Amorim’s Plan to REVIVE Manchester United | FM24 Recreation

Explore Rúben Amorim’s tactical revolution at Manchester United in FM24 – from innovative build-up play to high pressing and fluid attacking clusters.

Discover how Rúben Amorim’s tactical tweaks transformed Manchester United’s play, from unique build-up patterns to relentless pressing.

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On the 19th May 2025, Manchester United’s worst season in decades was brutally compounded as they were defeated 1-0 by Tottenham Hotspur in the Europa League Final, ending any chances of securing European football for the 25/26 season as the club ended up finishing 15th in the Premier League, on just 42 points – their worst ever season in Premier League history. As a result, the players, owners and manager, among others, came under fire, and change was clearly needed. 

Just three months on, however, and, whilst the wholesale changes desired have yet to arrive, the club appears to be in a brighter position, and this feeling is largely a result of Rúben Amorim’s tactical ideas finally starting to show promise, with impressive performances and wins against West Ham and Bournemouth in pre-season. This, along with concrete links to an ambitious move for Brighton’s Carlos Baleba, has got United fans dreaming again – or at least hoping for better days! But what has Rúben Amorim implemented tactically that’s ignited the fire in United’s belly once more?

Unique Build-up Strategy

Rúben Amorim’s set-up of his sides’ build-up at Manchester United has been a tangible topic of conversation, and rightfully so, as his team struggled a lot in the build-up phase in 24/25 – most pointed to the Central Centre-Back (CCB) of the back-three’s movement into midfield as the biggest issue. However, in my opinion, the biggest problem lay higher up the pitch, where United would form a box shape, as demonstrated below:

The problem with this shape is that it’s far too narrow, allowing the opposition full-backs to regularly step up to press United’s wing-backs, often meaning United would be trapped on the flanks with no passing option. In pre-season, Amorim has looked to rectify this issue by slightly tweaking the shape above the CCB, forming a wider base, as demonstrated below:

Now, when United build-up and inevitably play into the flanks, the wing-backs are no longer being pressed on their backs by the opposition full-backs, thanks to the ‘10s’ occupying and pinning the opposition’s full-backs, giving them a second or two longer to make their next move. Additionally, this shape gives United a strong central cluster to go direct into – a method Amorim’s United regularly opt for.

Amorim’s ‘Anchors & Floaters’ w/ Relational Concepts

For all Amorim’s faults, he is one of the pioneers of tactical trends currently being set by the most successful European sides, and the most eye-catching and, in my opinion, beautiful trend he’s helped to forge and now implement at United is the central cluster, formed as part of the ‘Anchors & Floaters’ theory formed by @saundzo on X. I’ll be fully explaining the ‘Anchors & Floaters’ theory in a later article, however, to summarize:

Amorim’s idea at United is, when in the opposition’s half, to form an outline shape (usually a horse-shoe shape) consisted of 5-6 ‘anchors’ in positionalism-based positions, occupying all five vertical channels to give United a strong base, allowing for relationism-based ‘floaters’ inside the outline shape to roam around and form central clusters. An example of this can be seen below:

From within these central clusters, United have been showcasing some really nice relationism concepts, using a variety of ‘toco y me voys’ and ‘tabelas’ and forming a number of ‘escadinhas’, using ‘corta luz’ few times to try and cause chaos in central areas.

Let’s Break Down the Tactic

In Possession

When Amorim’s United have the ball, they tend to build-up from the back, predominantly using shorter passes to exert control on the game – United, however, can often go a bit more direct with through balls in-behind to attack space in-behind. Amorim wants United to play into narrow areas to supply the central clusters with opportunities to link-up. Finally, once United have reached the final third, Amorim wants them to be patient in working the ball into the box.

In Transition

When United have lost the ball in pre-season, they have been aggressive and pro-active in winning the ball back immediately via a counter-press. If they win the ball back, more often than not, United will spring counter-attacks. Finally, from goal-kicks, the ‘keeper in this system tends to slow the pace down and draw the press higher to try and create space between the lines.

Out of Possession

When United don’t have the ball, in pre-season, United have been incredibly aggressive in their high press, usually going for a man-oriented set-up, aimed at forcing the opposition wide. To supplement this high press, United holds a very high line and Amorim wants the centre-backs to step up regularly to track any dropping attackers.

Opposition Instructions

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Player Roles

Sweeper Keeper – Support

In this position, Amorim wants the ‘keeper to always be an option to pass to, although, he doesn’t require the ‘keeper to be as active in build-up as other managers. When United don’t have the ball, the ‘keeper must be active in sweeping and claiming loose crosses. Therefore, I felt this role was ideal. No additional instructions.

Wide Centre-Back – Support

Leny Yoro has been excellent over the past 8 months, and has quickly become a fan and manager favourite, thanks to his wonderful elegance and brilliant reading of the game. In this position, Yoro has been a very active ball-carrier, allowed to take the ball and carry it forward before attempting a line-breaking pass into the central cluster. When United are building up, Leny Yoro will often go more direct into the central cluster if there’s insufficient room to carry forwards. Therefore, I felt this role was perfect, with the added instructions:

Central Defender – Defend

In this position, the CCB’s job is simple: Defend, track the striker and retain possession. This is represented in the role and added instruction:

Ball-Playing Defender – Defend

In this position, the centre-back is asked to consistently break the lines with progressive passes, usually feeding the central clusters. Additionally, this player can supply a run in-behind from either Dorgu or the striker with a lobbed through ball. As a result, I felt this was the best role, with the added instruction:

(RWB) Wing-Back – Attack

In this position, both Mbeumo and Amad have very similar skillsets and profiles which, I feel, will be maximised at RWB in this system. As a result, Amorim wants them to both cut inside with the ball when they receive it, before either going direct into the central cluster or playing the ball into the channel for a forward to chase.

When United are in the final third, Amorim wants either of them to consistently attack their opposition, dribbling relentlessly. Additionally, I predict Amorim will want to maximise both Mbeumo/Amad and Šeško’s output by asking the RWB to cross regularly, aiming for Šeško at the back post. Finally, when United don’t have the ball, Amorim wants the wing-backs to be very aggressive and close down the opposition’s full-backs very often. Therefore, I felt this role was most optimal, with the wealth of added instructions:

(LWB) Wing-Back – Attack

In this position, Amorim wants Dorgu to predominantly hold the width, leaving the half-space vacant for Cunha to drop into. From this wider position, Dorgu is asked to relentlessly carry the ball forward, charging into the opposition’s half and final third, before releasing a cross/cut-back into the penalty area for a central player to score from. Finally, as with the RWB, Dorgu is very aggressive off-the-ball and will close down the opposition at any opportunity. Therefore, I felt this role was perfect, with the added instructions:

Central Midfielder – Defend

In this position, Amorim wants his deepest midfielder to simply regain and retain possession, whilst moving deeper to help form the 3-1-5-1 attacking shape. Therefore, this role is perfect. No added instructions.

Roaming Playmaker – Support

In this position, Amorim gives Bruno Fernandes complete license to roam freely, being able to move wider to link-up with the wide players or move higher to form the central clusters. Amorim wants Bruno to mark the man closest to him as part of his hybrid/Man-2-Man pressing system. Finally, in this system, Bruno tends to be the initiator of the aforementioned ‘tabelas’ and ‘toco y me voys’. Therefore, I felt this role was perfect, with the added instructions:

(AMCR) Attacking Midfielder – Support

Both ‘10’s in Amorim’s system have very similar responsibilities; Both are asked to roam from their position in order to form temporary link-up opportunities with team-mates, and both are asked to carry the ball often once they receive, before using their ingenuity to create with a dangerous ball into a team-mate. The only subtle difference between the pair is that the right-sided ‘10’ is asked to move wider to link-up with the RWB, as reflected by the role’s added instructions:

(AMCL) Attacking Midfielder – Support

On the other hand, Cunha is asked to occupy the left half-space, wherefore he can situationally drop to receive a progressive, line-breaking pass from the LCB between the lines. This is reflected in the slight difference in the role’s added instructions:

Pressing Forward – Attack

In this position, Amorim wants his striker to relentlessly attack in-behind the opposition, mainly aiming for the channels. Additionally, Amorim wants the striker to roam once United have settled possession in order to create separation from opposition centre-backs and create opportunities for link-ups with team-mates. 

Furthermore, when United have the ball, Amorim wants his striker to be able to receive with his back to goal, before laying off a simple pass/header to a team-mate around them inside the central cluster. Finally, Amorim wants his striker to lead the press and hassle defenders constantly. Therefore, I felt this role was ideal, with the added instructions:

Players Swapping Positions

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Results

Premier League

In the Premier League, we finally secured the 21st league title that has alluded Manchester United for over a decade, as we won the league on 93 points – comfortably clear of arch-nemesis Liverpool on 86 points. Of our 38 league games, we won 29 games, drew 6 games and lost just 3 games, accumulating 94 goals scored and just 26 goals conceded!

Domestic Cups

Unfortunately, a potential treble slipped through our grasp as we were unable to win the Carabao Cup – a loss on penalties, following a 0-0 stalemate, to West Ham would end our hopes of silverware earlier in the season. We would, however, avenge this defeat by winning the FA Cup and securing a domestic double! A 2-0 win over Crystal Palace in a repeat of the 2016 FA Cup Final saw us win our joint-record 14th FA Cup trophy. On our way to Wembley, we overcame the likes of Bristol City (5-2), arch-rivals Liverpool (1-1P) and Newcastle (2-4).

READ NEXT: Arsenal 25/26 FM24 Tactics – Arteta’s Winning Blueprint

Conclusion

The 24/25 season was a historically abysmal season for Manchester United, where the club finished in their lowest league position since 1989/90 and amassed their fewest points in a league campaign since they were last relegated in 1973/74. 

Despite this pain, there were reasons to be optimistic last season and there are even more reasons to be optimistic ahead of this season as a United fan, and Amorim’s tweaks to his system have certainly shown a lot of promise – everyone at United will be hoping for a much-improved 25/26 campaign, and the signings they’ve made thus far, along with a potential deal for Carlos Baleba, certainly reinforce this hope. 

If you want a taste of this extraordinary tactic, make sure to download the tactics using the link attached to this article and follow FM Blog and myself (@AshtonGgmu) on our respective socials. I hope you have enjoyed this article, and I wish you much success with this tactic on your saves!