Manchester United tactic and team guide for Football Manager 2021. Club vision, tactic, key players, youth prospects and transfers in FM21.
Manchester United tactic and team guide for Football Manager 2021. Club
vision, tactic, key players, youth prospects and transfers in FM21.
Here is a brief analysis of the Man Utd squad, their club structure, relationship any potential managers will have with the board, expectations and possible tactics any FM manager can use.
About Man Utd
Manchester United are the most successful club in England with a record 20 league titles, 12 FA Cups, 5 league cups and 7 European titles including 3 champion’s league wins. United are also the most supported club in the world. Popularly called the “red devils” the fans are used to success and silverware.
However, Man Utd have had it rough since the departure of their legendary manager Sir Alex Ferguson with no league titles over the last 7 years.
United did have a strong finish to the 2019-2020 league season and they finished 3rd in the league. They also made it to the finals of the Europa League.
Board Requirements
Manchester United are in the Champion’s League this season, the board requirements should you take over will be,
1. A top 4 league finish (automatic qualification to the champions league)
2. Reach the quarterfinal of the UEFA Champion’s League.
3. A SF finish in the FA cup
The board will also require you to play attacking entertaining football and show emphasis on signing younger players or reputed stars preferably with an English background. They also will like the manager to work his way in making the club the most reputable in Europe.
The club have top-notch training facilities and a very good youth setup. This should help you in fulfilling the board requirement of promoting youth players. Once the first season is out of the way, the transfer and wage budgets will match the board’s ambitions and will definitely help the manager in achieving the club’s goals.
Squad, Formation and Tactical Style
There are quite a few tactical setups you could deploy with Man Utd, however, the best-suited ones will be Vertical Tiki Taka. This should provide the attacking football that the board demands. For difficult away games, one could go with fluid counter attacks or wing-play.
A 4-2-3-1 or a 4-3-3 will be the best formations for Man Utd with the current squad of players available at your disposal. However, you can switch to a 3-5-1-1 or a 3-4-3 if you feel the need to shore up your defence.
A rough example of what your line-up would look like in a 4-2-3-1 formation is as follows,
David De Gea as a sweeper keeper.
Aaron Wan Bissaka & Alex Telles as a full back and wing-back respectively. You can increase crossing instructions for Telles and utilize his ability to attack.
Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof as Ball playing central defenders.
Scott McTominay as the ball-winning midfielder with defence duty & Paul Pogba as a deep-lying playmaker on support duty.
Bruno Fernandes as an attacking midfielder in a more advanced role.
Marcus Rashford & Mason Greenwood as the 2 wide players with both operating as Inside Forwards.
Anthony Martial as an advanced forward.
Alternatively, when you change to a 4-3-3 you can change the duty of Paul Pogba to a Box to Box midfielder and play Bruno in a deeper role. You can also deploy Cavani as a target man and keep pinging crosses to him.
Key Players
1. Paul Pogba
Pogba is regarded as one of the best central midfielders in the world. If you manage to keep the eccentric midfielder’s attitude in check, you can reap the rewards.
2. David De Gea
De Gea is among the best keepers in the English Premier League and will help your defence out with some amazing saves.
3. Marcus Rashford
is a young exuberant striker who has a ton of potential. At just 22, he is already a regular starter for the England national team and can only get better with time.
4. Bruno Fernandes
Bruno arguably has been Man United’s best signing in recent years. The attacking midfielder already has 22 goals in just 37 appearances for United and is one of the best players in his position in the game.
Related:
Football Manager 2021 Best Players Shortlist
1. There is a lack of leadership on the pitch and the current squad will find it difficult to come out of difficult situations.
2. There are attitude issues with the squad and some key players nearing the end of their contracts. This could affect the overall morale of the dressing room.
3. There is very little quality outside the first team and you may need a complete overhaul for most positions.
There are a few exciting young prospects in the ranks or on loan who have the potential to be some of the best players in the league. A few examples are,
The 18-year-old is already a mainstay in the United squad and had 10 league goals last season. He can only improve with time and will go on to become one of the best players in the game.
The 18-year-old Ivorian Winger has agreed to join United in Jan 2021 and is one of the best players in the game in his position.
The 16-year-old is currently with the Man Utd U18s and is considered a top prospect. He is extremely versatile and has the ability to be as good as Marcus Rashford.
Weaknesses
1. There is a lack of leadership on the pitch and the current squad will find it difficult to come out of difficult situations.
2. There are attitude issues with the squad and some key players nearing the end of their contracts. This could affect the overall morale of the dressing room.
3. There is very little quality outside the first team and you may need a complete overhaul for most positions.
Youth Prospects
There are a few exciting young prospects in the ranks or on loan who have the potential to be some of the best players in the league. A few examples are,
1. Mason Greenwood
The 18-year-old is already a mainstay in the United squad and had 10 league goals last season. He can only improve with time and will go on to become one of the best players in the game.
2. Amad Diallo
The 18-year-old Ivorian Winger has agreed to join United in Jan 2021 and is one of the best players in the game in his position.
3. Shola Shoretire
The 16-year-old is currently with the Man Utd U18s and is considered a top prospect. He is extremely versatile and has the ability to be as good as Marcus Rashford.
Related:
Football Manager 2021 Wonderkids Shortlist
The following players will add quality to the United squad and will help take the team to the next level.
• Kalidou Koulibaly
• Jadon Sancho
• Erling Haaland
These players may be surplus to requirements at the club or may not be of the expected quality.
• Jesse Lingard
• Juan Mata
• Daniel James
Related: Football Manager 2021 Transfer Budgets
To Summarize, Man Utd are a legendary club who may have lost direction in the recent years. Can you succeed in becoming a legend like the great Sir Alex Ferguson, or will you go down trying like the others? An interesting challenge indeed.
Potential Transfers (in)
The following players will add quality to the United squad and will help take the team to the next level.
• Kalidou Koulibaly
• Jadon Sancho
• Erling Haaland
Potential Transfers (Out)
These players may be surplus to requirements at the club or may not be of the expected quality.
• Jesse Lingard
• Juan Mata
• Daniel James
Related: Football Manager 2021 Transfer Budgets
Summary
To Summarize, Man Utd are a legendary club who may have lost direction in the recent years. Can you succeed in becoming a legend like the great Sir Alex Ferguson, or will you go down trying like the others? An interesting challenge indeed.
