Thread: Man Utd 2 vs 1 Aston Villa — Tactics #MUNAVL #MUFC

One paper, it looked like United lined up in a 4231 however that was not the case on the pitch. OGS always like to use a hybrid of 2-3 formations in the different phases of the game. United in this case used 4-2-2-2 in possession which, in the final phase became a 4-2-4. #MUFC

Pogba was used wide left and Fernandes wide right as a 10 double pivot but the wide forwards. It is difficult to call Martial and Rashford STs in this game as the move wide a lot ( Hybrid Wingers/Wide forwards) & interchanged with Pogan and Fernandes. You'll see below. #MUFC

Example of Rashford moving wide and looking to play the other 3 forwards, (PP6,BF18, & AM9).

One of the main principles in United's playing style under OGS, the front 4 are always fluid; they interchange with each other frequently. Both teams were not concerned with their 2nd phase which resulted in an E2E game with a lot of space in midfield for quick transitions. #MUFC

When United did buildup and circulated the ball, Fred dropped as a 3CB but not completely to make it still look like a 2422 in buildup, the eliminated #AVL's 1st and 2nd def. line and creating a lot of space for Pogba and Fernandes. BF18 & PP6 covered all the half-spaces well.

United pressed in man-oriented fashion. Well the pressed cause #AVL to go long a lot of time where #MUFC CBs won a lot of headers and possession back. United's press often look broken. 2 reasons: 1. players eagerness. 2. Press principles not well drilled.

Fernandes and Rashford often go chasing after the ball to press players with no cover or organization and the opposition easily play around them.
https://t.co/ykoAU0plMM

Our press still needs a lot of work. The players seem to press without solid principles which results in too many small errors \u2014 vital at this level.
— UtdArena (@utdarena) January 1, 2021

Lovely interplay between Rashford & AWB here. The impressive thing AWB recognizes the space choosing to go backwards & underlap Rashford in the space and making the pass to Pogba. I wanted Pogba to take this 1st time instead of letting roll to Fred. Angles though, Understandable.

OOP, #MUFC defended in a 4231 with Fernandes cutting off Luiz and Scott pushing on McGinn if ball was on his side. The double pivot McFred would get narrow as Villa get closer to United's final third. This forced Villa to channel all their attack down the flanks.

The Villa goal came from the left side, yes. However, most of Villa's crosses 19/27 came from right side. They were shut down quite well from the left knowing that this JG's preferred side. In the 1st half JG created 0 from left & 1 chance from left in 2nd half.

Villa had more joy with overloads from the right hand side, which is United's left. The communication between players on who to cover the winger and who to cover the FB needs to be improved. This is similar to the way United conceded Leicester's equalizer. #MUFC

In the 1st half, Villa didn't press United's CBs and just sat in their 4-4-2 OOP. In the 2nd, they were more forceful, they pressed more aggressively in 2422. to block United's FBs and double pivot from progression. #MUFC

Tweak:

Dean Smith, brought on Keinan Davis and changed Villa's shape from 4231 to 44D in the 84'. The aim was to gain control of the ball more by stretching the double pivot while having more strikers in the box.+ pushing Grealish back on the left.

As Villa went all out, OGS added DJ to exploit the space they left behind them and for his defensive cover on United's left hand side. #MUFC

This dink over McGinn's head and header from Pogba - no words. Not many players pull this sort of technical moves while in play, deserves appreciation as it led to United's goal.

End. #MUFC