Mental Strength: The Art of The Comeback
What does it take to achieve a big comeback on the soccer field? Even super big clubs like Barcelona face hurdles on the pitch and must mount a comeback to celebrate a victory. This is soccer. But how do you do it?
Defending & Accomplishing the Comeback With Dan Abrahams
I’m writing this article a couple of days after one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history, and certainly one of the most exciting games of soccer the world has seen. Going into the second leg of the last 16 round of the UEFA Champions League, FC Barcelona trailed Paris St. Germain by four goals. They had suffered a rare thrashing at the hands of the French side in Paris in the first leg. Yes, this is years ago.
What happened next was remarkable. Barcelona scored an early goal through Luis Suarez to give them hope, and by half-time they were three-nil up and had reduced the deficit to one. 
But all hopes of an incredible comeback were put on hold when Cavaniscored an away goal for Paris midway through the second half.
And then it happened. In 88 minutes, Barcelona struck after the game started to die away. They scored and then scored again a few minutes later.
Local hero Sergi Roberto then scored with the game’s final kick to leave the score six-one and see Barcelona through six-five.
The roar and celebrations of the Barca fans literally shook the ground beneath their feet. As Roberto’s dramatic goal went in, the cheers from Barcelona’s fans were recorded on the Richter scale—a measurement used to record earthquakes—at the Jaume Almera Institute of Earth Sciences, which is 500 metres away from the stadium.
Who doesn’t and wouldn’t feel for the Paris players? In the heat of battle, they played with fear, on the back foot, and focused on trying not to lose.
In this article, I’ll give you some tips on how to strive to make a comeback. Here are some thoughts.
Advice for Professional or Youth Soccer Players – It is Important to Stay Patient
It was Steven Gerrard in his post-match analysis on British TV who said that Barcelona stayed patient as they played. They didn’t panic. They didn’t try to force a comeback. They just played as they always do. They passed in triangles and small spaces and suffocated PSG.
Perhaps there was a little more urgency, and perhaps the tempo increased slightly. This happens naturally…the team that is trailing will increase its pace of play. But take note—this is different from over-trying. This is different from playing with panic.
Panic will cause your muscles to tighten, your coordination to be shattered, and your first touch to be damaged. Your game intelligence will atrophy, and you will find yourself out of position, play with tunnel vision, and slow your anticipation.
You’ve got two goals to score in ten minutes? Relax, stay patient. Play it simple. Play quick but not rushed.
Do you have a goal to try to create in injury time? Relax, stay patient. Build up from the back with speed but without tension.
Advice for Professional or Youth Soccer Players – Stay Present
To help you stay patient, remove all thoughts of how long the match will last. When you think about the clock, you’ll stifle your game. You’ll play with an abundance of emotion rather than with pinpoint intellect.
Take each second and minute as it comes. Focus on playing on your toes with great body language. How you hold yourself on the pitch from minute to minute is an essential tool when trying to stay switched on and contribute to a comeback.
HELPFUL SELF-TALK IS VITAL WHEN TRYING TO GET BACK INTO A GAME.
Remind yourself of your responsibilities – you’re your game as you compete. Positive self-talk is also imperative. Be optimistic – you’re not out of it until the very last kick of the game. As Barcelona proved this week, you can launch even the most unrealistic of comebacks at the very latest stages of the game.
Advice for Professional or Youth Soccer Players – Be Vocal
Finally, be vocal and help others. You can’t make a monumental comeback alone; your teammates need your support.
Encourage with a loud voice. Engage in positive gestures. Remind your mates of their responsibilities and help them stay upbeat.
You’re two-nil down with five minutes to go – keep your voice loud and super positive.
Your opposition has just scored its third goal, and three ahead of you with twenty to play. Remind and boost, embolden and inspire—your voice is a weapon of support that others will never tire of.
Keep going, keep working, keep moving…no matter the score. Keep finding space and closing down the space…no matter the score. Keep passing, tackling, and carrying the ball…no matter the score. You never know…you may cause the same seismic shift in the final moments of your game that the Barcelona players created. You may shake the ground around you.
In soccer, anything is possible.
A global sports psychologist and author specializing in soccer, Dan Abrahams is based in England and works with professional soccer players in the English Premier League (EPL). Abrahams has worked with hundreds of soccer players – many who play in the English Premier League (EPL). From working with players at Crystal Palace, QPR, Fulham, and West Ham among others, Abrahams counsels players on how to play at peak performance. Abrahams has authored several books and has a Soccer Academy as well.
