Xabi Alonso made an interesting tactical adjustment at half-time during Chelsea’s victory over Everton yesterday… Everton had been pressing man-to-man - Alonso and his staff recognised the pattern and adjusted how Chelsea built possession. Just 43 seconds into the second half, Pedro Neto scored. I find this fascinating because behind every effective tactical adjustment sits a psychological challenge. Players have to recognise what’s happening, understand what needs to change, direct their attention towards the relevant information, and coordinate their actions. This is where shared mental models become so important. A shared mental model is a common understanding of the task, the situation, and how people must work together. In football, that might involve players recognising the same pressing cues, anticipating teammates’ movements, and coordinating their decisions. And here’s the challenge for coaches: it’s not enough for your players to understand your tactical instructions. They must learn to perceive the game in ways that allow those instructions to be executed. They must learn what to look for, what information matters and what changes require adaptation. They need to understand what their teammates are likely to do and how to respond. I dedicate a whole chapter in my new book, Compete to helping players to stay focused and connected to the information that matters. Players need to learn to recognise possibilities, anticipate, adapt, and execute with purpose. Because effective teams don’t simply share a tactical plan. They share an understanding of the game that helps them coordinate their actions as the game changes. That’s where psychology meets tactics. And that’s where outstanding coaching can make an enormous difference. ************************************ Compete is available on all good online retailers