Dive into our comprehensive Manchester City Football Manager 2024 guide. Explore tactics, squad analysis, key players, and potential transfers.
Master Manchester City's Tactics, Key Transfers, and Youth Prospects in
Football Manager 2024
Dive into the heart of Manchester City's football philosophy in Football
Manager 2024. With a history rich in success and a future brimming with
potential, guiding City to glory offers a unique challenge. This guide walks
you through the tactics that mirror Pep Guardiola's real-life strategies,
offers insights on transfer targets to strengthen your squad, and highlights
the prodigies destined to become the backbone of your team.
Founded in 1880, Manchester City has evolved from a humble team to a dominant force in English and European football. The last decade has been particularly stellar, with City clinching 7 Premier League titles, including a record-breaking 100+ points season. Their domestic treble in 2019 and a recent UEFA Champions League triumph underline their European pedigree. As a manager in FM2024, your task is to build on this legacy, with the board setting clear expectations:
This is a Football Manager 2024 tactical setup for Manchester City, designed to replicate a possession-heavy, attacking style of play reminiscent of Pep Guardiola's real-life tactics. Here's a breakdown of the components and their purposes:
Overall, this tactic is engineered for a team with technically skilled players, emphasizing ball retention, methodical build-up, pressing, and versatility in attack, aiming to dominate games through superior possession and positioning.
One of the greatest ever strikers for his age, Haaland is a machine who keeps
scoring when presented with chances. With the right tactics, he should be able
to break every goal record in the league.
Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne is a master passer; his vision is second to none, and with
Haaland up front, KDB’s assist numbers should go through the roof. He also has
the ability to pop up with important goals in key games.
Bernardo Silva
The 18-year-old has already been praised by Pep as one of the best young
players in England. The versatile defender can make the right-back spot his
own after Kyle Walker.
Jeremy Doku
The Belgian is a new signing at Man City. He has all the abilities to become
or even overtake the exploits of Eden Hazard and become one of the best-ever
Belgians to play in the Premier League.
Manchester City: A Legacy of Success
Founded in 1880, Manchester City has evolved from a humble team to a dominant force in English and European football. The last decade has been particularly stellar, with City clinching 7 Premier League titles, including a record-breaking 100+ points season. Their domestic treble in 2019 and a recent UEFA Champions League triumph underline their European pedigree. As a manager in FM2024, your task is to build on this legacy, with the board setting clear expectations:
- Dominate the Premier League
- Excel in the Champions League
- Triumph in domestic cups
- Achieve success with attacking football, high-profile signings, and youth development.
READ ALSO:
Football Manager 2024 Transfer Budgets
Tactical Masterclass: The Manchester City Way
This is a Football Manager 2024 tactical setup for Manchester City, designed to replicate a possession-heavy, attacking style of play reminiscent of Pep Guardiola's real-life tactics. Here's a breakdown of the components and their purposes:
Formation: 4-2-3-1 Wide
This formation provides a balanced structure with wide attackers, a central
attacking midfielder, two central midfielders, and a defensive back four. It
is flexible and allows for control in the midfield while also offering width
and support for the striker.
Tactical Style: Custom Tiki-Taka
Tiki-taka emphasizes maintaining possession, short passing, and movement.
This custom style includes instructions that encourage players to keep the
ball, patiently build up the play, and look for openings in the opposition's
defence.
Mentality: Positive
With a positive mentality the team will look to play forward when possible
but without being overly aggressive or reckless. It's a proactive approach,
aiming to control the match and create scoring opportunities.
In Possession:
- Shorter Passing & Play Out of Defence: Emphasizes retaining possession and building attacks from the back.
- Low Crosses: Indicates a preference for delivering the ball along the ground into the box, which is often more effective for technical players rather than aerial threats.
- Work Ball Into Box: Avoids long shots in favour of working the ball into the penalty area with short passes.
- Dribble Less & Slightly Lower Tempo: Encourages thoughtful movement and passing over individual heroics and reduces the speed of play to ensure control.
- Fairly Narrow: The team will focus their play through the central areas of the pitch rather than the flanks.
In Transition:
- Distribute to Centre-Backs & Full-Backs: Goalkeeper and defenders will begin the build-up play.
- Distribute Quickly & Counter-Press: After losing possession, the team will immediately press to recover the ball, and if possession is won, they will initiate fast counter-attacks.
Out of Possession:
- Much Higher Defensive Line & Line of Engagement: Pushes the team up the pitch to compress space and win the ball back early.
- Mid Block: The team will typically engage opponents in the middle third of the pitch.
- Prevent Short GK Distribution: Presses the opposition goalkeeper, forcing them into longer, less accurate clearances.
Player Roles:
- SK-At (Sweeper Keeper - Attack): Ederson will play an active role in possession, acting as an 11th outfield player when necessary.
- IFB-De (Inverted Fullback - Defend) & IWB-Su (Inverted Wingback - Support): Fullbacks invert into midfield areas to provide numerical superiority and help control the midfield.
- BPD-De (Ball Playing Defender - Defend): Centre-backs who are comfortable on the ball and will contribute to building attacks from the back.
- DLP-Su (Deep Lying Playmaker - Support) and CM-De (Central Midfielder - Defend) are midfielders who balance playmaking duties with defensive responsibilities.
- W-At (Winger - Attack) & IW-Su (Inverted Winger - Support): Wide players who will cut inside or stay wide, respectively, offering varying threats from the flanks.
- AM-Su (Attacking Midfielder - Support): Central playmaker who links play between midfield and attack.
- AF-At (Advanced Forward - Attack): A striker who leads the line, constantly looking to break the opposition's defensive line and score.
Overall, this tactic is engineered for a team with technically skilled players, emphasizing ball retention, methodical build-up, pressing, and versatility in attack, aiming to dominate games through superior possession and positioning.
Erling Haaland
Kevin De Bruyne
Bernardo Silva
One of the most consistent performers at the club, Bernardo Silva adds value
to even the strongest of squads through his versatility and ability.
Rico Lewis
Jeremy Doku
READ ALSO:
Football Manager 2024 Wonderkids Shortlist
Potential Weaknesses
With a squad full of superstars and a sugar daddy owner, there are very few weaknesses with managing Man City; however, some problems you may encounter are;
· Having a squad full of superstars could create a new problem on its own, with players constantly getting unhappy over playing time. This also makes it very hard to give minutes to youngsters, and you could end up losing some of the best talents.
· Man City have a smaller squad than many of its rivals and injuries could prove fatal for managers making targets unachievable.
Transfer Strategy
Strengthening the squad with strategic signings is key. Consider bringing in Raphinha for added flair on the wings and Theo Hernandez for defensive solidity and offensive support. On the flip side, players like Kalvin Philips and Zack Steffen may find opportunities limited, making them candidates for transfer.
Conclusion: Crafting Your Legacy
Managing Manchester City in FM2024 is more than just achieving success; it's about crafting a legacy. With the right tactical approach, strategic signings, and nurturing of young talent, you can build on the club's illustrious history and lead them to new heights. Can you outdo Guardiola and etch your name into Manchester City folklore?
