Finish like Lionel Messi: Part three

Changing direction, at pace, is one of Lionel Messi’s many attributes.

The Argentinian has the ability to contort his body, turning defenders inside-out, as he finds space for a shot on goal - a skill you can learn, according to Alf Galustian, co-founder of Coerver Coaching.

“This is all about surprising the goalkeeper and the defenders,” Galustian told FFT.

“The goalkeeper and defenders have no problem when you’re going across the goal. But what if you had two or three moves that could actually give you an option to turn towards goal, or in the other direction, very quickly?”

With this drill devised by Coerver Coaching - demonstrated by the AFC Wimbledon academy - you soon will…

For more technical advice visit Coerver Coaching on YouTube and facebook. For more drills and games from Alf Galustian visit Soccer Session Planner.

Also see:
Beat your marker and finish like... Lionel Messi - part one
Beat your marker and finish like... Lionel Messi - part two
Beat your marker and finish like... David Villa
Beat your marker and finish like... Robin van Persie
Beat your marker and finish like... Wayne Rooney
Beat your marker and finish like... Aaron Lennon
 

Huw was on the FourFourTwo staff from 2009 to 2015, ultimately as the magazine's Managing Editor, before becoming a freelancer and moving to Wales. As a writer, editor and tragic statto, he still contributes regularly to FFT in print and online, though as a match-going #WalesAway fan, he left a small chunk of his brain on one of many bus journeys across France in 2016.