One thousand one hundred, sixty-six goals have been scored in this young USL League 2 season, so far. And of all those goals, none of them have been scored, as of Wednesday morning, June 12th, against the only remaining clubs still boasting a clean sheet in 2024. In a day and age where offensive displays are the premium across clubs at all levels and nations, the Little Rock Rangers are showing how a stout, suffocating defensive unit can lead to a team’s success.

I’ve reached out with questions about the Stags’ defensive mindset to Little Rock’s Assistant Coach Francesco Brunetti. Francesco is a USL2 veteran, having played in defense for both Corpus Christi FC and Little Rock before joining the Rangers’ staff as the first team mens’ assistant and as affiliate club Searcy Ranger’s youth director. Below, he shares about the Stags’ focus in the defensive half and the results it’s provided the team so far in the Mid-South Division.

Protagonist: What specific defensive strategies have you implemented this season that have contributed to your success in preventing goals? Does your system adapt for the players you have, or do your players have to adapt to the system, or a bit of both?

Brunetti: We haven't implemented specific strategies per se; instead, we focus on a few core concepts that we reinforce with our players each week. Our goal is to consistently see these principles in action on the pitch. During the winter recruitment period, we signed players who we believe best fit our vision and can effectively execute what we are trying to achieve.

Little Rock Defender Dom Breidenbach wins the ball over Mississippi Brilla. Image courtesy of Little Rock Rangers

Protagonist: What drills are you running to get the back line to operate as one unit and keep such a tight offsides line?/ What aspects of training have been emphasized to strengthen the defense?

Brunetti: Our training approach is progressive, beginning with theoretical concepts introduced on the board and then transitioning to on-field practice. We start with fundamental off-the-ball movements and gradually incorporate more detailed aspects such as body positioning, spacing between players, and their interactions in relation to the ball and opponents. We place significant emphasis on understanding each player's strengths and weaknesses and how they can work together with their teammates around them to enhance overall team performance.

Protagonist: Can you highlight any key defensive players and their roles in maintaining the team's clean sheet record?

Brunetti: Our success is truly a team effort that begins with our number 9 and number 10. We've played five games with five different lineups, utilizing 18 different players from the start. This makes it challenging to single out one key player. However, if I had to nominate one, it would be our goalkeeper, Tomasz Wroblewski, who is the only player to have played every minute of this season.

Protagonist: How do you balance maintaining a solid defense while also contributing to the attack? / How do you get the defensive stability without sacrificing risk taking and attacking/goal scoring?

Brunetti: As I mentioned before, our success is a team effort. Our players understand our objectives in both phases of the game and know their roles. We aim to advance with as many players as possible, but our defensive transitions must be quick. To use a common analogy, the blanket is always short on one side; in our case, it needs to be perfectly balanced on both sides. We attack and we defend as a unit.

Protagonist: How do you prepare for different types of offensive threats from opposing teams? How do you adapt your defensive approach based on the opponent's strengths and weaknesses?

Brunetti: We take a different approach compared to other teams for various reasons. Instead of holding video sessions, our coaching staff scouts opponents in different ways. We share this information with players individually or during on-field and board sessions. Additionally, we gather insights from players and coaches who are familiar with our opponents. While we respect every team we play, but we focus on our own game and do not adapt our style to fit them.

6’7” Defender Ethan Garvey is a dominant physical presence for the Stags’ defensive center. *Image courtesy of Little Rock Rangers*

Protagonist: Have there been any particularly challenging matches or moments where the defense was tested? How did you overcome these challenges?

Brunetti: In our first five games, we were put to the test, yet I can't pinpoint a moment where I felt certain we'd concede a goal. Whether things are going smoothly or not, we maintain a forward-looking mindset, always concentrating on the next moment in the game. It's in our practice or halftime discussions where we address any issues and make the necessary adjustments to prevent future setbacks.

Protagonist: How do you keep the team motivated and focused on maintaining this defensive record? / Does the performance thus far match the results of no goals allowed or is there still work to do?

Brunetti: We don't employ any specific tactics to keep the team motivated or focused; we actually don't discuss it much. Our approach is simple: if we do our job defensively, we will create chances to score and win games. There's always work to be done; perfection is unattainable in soccer, as it is a situational game, and some scenarios are difficult to replicate in practice. The only thing we can do is work hard and strive to improve every day, both individually and as a team.

Protagonist: How do you plan to sustain this level of defensive excellence? / What are your goals for the remainder of the season in terms of defensive performance?

Brunetti: We don't have a real plan; eventually, we will concede a goal, and our perfect record will end. Our objective is to delay that moment for as long as possible. By focusing on continuous improvement and minimizing the number of goals we allow, we increase our chances of winning games and advancing to the next rounds. As the great Sir Alex Ferguson once said, "Attack wins you games, defense wins you titles," and we firmly believe that.

Saturday, Little Rock travels to Lafayette, LA to take on Louisiana Krewe in USL League Two action.

- Ryan Stallings