I’m pretty sure Cruyff knew that what a player does in those 3 minutes with the ball is very important (i.e. missing easy chances versus finishing them or hitting accurate passes versus giving the ball away), but he was probably trying to make a point about the underrated importance of intelligent behavior off the ball.

When it comes to effective off-ball behavior, physical speed and sheer effort are important but being clever with your positioning and movement to create and maximize space is where we turn our focus. The following 5 behaviors will help you receive more passes, create more chances, and become a more dangerous attacking player overall.