Here’s how to emulate Antonio Conte’s 5-3-2 Tactic in Football Manager 2020.
In this post, I’ll show you how I managed to play 5-3-2 the Conte way in Football Manager 2020 just like how Inter are doing in real life and how previous teams of Conte have done in the past.
Here’s how to emulate Antonio Conte’s 5-3-2 winning tactic in FM20.
In this post, I’ll show you how I managed to play 5-3-2 the Conte way in Football Manager 2020 just like how Inter is doing in real life and how previous teams of Conte have done in the past.
First, we'll take a look at what style of football are we going to be working here.
What is Conte’s 5-3-2?
Conte’s 5-3-2 tactic is a style of play in football characterised by is essentially a fast-paced, width oriented football where wing-backs are tasked with creating chances and push high up the pitch.
Although the 5-3-2 is not a formation invented by Conte, his take on the 5-3-2 could be a little unique to what other managers like Allegri or Nuno follow. The central midfield trio pop up with some important goals under Conte’s system.
Concluding, Conte’s 5-3-2 is characterised as a relatively intense system with players pressing to win possession back and once possession has been won, they rely on the wing-backs to provide crosses and create opportunities to score.
Let us see how the tactic functions.
Inter Milan - Antonio Conte's 5-3-2
First, let me start by saying that it is possible to play this 5-3-2 with many teams in Football Manager 2020. However, it is not easy to find the right players especially at Wing Back positions who can be effective for this tactic to work.
Unlike other tactics of managers, Conte’s 5-3-2 is both a tactic and a formation. Although it is possible to make slight changes to this and still make it effective, it is a rather rigid formation where players are re-accustomed to specific roles.
The wing-backs and the 2 strikers are the most important players in this tactic where the wing-backs are crucial in serving as attack outlets and the strikers need to be physically superior to compete and win crosses.
Although it is possible to push one of the midfielders up or down depending on your preference, the tactic itself is rigid as to how you can create chances.
Player Roles and Team Instructions
GK - Keeper / Support duty (If your goalkeeper can initiate counter-attacks). Goalkeeper / Defend Duty (Fewer Risky Passes, Distribute to Centre Backs - if you want more possession, slow down the pace and better build-up from the back).
WB- Wing Backs with attack/support duty (depending on resources), this is crucial for them running overlapping channels and putting a lot of crosses in to create chances. If you have an attacking wingback in your squad you can ask them to push further forward.
DC - 3 central defenders with 1 or 2 playing as Ball Playing defenders and the other playing as a Central Defender or a No-Nonsense centre back.
MC - Deep Lying Playmaker / Defend duty Vecino or Sensi can be deployed in this role.
MCL – Box to Box Midfielder, Barella is an important player in this system and will develop into a very good player. He will also contribute crucial goals from the middle of midfield.
MCR – Box to Box Midfielder – Marcelo Brozovic, just like his partner Barella will pop up with many important goals and will be given a lot of chances to shoot.
ST - The 2 strikers, one playing as a target man who can act as a magnet for crosses and will hold up the ball for the other striker who can be more of a goal threat.
ALSO READ: FM20 - Pep Guardiola's 4-3-3 Man City Tiki-Taka Tactic
Team Instructions
In Possession, you will need to have overlapping instructions turned on and the play needs to be focused on both the wings. The attacking width also needs to be very wide and this will help pull opposition defenders out of positions enabling scoring opportunities for the attackers and the box to box midfielders. Set Pieces are also an important way of scoring goals and special training needs to be given for this. The team with the 3 big centre backs and strikers are a massive threat from corners and free-kicks.
During the transition, you will need to have the keeper distribute the ball quickly to the flanks enabling the wing-backs to start counter-attacks. The players should be ready to counter given any chance and catch the opposition unawares.
The defensive line can be relatively low with high pressing intensity. A lower defensive line will mean that your players are not caught out of position if the opponent counter-attacks and will have time to regroup.
This tactic is definitely not aimed at keeping possession but making the best chances whenever you have the ball. The turnover rate will be pretty high initially until the team gets used to playing the system. Opposition instructions will vary based on individual opponents.
You can expect both your box to box midfielders to play a crucial role in games with the strikers laying off the ball to them and they will often find themselves in shooting spaces.
ALSO READ: FM20 - Jurgen Klopp’s 4-3-3 Liverpool Gegenpress Tactic
Football Manager 2020 Inter Milan Tactics Results
Results produced have been extraordinary with the team losing just 1 game in the first 11 league games and comfortably topping the league despite not being the strongest club in the league.
The 2nd image shows how despite having inferior attackers to a very strong Juventus side, Inter have produced a lot of chances with the team coming 2nd in the crosses completed stat. A high proportion of goals also come from set-pieces, especially corners. The wing-backs are league leaders in assists and have the most chances created compared to any other player in the team.
FM20 Antonio Conte's Tactic - CONS
One of the cons of this system is you will need good attacking wing-backs to execute this tactic. Without the wing-backs deploying this tactic is pointless and will result in absolute no chances being created to score from.
This is not a possession hungry tactic and will try to make most of the ball whenever you do have possession so it could be frustrating to see your team chasing the ball for large parts of the match especially against better opponents.
