Here is the FM21 team guide of the Villarreal squad, their club structure, board expectations and possible tactics.
Football Manager 2021 Villarreal tactic and team guide. Club culture and
board requirements, tactics, key players, youth prospects and potential
transfers in FM21.
About Villarreal CF
Villarreal are a professional football club that ply their trade in the La Liga. Founded in 1923, Villarreal spent much of their history in the lower divisions, only making their La Liga debut in 1998.
Villarreal gained stability in the 21st century and made their first UCL
appearance in 2005 even reaching the semi final of the competition. They
finished runner up in the league in the 2007-2008 season but after a brief
successful period, full into relegation in 2012.
However, the club quickly bounced back and have slowly established themselves
as a small but very stable club in La Liga.
Villarreal narrowly missed out on a UCL Spot but have qualified for the Europa League by virtue of finishing 5th in the league. The board requirements once you take over will be,
1. A top 6 league finish (automatic qualification to the Europa League)
2. Reach the quarterfinals of the Europa League.
3. Reach the final of the Spanish cup.
You will not be judged on any particular style of football as long as you are able to achieve the board’s goals. However, you will be required to sign very young players to use for the future and develop players using the club’s youth system.
Villarreal have decent training and youth facilities, their youth recruitment is also adequate for their level, but managers will definitely want to improve all of this inorder to compete for bigger things with the club.
RELATED: Football Manager 2021 Starting Transfer Budgets
Villarreal are a team that employ a good patient build up play but can up the tempo if and when needed. A vertical tiki taka is the best tactic to go with for Villarreal.
A 4-3-3 is how Villarreal line-up in real life and is probably the best suited formation to the available squad of players. This also helps them to keep the midfield tight and allow the fullbacks to overlap and create chances. The formation will also work when playing on the counter attacks where the central midfielders will become more defensive and compact.
A rough example of what your line-up would look like in a 4-3-3 formation is as follows,
Sergio Asenjo as the sweeper-keeper
Pau Torres & Juan Foyth as the 2 central defenders. Both are comfortable on the ball and can be played as ball-playing defenders.
Mario Gaspar & Alberto Moreno as the 2 attacking full backs/wing backs. They need to have increased crossing instructions.
Dani Parejo as the deep playmaker in defence duty, Moi Gomez as a Mezzala on support duty and Francis Coquelin as a box to box midfielder make up the 3 man midfield.
Alfonso Pedraza & Samuel Chukweuze as the 2 wide midfielders, the former as an inside forward and the latter as an inverted winger.
Paco Alcacer as a lone striker in a Pressing forward role.
Even though you need not tinker with the formation much there is the option of playing 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-2 if you wish to change things around.
RELATED: Football Manager 2021 Tactics
The former Valencia captain is a vastly experienced midfielder who exudes quality in terms of his passing and ability to create chances. His performances will help shape your season.
Despite being just 23, Pau Torres as good experience and still has room to grow. He is excellent from set pieces and can be an important source or goals from corners and freekicks.
The central midfielder is a menacing presence for opponents and will never back out of a duel. He has the ability to destroy attacks before they take shape and will be a key presence on the pitch.
1. The backup and fringe players in the squad are a huge drop from the first team’s quality and injuries to key players could be disastrous.
2. Goals may not be easy to come by and managers will have to be at their creative best to unlock defences.
3. You will be helpless if bigger clubs want to poach away your talent and could leave you with gaping holes in the squad.
Villarreal’s squad is not the best in terms of depth. Some of the names that could help are,
· Pietro Pellegri
· Rober
These players may be surplus to requirements at the club or may not be of the expected quality.
· Ruben Pena
· Jaume Costa
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,
Chukweuze is already a key player for Villarreal and will only improve in the future given more game time.
Nino currently plays for Villarreal C. He has the ability to be a superstar for the club in the future.
Currently playing for the Villarreal u19s, Pino is an extremely versatile player. He is a very determined individual who aspires to reach the very top and can be a top player for the club in the future.
RELATED: Best Football Manager 2021 Wonderkids
To summarise, Villarreal are a stable mid-table club to manage but to help them make the step up would be the real challenge, are you up for it?
Board Requirements
Villarreal narrowly missed out on a UCL Spot but have qualified for the Europa League by virtue of finishing 5th in the league. The board requirements once you take over will be,
1. A top 6 league finish (automatic qualification to the Europa League)
2. Reach the quarterfinals of the Europa League.
3. Reach the final of the Spanish cup.
You will not be judged on any particular style of football as long as you are able to achieve the board’s goals. However, you will be required to sign very young players to use for the future and develop players using the club’s youth system.
Villarreal have decent training and youth facilities, their youth recruitment is also adequate for their level, but managers will definitely want to improve all of this inorder to compete for bigger things with the club.
RELATED: Football Manager 2021 Starting Transfer Budgets
Squad, Formation and Tactical Style
Villarreal are a team that employ a good patient build up play but can up the tempo if and when needed. A vertical tiki taka is the best tactic to go with for Villarreal.
A 4-3-3 is how Villarreal line-up in real life and is probably the best suited formation to the available squad of players. This also helps them to keep the midfield tight and allow the fullbacks to overlap and create chances. The formation will also work when playing on the counter attacks where the central midfielders will become more defensive and compact.
A rough example of what your line-up would look like in a 4-3-3 formation is as follows,
Sergio Asenjo as the sweeper-keeper
Pau Torres & Juan Foyth as the 2 central defenders. Both are comfortable on the ball and can be played as ball-playing defenders.
Mario Gaspar & Alberto Moreno as the 2 attacking full backs/wing backs. They need to have increased crossing instructions.
Dani Parejo as the deep playmaker in defence duty, Moi Gomez as a Mezzala on support duty and Francis Coquelin as a box to box midfielder make up the 3 man midfield.
Alfonso Pedraza & Samuel Chukweuze as the 2 wide midfielders, the former as an inside forward and the latter as an inverted winger.
Paco Alcacer as a lone striker in a Pressing forward role.
Even though you need not tinker with the formation much there is the option of playing 4-2-3-1 or a 4-4-2 if you wish to change things around.
RELATED: Football Manager 2021 Tactics
Key Players
1. Dani Parejo
The former Valencia captain is a vastly experienced midfielder who exudes quality in terms of his passing and ability to create chances. His performances will help shape your season.
2. Pau Torres
Despite being just 23, Pau Torres as good experience and still has room to grow. He is excellent from set pieces and can be an important source or goals from corners and freekicks.
3. Francis Coquelin
The central midfielder is a menacing presence for opponents and will never back out of a duel. He has the ability to destroy attacks before they take shape and will be a key presence on the pitch.
Weaknesses
1. The backup and fringe players in the squad are a huge drop from the first team’s quality and injuries to key players could be disastrous.
2. Goals may not be easy to come by and managers will have to be at their creative best to unlock defences.
3. You will be helpless if bigger clubs want to poach away your talent and could leave you with gaping holes in the squad.
Potential Transfers (in)
Villarreal’s squad is not the best in terms of depth. Some of the names that could help are,
· Pietro Pellegri
· Rober
Potential Transfers (Out)
These players may be surplus to requirements at the club or may not be of the expected quality.
· Ruben Pena
· Jaume Costa
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. Samuel Chukwueze
Chukweuze is already a key player for Villarreal and will only improve in the future given more game time.
2. Fernando Nino
Nino currently plays for Villarreal C. He has the ability to be a superstar for the club in the future.
3. Yeremy Pino
Currently playing for the Villarreal u19s, Pino is an extremely versatile player. He is a very determined individual who aspires to reach the very top and can be a top player for the club in the future.
RELATED: Best Football Manager 2021 Wonderkids
Summary
To summarise, Villarreal are a stable mid-table club to manage but to help them make the step up would be the real challenge, are you up for it?
