This guide will talk you through what a successful Catenaccio tactic can look like and how to implement this on FM22.
This guide will talk you through what a successful Catenaccio tactic can
look like and how to implement this on FM22.
This article is part of a series on famous tactical styles. While this tactic can work successfully as a plug-and-play tactic, it is recommended that players use this as a basic form of a certain style. Some slight adjustments may be necessary to play to your side’s strengths.
The great Italian sides of the 20th Century largely had one thing in common: they had unimpeachable defences. Using the catenaccio systems, Italian clubs became synonymous with mean defences, tough-tackling, fearless defenders, and of course the hoard of trophies that came with them. Pioneered by Nereo Rocco, perfected by HelenioHerrera, and copied by dozens of others, catenaccio swept through Italy and Europe and brought Italy to the forefront of the continental game in the 60s. This article will discuss what catenaccio is (and what it isn’t), and how best to replicate it on FM22.
What is Catenaccio?
First and foremost, Catenaccio is a defensive system that prioritises shutting down opposition attacks before launching quick and direct counter-attacks. While catenaccio has developed a reputation of being boring or negative, Helenio Herrera rejected this idea. Catenaccio’s most famous disciple would blame this on other managers copying him poorly and pointed to the attacking prowess of Giacinto Facchetti, who provided much of the attacking spark for Grande Inter, as proof that catenaccio was more than just defending.
There are two positions in catenaccio that are crucial to its success. The first is the sweeper, or libero, who provides further defensive security to the back line. While your two CBs are expected to stringently man-mark their opposite numbers, the libero is encouraged to drop behind the defensive line and clear any loose balls or pick up any extra runners. In Herrera’s Inter side, this was done by Armando Picchi. Due to the workman-like nature of the midfield ahead of him, Picchi was also adept at carrying the ball from the backline into midfield, performing some playmaking duties when necessary. This stemmed from his early days as a forward, and the great technique he possessed. The other important position is the left-back, as brought to prominence by Facchetti. The first truly attacking full back, Facchetti was afforded a certain freedom to influence the attack however he saw fit, sometimes staying wide to provide crosses, sometimes drifting inside where his eye for goal was evident.
How does this look on FM22?
Catenaccio calls for a structured 5-3-2, with five defensive duties. This encourages your defence and midfield to be fairly single-minded, although your full-backs, libero and one of your midfielders won’t be afraid to get forward at the right moment. Passing is extremely direct, as Herrera’s side were famous for creating opportunities with very few touches. I’ve also set the left wing-back as an inverted full-back, to reflect Facchetti’s tendency to drift inside. This essentially affords the left-back a free role in possession, so you’ll need a creative force who can influence the game in a number of ways.
The Anchorman is also crucial to the effectiveness of the tactic. While this might seem like overkill to have a libero guarding the defence from behind and an anchorman guarding them from the front, your CBs’ main job is to mark opposition strikers out of the game. As such, your anchorman and libero act almost as additional CBs on cover and stopper duties. His presence also crowds the midfield and prevents more possession-based sides from stringing together too many passes.
Final Thoughts
Who knew defensive football could be so much fun? Following in the footsteps of Herrera is no easy task, many have failed by oversimplifying catenaccio to a rigid defensive shape, but if you can execute his counter-attacking philosophies correctly, catenaccio can be an incredibly fun and exciting way to play the game.
