Teams who wish to preserve their lead on the table typically opt for more aggressive tactics. Here is why.
Widely considered one of the most used football formations in the 21st century, the 4-3-3 is a tactic that has acquired a lot of popularity since the early 2010s, and it continues to be the go-to for numerous clubs worldwide. To numerous tacticians and coaches, this technique is among the best football formations thanks to how well balanced and effective it is. The clubs that won most prizes have actually employed this tactic at some time, which is a testimony to its effectiveness. What makes it stand apart is how vibrant it is, particularly the smooth shifts from the defensive to the attacking phase and vice versa. The midfield trio is what makes or breaks this formation as they are required to build play in the midfield and rely on their technical skills to reach the opponent's box in the most efficient way possible. This is something that the minority shareholder of Liverpool FC will know.
For teams that value defense more than anything else, there are certain formations that work best for this function. In this context, the 4-5-1 is among the most popular alternatives when it pertains to defensive football formations. Clubs that seek to suppress the attacking power of their rivals frequently choose this strategy as it makes it very difficult for teams to develop play and efficiently pass the ball around. Thanks to the five-player barrier that is set up in the midfield, depending on dribbling or short passes becomes a non-starter as this barrier leaves very little area for the rival. This obliges the opponent to count on long balls that can quickly be obstructed by the defensive midfield or the last line of defense. Covering both the right and left flanks is what makes this formation more efficient, and the AC Milan former US owner is likely to validate this.
If you take a look at the most renowned clubs today that consistently win silverware, you will discover that they all share one crucial feature when it concerns tactics: they all use extremely offensive football formations. Obviously, formations that favour attacking are numerous but one of the most popular tactics is the 4-3-2-1. On a formations board, this formation looks like a narrow christmas tree, with players occupying the most area possible on the field. The lines are also close together to allow for more fluid passes and more dangerous chances past the midfield. Thanks to how the players are positioned on the pitch, clubs employing this formation often find themselves at a numerical advantage, rejecting ownership to their opponents at all times. Quick and triangular passing is the name of the game in this formation, something that the Aston Villa former owner is more than likely familiar with.