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Tactical analysis thread of United’s 3-0 win over Brighton
Underlapping FB is a feature Ole has added to united’s game in 2020, increasing the attacking output of Shaw & AWB. This is triggered by the winger receiving wide to give the FB space inside, pushing back the opposition midfield & giving our midfielders space on the ball.
Line staggering in midfield - Bruno, Matic & Pogba rarely play on the same horizontal lines. This makes it easier to stretch the opposition’s block & form quick combinations (see Rashford chance created by Pogba v sheffield). Matic can also drop into the back 3 easier.
This is a common pattern of play by united. Back 3 > Rashford > [underlapping run by shaw (incomplete here)]> ball to Martial/Bruno with the other running outside of the CB. With Rashford occupying his FB by being deep, the opposition FB area can be exploited by 2/3 players.
United are well protected v counters due to the shape used & positions taken up. Lindelof-Matic-Maguire centrally with a narrow Shaw on the left & the athletic AWB & Pogba pair on the right. Brighton rarely broke beyond United’s midfield.
CBs are allowed to ball carry high up the pitch to create overloads since their STs won’t follow them. Lindelof’s run combined with the underlap from Greenwood resulted in the opening goal.
United press high up the pitch to force errors such as inaccurate long balls. The narrowness of the front 3 & speed of which United’s FBs get up mean Brighton’s midfielders are simply unable to compose themselves, losing the ball often.
When off the ball, Ole’s team maintain a strict 4-2-3-1 midblock shape, ready to push up or drop back. They’re patient but use backwards or wide passes as cues to push higher up the pitch. Additionally players are triggered to press when their corresponding man receives the ball.
When possession is lost in the attacking half they cut off all immediate options for the player in possession. This forces a turnover close to the opposition’s goal or a long ball that the defensive block is prepared for (midblock ensuring they aren’t too high or too deep).
In attacking transition, the first pass is encouraged to be played out wide as this is where the space usually is. From here United’s front 4 aim to reach the box as soon as possible.
