Park the bus

'Parking the bus' is football slang for an extremely defensive approach where a team commits almost every player to defending, packing the space in front of their own goal to make it nearly impossible to break down. The phrase was popularised by Jose Mourinho, who once complained that an opponent had 'parked the bus' in front of goal. In practice it means deep banks of defenders and midfielders, conceding possession and territory on purpose, and betting on a set-piece or a quick counter-attack to nick a goal. It is the extreme end of a low block, and it is most common when a heavy underdog faces a stronger side, or when a team is protecting a narrow lead late in a match. Fans argue endlessly about whether it is cynical anti-football or smart, pragmatic game management, usually depending on which team they support. Top-flight coverage lives at the Premier League.