Jose Mourinho #Roma Tactical Thread 21/22

When he joined, #Mourinho employed a 4-2-3-1 system. He manager wanted to stick with a back 4 due to his previous successes with different clubs in this system.

However, later on, it proved to be the wrong one.

After many disappointing results, Mourinho switched to a 3 back formation, often switching between a 3-4–1-2 or a 3-5-2.

This has become a very positive transition as it has provided great results for the team. The players responded positively as Fonseca played this way also.

When out of possession, #Mourinho’s #Roma deploy a smart high pressing system.

As shown in the picture below , the Portuguese trains a man to man pressing system, in order to win the ball back as quick as possible.

However, with this man to man marking system, it often leads to the midfielders having to go deep, leaving space.

Mourinho trains the centre backs to push up and cover this space. As we see below, the opposition try to pass the ball forward, and the LCB must cover for the LWB.

When the opposition are into Roma’s final third, Mourinho’s men switch to a 5-3-2, however, not your normal 5-3-2.

Instead, Mourinho prefers to have his wingbacks as close as possible to his LCB and RCB, in order to force the opposition wide, and not central.

If the opposition get past the midfield, the centre backs must push up and be aggressive. Smalling is the centre of the back three, this is mainly his job.

When the ball moves to the flanks, the wide centre backs aid the wingbacks in defending also.

In possession, Mourinho looks to play the ball back, and invite the opposition to press. The team switch to a 4-2-2-2, with one of the centre backs pushing up into midfield. The wingbacks also stay wide. He wants Roma to go direct and to play over the opposition’s high pressure.

A key part in Mourinho’s attack is a physical complete forward. Tammy Abraham. He is a wonderful frontman and can provide aerial prowess, short link-up play, as well as runs in behind.

He is the focal point to Roma’s attack.

Mourinho has coached his forwards to make a lot of countermovements in order to break down a defensive block and Abraham is key to this as well.

A countermovement is basically when one player drops short to receive while the other runs in behind.

The wide central midfielders, or the No. ‘8’s in the 352, are extremely important when Roma are using countermovements in an attempt to break their opponent’s block.

This is because they are tasked with positioning themselves in the half spaces and making runs in behind.

End of thread, hope you enjoyed