# What Can we Learn From Synergies? *Combining Xabi Alonso's reflections and earlier published words to highlight the importance of synergies in football.* > For the full version with images, embedded tweets, and visual breakdowns, [visit BallerzBantz](https://www.ballerzbantz.com/p/synergies-in-football). *I recently found an interview Xabi Alonso did 6 years ago, where he reflects on his playing career, highlights the importance of **synergies**, and argues that the ability to **motivate** and convince is the secret to being a great coach.* ## Xabi on Synergies > **Xabi Alonso: "We almost won the league with La Real that sounds quite utopical, but it was because of creating synergies, a big inertia and everything was like that, rather than generated or trained automatisms."** When reflecting on his old team, Xabi says, "Kovacevic and Nihat understood each other perfectly well and that year was a miracle how well we worked and we almost won the league with La Real... it was because of creating synergies, a big inertia and everything was like that, rather than generated or trained automatisms. It was all instinctive, so to say... But, when that comes, you have to take advantage of that... what to do so that [the synergy] has the best possible efficiency." ## Xabi on Motivation > **"How to get the ideas to the players and how to convince. [This] for me is THE secret of being a great coach. Whoever knows how to have that clear and then how to make it reach the players, he has almost everything."** ## On Synergies — Scoping by Zones We often discuss & analyze midfield partnerships (trios/duos) in isolation, but are they the most important synergies that form on the pitch? I find it more useful scoping such relationships by zones & across different game phases: **For wide offensive synergy, we should be looking for:** Underlaps/Overlaps, Crossing (from wide + half space), Link up play & combinations, 1v1 ability, Ability to receive on the half turn. **For central offensive synergy:** Ability to receive under pressure, (Third man) runs behind the backline, Threaded passes or through balls, Long shots, Link up play & combinations. **For central progressive synergy:** Ball progression under pressure, Passing range, Carrying ability, Pressing resistance. *(Visit the full article for the complete version with diagrams and visual breakdowns.)* --- ## Related - [[Outlets]] - [[Head Coach Expectations]] - [[Anti-Strategy]] - [[BB-wiki-1/Sports/Projections/Solanke and Postecoglou]]