The Rondo

As a lot of people know, 'El Rondo' is seen as a valuable tool in developing an array of technical and tactical qualities in building possession, with the ultimate aim being that of achieving penetration. They can be practiced from 3v1, to 4v2, to 7v3 etc. These training methods were made most famous in recent times by Pep Guardiola, but were always immensely popular among coaches in Spain long before Guardiola became a manager.

The emphasis is always on providing the attacking team with an overload, with the aim to keep the ball until an opportunity to play through the defensive pairing (or unit) is created. 

A basic example of a penetrating (or '3rd line') pass between two defenders. 

Simeone, however, took this tool and used it to train the opposite objective: to deny penetration. The idea in how Cholo's teams play is that the opposition can play across/in front, or even down the sides of, but never through them. He has used Rondo's as a way of coaching defensive pairings/units to provide excellent cooperation in pressure-cover situations, with a great importance placed on the 2nd defender in providing sufficient positioning in order to intercept any passes that beat the 1st defender. 

 In this example, you can see how after a number of coaching interventions focusing on the relationship between the pair pressing the ball, the positioning of the 2nd defender improves and thus sees more interceptions. 

 Here is an excellent video with a number of Rondo practices used by Atletico which, although link to the shift in focus on controlling more of the ball during matches by developing good positional play, it also has a constant emphasis on the cooperation between defenders. 

For example, in a 4v2 Rondo, the  two defending players can be given a clear picture of how the practice would look like in a match: the possibilities are those of two Strikers, two CM's, or a Winger and a CM, just as examples. But really it is a concept that relates to every defensive pair on the pitch when they are defending together.

Good examples of Atleti using defensive principles from the Rondo consist of intelligent movement from the defensive pairing to 'narrow off', and, specifically from the 2nd defender to drop off and provide a deeper angle of cover for the 1st defender in order to discourage a 3rd line pass. Essentially, screening. The speed at which the defensive pair cooperate- providing appropriate pressure and cover- is crucial. 

Below is an example (apologies for the poor video quality) of how a small adjustment in positioning can deny a potentially dangerous pass. Down Atleti's right side, Raul Garcia and Gabi demonstrate a good example of preventing a split pass when they are defending against Messi. The gap appears for Messi to potentially find the movement of Alexis, but Gabi adjusts his position by taking a step to his right and dropping off Garcia in order to intercept a potential attempt. 

A breakdown shows the detail of Gabi's movement as the 2nd defender to provide that layer of coverage needed to deny penetration. The first image shows how Barcelona could have played through Atleti had the correct cooperation not taken place.
 As a result, there is no forward pass, and Messi is outnumbered, and Barcelona are forced back. 

Another example, this time a successful interception from Koke in Barcelona's half. 

Next, this time against Real Madrid, Arda Turan & Mario Suarez demonstrate an excellent relationship, defensively, and also an awareness of when to narrow off and how to react to the situation. 

Note: Keep an eye of Ronaldo's movement as he seeks to receive behind the midfield line of Atletico. Suarez recognises this quickly and drops off to deny penetration, closing the passing lane. Arda narrows his position, looking to force Arbeloa back across. 

Cover Shadow

This can also be a quality taught in The Rondo. Something as simple as a 5v2, or a 6v2 can provide players with an effective understanding of this technical/tactical skill. 

In the images below, we see the benefits of the 'layered' defending Rondos teaches us when working as a pair. 
The first image displays an excellent positioning in the 2nd defender (Villa), whilst the approach from the 1st defender (Costa) forces the opponent to play in a direction where the nearest passing lane is closed off, whilst his teammates behind the line of pressure are behind screened by the cover shadows of the front two.

Second, Atleti's positioning blocks off the central passing option, but also screens the two additional passing options the 'keeper may have possibly had. Each play is cover shadowing a Barcelona player, whilst the defensive line between the two Strikers pressing isn't flat, thus closes off a through ball to Iniesta for Barcelona to play out of pressure. As a result, a long pass is forced. 

How would this look in a Rondo...

For an example, below is a Rondo practice of how two defenders would be forced to cope with a significant overload (6v2) by developing good cover shadows to block off angles and passing options. In this example, 

In a scenario such as above, it is important that the 2nd defenders don't follow the pivot-player if he drops in front/parallel of the line of pressure. By doing so, this could draw the defenders apart, creating a 3rd line pass. The moment to press is when the pivot receives (as the ball travels). This can then trigger a press, but the defenders must recover into sufficient covering positions when doing so. The focus must be on when they press, they adjust their angles of approach to screen off passes in behind them. Scanning and communication is key for this to take place effectively. 

'Teasing' a pass

This can also be trained in a Rondo and it is a skill that Atletico's midfielder's are good at when screening the back four. It involves creating a distance between each other that encourages the attacker to try and penetrate, but the distance is close enough to recover and intercept the ball. This can be an excellent method of starting counter attacks. Below is an example: 

The rest of the counter attack is captured in the link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3f9Mlxw4e5Y&t=2s 

Below is an example of how in the attacking phase Atleti exploit 'flat' lines of pressure. You can see that an overload around the ball has been created and, after combining with Gabi, Juanfran penetrates two defensive pairs/lines in order for Los Rojiblancos to move the ball away from an area of pressure and into a position of potential numerical superiority against Villarreal's backline.  

The Foundation

This is the foundation of Atleti's defense solidity in years gone by, where compactness and strict closure of passing lanes forced teams to play in wide areas of the pitch where Los Rojiblancos looked to trap the opponent. 

Good defending is about being compact, making play predictable, reading the game, and having an awareness of what is around you- and that is what the Rondo does when coached well. 

The proof is/was in Atleti.