Tactics

Manchester United vs Aston Villa, Old Trafford

Pressure is on from the start, a big game at home against a team on the up. But, against a team we feel we have more quality than, and finished above last season, so at home, this is a game we must win as we aim to crack the top 4 this season.

Very few changes to our side from last season, the team know each other, and the formation. We aim to start quickly. Our team are confident, and raring to start the season with a bang, and to capitalise on the negativity coming from the Villa camp. Win.

------------ G.Buffon
D.Alves – Pepe – Vertonghen – Filipe
------- Khedira – C.Fabregas
Navas ------ Oscar -------- Robben
------------ C.Tevez

Subs. Zieler, Smalling, Telles, Vilhena, Barkley, Cazorla, Balotelli

Attacking 4-2-3-1. Playing with plenty of width. We have fantastic pace down the wings to stretch Villa, and create gaps in their formation. Villa have a strong midfield, so our wide players will be key in stretching the game, and exposing the Villa defence. We feel our wide players will key to beating Villa.

We will look to defend high up the pitch, playing a high pressing game. Tevez leads from the front with his natural high work rate in defence.

The formation is rigid in defence, fluid in attack. Navas keeps the width on the right, but we encourage Robben,Oscar and Tevez to interchange, pop-up in different positions, drag opposition defenders out of position, and create openings for team-mates.

The players know their individual roles, in natural positions and so we focus on the team setup. We feel our team has a naturally high work rate, and this will allow us to play the high pressing game.

We will be direct and attack with pace. Cesc is the playmaker, in the cm role. Our attacking four will really stretch the opposition with their movement, this should open up the opposition and allow Cesc and Sami to control the game for us.

Defence.

Control the space. When they do have possession, ensure it’s in areas that can’t hurt us.

The first point of defence should be in in the opposition half, as we look to play a high pressing game. We allow the opposition CBs and GK time on the ball in the final third. But close down midfielders coming deep in this area, pushing our team forward and playing a slightly higher line. Limit their options. Force them to go long or take risks.

As soon as they move the ball out of the first third, to the middle section of the park we want to press.
Keeping the 4-2-3-1 shape at this point, Tevez, Oscar and one of Navas/Robben will look to close down the opposition depending where the opposition are. The winger on the opposite flank comes in narrow, ensuring there is no space in the centre.

When there dm’s come deep to get the ball, Tevez and one of WGs/AM shut out the space in front of them, force them back to their defenders as our other four midfielders and fb’s will pick up their midfielders.

Although we press high up the park, the defence will ensure that as Villa advance further up the park, the line drops deep so there is no space in behind. As Villa advance into higher areas of the park and into our half, our shape will resemble a 4-1-4-1.
Khedira drops in between defence and midfield, sweeping in between the lines. His energy and reading will be best utilised in this position. Cesc and Oscar in cm. This shape ensures that when one of our midfielders do press we will still always have 4 midfielders behind, to cover, particularly in the important central areas.

We always want at least one more defender than Villa has attacker. I.e two then only one full backs get forward at a time. The other stays in line with Khedira, ready to break forward. Guarding against counters, allow us to get players back if possession changes quickly.

Our fb’s up against their quick wide forwards are to drop off more so they can bide their time, waiting for the right time to make the tackle and not diving in. Show him down the line to block the cross. If he does manage to get past you, there’s a chance to stop the cross.

Attack

We look to keep our passing simple in our own third. Playing short and on the deck where possible. If we go long, we look to find our wingers, using their pace to get in behind.

Generally be direct going forward, in the opposition half we will always looking to go forward and stretch the opposition where possible. Navas keeps the width on the right, his linkup play with Alves will pose a real threat. Navas keeping width, allowing the tireless Alves to run inside him and beyond.

Robben has more freedom to find space in central areas, as Filipe will be tasked with keeping the width when he gets down the left. The pace of Navas & Robben will be a real asset down the wings and will help to stretch the opposition, forcing them deep. This will create space in the centre of the park, giving time to the central players.

Cesc will orchestrate our play. We want him to be everywhere today, and get involved with everything. We are looking to see the aggressive Fabregas that played as a box-to-box man for Arsenal. Khedira offers drive in the more defensive cm role, he will help to drive us forward out of defence, and stay deep at all times in attack but for the very rare occasion where he can burst forward and Cesc will cover.

Oscar will always look to find space in between the Villa midfield and defence, where he can get on the ball, linking up and looking to create.

Tevez up top will play his natural game.

Subs.

If winning after 70 mins bring on Vilhena for Oscar. Cesc moves to a more attacking cm role. Vilhena box to box role.
If winning after 75 mins bring on Balotelli for Tevez. Mario to use his pace as the game opens up and Villa defence tires.
If winning after 80 mins bring on Telles for Navas. Fresh pace down the right. Gives more defensive cover.

If drawing after 69 mins bring on Barkley for Navas and Balotelli up front for Tevez. Injection of power as legs tire. Oscar moves right, giving us more variation and creativity on the right. While Balotelli adds pace up top.
If drawing after 75 mins bring on Cazorla for Oscar.

If losing after 69 mins bring on Telles for Filipe. Two fbs to attack.
If losing after 75 mins bring on Balotelli for Oscar. Tevez to AM.
If losing after 75 mins bring on Cazorla for Navas.