Tactical and Statistical Analysis of Ole’s Manchester United Side: A thread.

I will be focusing purely on how United played post lockdown where we were unbeaten for 20 games in all competitions for two reasons. One, because it shows how our players are utilised when the squad is healthy and Two, because it provides a good sample size.

Before lockdown, United were 5th, 3 points behind Chelsea. After Lockdown, United have picked up the most points across the league. The underlying statistics also show that United’s points per game (PPG) rose from 1.55 to 2.6 and expected points per game (xPPG) from 1.79 to 2.48.

Let’s begin with build up play and shape in possession lined up in a 4-2-3-1. United look to play out from the back through two split centre backs, Lindelof and Maguire. With Pogba back fit, he was tasked with the majority of ball progression as a deep lying playmaker.

This allowed Matic to drop deep into the defensive line, forming a back three — allowing our fullbacks to push higher up the pitch and Rashford and Greenwood as inside forwards. This stretched Brighton’s first line of press and created spaces to progress the ball as seen here.

This creates problems for the opposition out of possession. Shaw can either pass the ball to Rashford and, using both his pace and dribbling skills, attack or he exploits space left behind by a centre back to mark Rashford and overlap.

Our attacking shape resembles a 3-1-3 with fullbacks holding the width, Rashford as a creative inverted Greenwood drifting inside as a forward and Martial as a deep lying forward — all free to change positions within an attacking box and wide interplay.

Again, Matic is key here. His good understanding in positional play and ability to break opposition lines is what gives this midfield balance and connects it to its attack.

This is one of our patterns of play. A line breaking pass to find Bruno followed by a back heel flick to Martial that dropped deeper to receive. Although it was broken down, we can see how the centre back was dragged out of position to create space.

One of our deadliest attributes: counter attacking. Look at Matic here, instead of a safe square pass, he launched a beautiful pass to Greenwood. Rashford here also makes the run centrally that creates space for Bruno to correctly direct his shot with power and aim.

Ole ball also demands high intensity relentless pressing, especially in the final third. United’s front five against Brighton lead 158 pressures, with 53 coming in the final third.

This isn’t individual brilliance. Ole and facilitated a tactically flexible system that plays into our front four’s strengths: pace and fluidity. With Martial, Rashford and Greenwood all interchanging as the play dictates, and Bruno the freedom to move around the pitch.