Relationism is not a strict subset of positional play. It is a neighbouring possession logic: both can create control, superiority, progression, and counter-pressure, but they organise the player before the pass in different ways.

The answer depends on how tightly the term positional play is used. If positional play means any structured possession game, relationism can sit inside it. That definition is too broad to be useful. If positional play means the Guardiola/Lillo/Cruyff family of ideas where zones, width, depth, spacing, and occupation rules are the first collective reference, relationism is not a subset. It is a different organising logic that can be combined with positional structures.