THREAD

🔴Manchester United-🔵Manchester City (0-0)

Tactical Analysis of Manchester United - Out of possession

•High Block (4-3-1-2
•Mid Block (4-2-2-2)
•Low Block (4-4-2)
In a match that ends 0-0, a look at the defensive setup is perhaps the most natural thing to analyze. Here I have had a look at Man United- out of possession, in their match vs Man City, where they managed to neutralize City´s threat. I felt a big focus of MU was marking of KDB.
When defending in their high block, MU appeared to utilize a 4-3-1-2 shape. What was noteworthy in this phase, was that MU often tried to force MC to play infield as opposed to the outside & use the sideline as an extra defender. This was most evident when Ederson had the ball.
When defending in their high block, MU appeared to utilize a 4-3-1-2 shape. What was noteworthy in this phase, was that MU often tried to force MC to play infield as opposed to the outside & use the sideline as an extra defender. This was most evident when Ederson had the ball.
When defending in their high block, MU appeared to utilize a 4-3-1-2 shape. What was noteworthy in this phase, was that MU often tried to force MC to play infield as opposed to the outside & use the sideline as an extra defender. This was most evident when Ederson had the ball.
When defending in their high block, MU appeared to utilize a 4-3-1-2 shape. What was noteworthy in this phase, was that MU often tried to force MC to play infield as opposed to the outside & use the sideline as an extra defender. This was most evident when Ederson had the ball.
When defending in their high block, MU appeared to utilize a 4-3-1-2 shape. What was noteworthy in this phase, was that MU often tried to force MC to play infield as opposed to the outside & use the sideline as an extra defender. This was most evident when Ederson had the ball.
To force MC to play inside, MU often used the wide player in the front 3 to cut off support back to the defender/GK, & apply pressure to the MC fullback with their own FB. Often leaving the best passing option central, where a ball recovery could lead to a dangerous transition.
To force MC to play inside, MU often used the wide player in the front 3 to cut off support back to the defender/GK, & apply pressure to the MC fullback with their own FB. Often leaving the best passing option central, where a ball recovery could lead to a dangerous transition.
To force MC to play inside, MU often used the wide player in the front 3 to cut off support back to the defender/GK, & apply pressure to the MC fullback with their own FB. Often leaving the best passing option central, where a ball recovery could lead to a dangerous transition.
To force MC to play inside, MU often used the wide player in the front 3 to cut off support back to the defender/GK, & apply pressure to the MC fullback with their own FB. Often leaving the best passing option central, where a ball recovery could lead to a dangerous transition.
To force MC to play inside, MU often used the wide player in the front 3 to cut off support back to the defender/GK, & apply pressure to the MC fullback with their own FB. Often leaving the best passing option central, where a ball recovery could lead to a dangerous transition.
When MC managed to beat the press, MU dropped into a 4-2-2-2 shape, how they spent most of their time when out of possession. This usually had Rashford/Greenwood on top, with Pogba/Bruno as the next line of 2. This can be seen here in the average positions map from @utdarena:
https://twitter.com/utdarena/status/1338107060567805953?s=20

This map takes into account both out of possession & in possession actions in the match.
A key take away from the mid block, was the focus of MU´s double pivot to mark KDB out of the match as much as possible. With the wingers high & narrow, play was funnelled to the outside by compressing space centrally. Forcing the pivot of MC to offer some creativity.
A key take away from the mid block, was the focus of MU´s double pivot to mark KDB out of the match as much as possible. With the wingers high & narrow, play was funnelled to the outside by compressing space centrally. Forcing the pivot of MC to offer some creativity.
A key take away from the mid block, was the focus of MU´s double pivot to mark KDB out of the match as much as possible. With the wingers high & narrow, play was funnelled to the outside by compressing space centrally. Forcing the pivot of MC to offer some creativity.
A key take away from the mid block, was the focus of MU´s double pivot to mark KDB out of the match as much as possible. With the wingers high & narrow, play was funnelled to the outside by compressing space centrally. Forcing the pivot of MC to offer some creativity.
MU did well to avoid being pushed back into their low block shape too often, as they were relatively proactive defending, & often pushed up the entire shape when support passes were played. However, the times MC managed to establish deeper territory, MU utilized 2 flat banks of 4
MU did well to avoid being pushed back into their low block shape too often, as they were relatively proactive defending, & often pushed up the entire shape when support passes were played. However, the times MC managed to establish deeper territory, MU utilized 2 flat banks of 4
MU did well to avoid being pushed back into their low block shape too often, as they were relatively proactive defending, & often pushed up the entire shape when support passes were played. However, the times MC managed to establish deeper territory, MU utilized 2 flat banks of 4
Shapes & formations are extremely fluid, even if a team is using just one "formation" out of possession. However, my view was that MU used multiple shapes out of possession making players roles & functions even more dynamic than typically seen. MU did well to nullify MC´s attack
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