old club Monaco, before he signed for City:
1v1 moves are important for your game because they help you create space to pass, shoot, or run with the ball. Here are our three top tips for improving your 1v1 skills:
- Remember, it’s not the first opponent that is in front of you that’s difficult to beat; it’s the second and third defender that’s supporting them.
- Get your eyes up; see where the space is then you can decide which fake or turn to use.
- Be careful not to touch the ball too many times; for most players this can make them slower, and makes it easier for your opponent to recover after you have beaten them.
Why not start with this exercise, which helps you practice not just the moves but also the pass or shot you’ll be doing after you create the space! Watch here one of the videos from our online subscription platform, Coerver Players Club.
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