Manchester United have had a positive pre-season in the
United States by drawing their first two games and winning the International
Champions Cup opener against AC Milan on a long-lasting penalty shoot-out. The
tour has given the fans some great positives and an insight for things to come.
While all were ecstatic over the win, few might have noticed that Mourinho
exactly new how he was going to set his team up against Milan, because he had
already used it before, 8 years ago.
In the 2009/10 season, Jose managed Inter Milan and guided
them towards a historic treble of the Serie A, Coppa Italia and the Champions
League. in the previous season, Inter Milan had a star-studded squad which won
him the Serie A. But, in the 2009/2010 season, the club had to go through a
major reshuffle in midfield an attack. It was basically a brand-new midfield
and attack. Stars like Figo, Vieira, Crespo, Adriano and Zlatan had all left
the club which made Jose sign players which would clearly execute his ideology
and tactics. He brought in Thiago Motta, Diego Milito, Pandev, Dacourt,
Quaresma, Sneijder and swapped Zlatan for Samuel Et’oo. It was a brand-new
squad excluding the defence. The Serie A is a slow and patient league which
Jose knew about. He set his game play defensive and patient. His side focused
more on his midfield alignment which won him most of his games. There wasn’t
much width required in the Serie A during that time as all teams played narrow
and attacked centrally. But that wasn’t the case in the Champions League, which
was unpredictable and was dependent on wing play which caused Mourinho to
switch his tactics.
His side basically comprised of a different variation of the
4-3-1-2 formation which was midfield centric. He had Maicon as his first choice
right back, followed by Samuel and Lucio as his centre backs and Chivu as his
left back. His midfield consisted of Zanetti and Cambiasso, who would play in
the midfield more as the defensive midfielders with Thiago Motta as the central
midfielder alongside Sneijder who would play the most pivotal role in the side
playing as a number 6 and as a number 10 in the game in a more advanced role.
Et’oo played as an auxiliary striker partnering with Milito.
Tactically, he changed the dimension of this formation which
comprised of a classic Mourinho style defensive play comprising of surprise
counter attacks when the ball was in possession. As mentioned before,
Mourinho’s Inter Milan side was highly dependant on the midfield. Maicon and
Chivu would often try to push ahead trying to supply crosses. They were the
team’s only wide men in a league where narrow gameplay prevailed. Zanetti was
deployed as an anchor in midfield by Jose in spite of him being a defender. Due
to his age and Maicon’s pace, Mourinho found him useful in midfield due to his
excellent passing and balling playing ability. He partnered up with Cambiasso,
who too was deployed as a holding midfielder whose main role was to protect the
centre backs and defend in the centre of the pitch. Jose didn’t depend much on
pressing his opponents and rarely did it. Ahead of Cambiasso and Zanetti was
Thiago Motta, who also helped in defending but in more of a number 6 role. The
main player in this Inter Milan set up was Wesley Sneijder. The new signing,
was basically a replacement for the retired Luis Figo. Sneijder was one of the
main attacking threats of side but he too dropped down in support of the three
midfielders behind him. He helped in defending and was the first person in the
advanced role who’d initiate a counter attack with his technical ability and
vision. He was all over the pitch and his runs would lead to Et’oo drifting
wide towards the far post for a chance, but it was Milito who was the target
man. Milito, a new signing from Genoa was the club’s top scorer, scoring 22
goals in the Serie A and 30 goals in all competitions. Milito was the furthest
man upfield waiting for a pass from his midfield. Et’oo, on paper was listed as
a striker but in the match, he was usually found on the right wing, or an as
auxiliary striker just behind Milito.
The midfielders defend deep and try to get the ball fast and
then initiate a quick counter attack. This set-up resulted in Inter-Milan
wining the Serie A and the Coppa Italia. But things were different In the
Champions League where the team reverted to the 4-2-3-1 as they needed more width.
Sneijder scored 8 goals and assisted 15 in all competitions.
Mourinho used this similar set-up during the pre-season
friendly against AC Milan. He used Lee Grant in goal with Valenica, Smalling,
Bailly and Shaw in defence with Herrera, McTominay, Tuanzebe and Andreas in
midfield with Mata and Sanchez as the strikers on paper. But, in the match he
started implementing his tactic. Both the full-backs started pushing ahead in
attack during the game with an intent to supply crosses in the box. This resulted
in Mata and Sanchez running around the wings and the centre to try and win the
ball. In midfield, Tuanzebe was listed as a holding midfielder but in the match,
he played as centre back alongside Smalling and Bailly with Valencia and Shaw
turning into wing-backs. Herrera, McTominay and Pereira were playing as a
number 6 trying to win the ball in just ahead of the defence with Pereira using
all his physical might to win the ball. He was also deployed more in the
advanced attacking role, making runs and passing the ball to Mata and Sanchez. Mata
played the role of what Et’oo played at Milan, running across the wings and
supporting Sanchez, whereas Andreas played the role of Sneijder. Sanchez’s goal
was the perfect example of this set-up. Herrera, McTominay and Andreas
defending deep. When United got possession, a chip from defence was headed out
to McTominay who was in the middle of the pitch who headed it forward to Mata
who flicked it to Sanchez who started running inside the penalty box when the
counter attack was started. Mata and Sanchez kept on exchanging roles which
made it unpredictable for the AC Milan defence.
United don’t have their full main squad available right now,
but Mourinho can implement this same set-up with his regular starters. In
defence, Valencia, Bailly, Smalling and Young in defence with Matic, Pogba and
Fred playing as the number 6’s with Matic supporting the defence. Fred, a physical
player with great stamina and technical ability would be perfect to get the
ball and start a counter attack with Pogba taking the creative role along with
getting the ball off the opposition. Andreas, Herrera, McTominay and Fellaini
good back-up options. Mata or Lingard playing in the number 10 role. Sanchez or
Martial would fit into the auxiliary striker role and would often run around the
wings with the full-backs supporting them. Lukaku and Rashford would easily fit
in the striker role.
It would take time to implement this strategy and United would
need to be highly dependent on wing play especially in the Premier League. With
United looking to sign a new right winger, it would be a less possibility of
this formation but, it should be given a chance. United should try it once with
their main players. It has worked once before and Jose in this season is on
course of buying players that fit the formation with Fred. United still require
a commanding centre back, left back and a natural number 10 to master this
plan. Mourinho has won a treble with the 4-3-1-2 and it could be a game changer
for the team’s objective of challenging for the title.
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