Against a back five, I want to create problems between and around the defenders rather than repeatedly deliver into three centre-backs.
Wide overloads can still help, but use them to draw a wing-back out and create the inside channel.
An 8 arriving between wing-back and outside centre-back can be very difficult to pass on.
You can also use a striker dropping short to pull a centre-back out, then attack the space behind with a winger or midfielder.
Switches matter because a back five can become narrow once the ball stays on one side.
I’d coach patience around the block and aggression once a defender leaves their line.
Crossing is still useful, especially cut-backs and low deliveries after getting beyond the wing-back.
The question is not “how do we avoid crossing?”
It is “how do we move the five so the delivery or penetration happens after they have lost their preferred distances?”
