Master Rúben Amorim’s tactics for Man Utd in FM24. Discover his unique 3-4-3 setup and achieve top results!
Explore Amorim’s Dynamic 3-4-3 System for Manchester United in FM24
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Rúben Amorim is reportedly set to be appointed as the new Manchester United head coach, taking over from Erik ten Hag, who was sacked following a controversial 2-1 defeat against West Ham United. Amorim’s supposed imminent arrival at Old Trafford has sparked excitement among Man Utd fans, who hope the 39-year-old will be the one to take them back to the very top of domestic and European football. In this article, I will be going through my recreation of Amorim’s Sporting side and their tactical set-up on Football Manager 2024, along with showcasing my impressive results with Sporting CP and Manchester United using this tactic. First, let’s break down the core principles of Amorim’s system, and how I looked to recreate them in FM.
Perfect Mix of Structure & Fluidity
Throughout his managerial career, Rúben Amorim has favoured a 3-4-3 formation, and this has been no different with Sporting CP. Within the 3-4-3 system, Amorim desires a flexible mix of structural integrity and seamless fluidity. He almost always wants a 3-1/3-2 rest defence – a structure that naturally forms from a 3-4-3 – and almost always wants significant separation of his wingers and wing-backs. At Sporting, this has seen the wingers tuck in very narrow to support the striker. In turn, this has created relationist approaches in possession, as the two wingers and striker always look to link up in the centre. Within this 3-4-3, Amorim prefers his side to play through the centre, using the natural width given from the formation as a decoy. From here, he instructs his centre-backs to find line-breaking passes into the striker/wingers behind the opposition midfield line. To replicate these things, I applied the following team instructions:
- Fairly Narrow (Attacking Width)
- Be More Expressive
Sporting’s High Line and Press
Amorim consistently encourages his Sporting team to be pro-active, looking to use specific traps in the press to win back the ball. Initially, Amorim instructs his team to wait for the opposition ‘keeper to distribute to the centre-backs. Once the ‘keeper obliges, Sporting will look to press the centre-backs vigorously, using arched runs to shut off the passing option back to the ‘keeper. From here, Amorim wants his team to force the centre-backs into passing the ball out-wide, where they’ll look to force the opposition full-backs/wing-backs to pass inside. As the ball goes out to the wing-backs, Sporting then locks on the press in a man-oriented fashion. This means that, when the opposition full-back/wing-back receives the ball, they can either pass into the congested midfield where their passing options are marked, or they can pass backwards to the centre-backs/’keeper. Should the former happen, Sporting collapse onto the ball-side, and do everything they can to win the ball. Should the latter occur, Sporting step-up their press and try to force the centre-backs/’keeper into a risky pass or a low-percentage pass. Either way, Sporting have a high chance of turning over possession. To replicate this hybrid press, I applied the following Team Instructions:
- Much Higher Defensive Line
- High Press
- Prevent Short GK Distribution
- Step Up More
- Trap Outside
I also applied the following Opposition Instructions to encourage this:
Let’s Break Down the Tactic
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- DISCLAIMER
- I did create two versions of the system, one featuring an Inside Forward on the right and one featuring an Attacking Midfielder on the right.
Team Instructions
In Possession:
Amorim’s Sporting side look to completely dominate the game, and this has seen their possession numbers sit at around 64% possession on average. As previously mentioned, they look to penetrate the central areas with line-breaking passes from the back-three. When given the opportunity, Sporting look to play through balls in-behind the opposition defence for the likes of Gyökeres to chase. To encourage these things, I applied the team instructions pictured in the photo above (left side).
In Transition:
Whilst they want control, Amorim’s Sporting can be quite direct and transitional, looking to use counter-attacks to exploit a poor shape from the opposition. When they lose the ball, Sporting’s central narrowness allows them to easily chase back the ball. When building up in the first phase, Sporting’s ‘keeper usually looks to distribute short passes to his wider centre-backs, whilst the central centre-back moves into midfield. To encourage this, I applied the team instructions pictured in the photo above (left side).
Out of Possession:
As aforementioned, Sporting wants to force the opposition into specific areas where they can press within pressing traps. To encourage this, I applied the team instructions pictured in the photo above (left side).
Player Roles
Sweeper Keeper – Support:
The ‘keeper in Amorim’s system has to be good with the ball at his feet, and has to be comfortable moving out of his penalty area and forming a back-three with the wider centre-backs. No additional player instructions.
(DCR) Ball-Playing Defender – Defend:
The centre-backs in Amorim’s system at Sporting all have to be comfortable with the ball at their feet. The wider centre-backs have to be particularly secure in possession, as they are integral to the team’s ball progression, given licence to carry the ball up the pitch. To encourage this, I applied the following player instructions, as seen in the picture below:
(DC) Ball-Playing Defender – Defend:
The central centre-back in this system is usually the least progressive with the ball, opting to retain possession more often than not. However, when the opportunity occurs, the central centre-back can play line-breaking passes into the double-pivot, or a more direct pass into the feet of the striker. To encourage this, I applied the following player instructions, as seen in the picture below:
(DCL) Ball-Playing Defender – Defend:
As with the right-sided centre-back, the left-sided one has to be extremely comfortable in possession. Therefore, the left centre-back has the same player instructions as the right-sided one, as seen in the picture below:
Defensive Midfielder – Support:
The double pivot in Amorim’s system at Sporting have contrasting roles. One of which is more of a disciplined, destroyer type. This has been seen throughout Amorim’s time at the club, where he had the likes of Joao Palhinha, Manuel Ugarte and now Morten Hjulmand. This player’s main job is to disrupt the opposition’s play, and to keep Sporting’s play ticking, typically through quick bounce passes and safe passes. I did try a ‘Ball-Winning Midfielder’, however I didn’t find the movements in possession were realistic enough, and I eventually settled on the ‘Defensive Midfielder’ role. To encourage this, I applied the following player instructions, as seen in the picture below:
Segundo Volante – Support:
The other player in the double pivot is typically more adventurous with his movement, especially off-the-ball, where he’ll look to drift forward and at times create a front-SIX for Sporting. From first phase build-up, this midfielder has to push up higher to allow the central centre-back to accommodate his position in the double pivot. To encourage this, I applied the following player instructions, as seen in the picture below:
Attacking Midfielder – Support:
On the right side of the front three, Trincao/Edwards are usually asked to drop slightly deeper alongside the left-sided midfielder, who’s positioning himself higher, to form a box-midfield with the central centre-back and right-sided holding midfielder. This helps Amorim create a 4-2-2-2 in build-up, which allows Sporting to manipulate the opposition’s press. Once Sporting have progressed from the first phase, the right-winger/right-sided attacking midfielder is encouraged to differentiate his movement from in-to-out or out-to-in based on the game’s situation and where the ball is. Sometimes, you’ll see this player very close to Gyökeres, but sometimes you’ll also see them very close to the right wing-back. This helps to create overloads. In this version of the tactic, I opted for this role with the additional player instructions as seen in the picture below:
Attacking Midfielder – Attack:
On the left side, Gonçalves is certainly more of an attacking midfielder than a winger. In this position, he is encouraged to sit in the half-space and to make third-man runs in-behind to tee-up Gyökeres with a cut-back. When he doesn’t make the run in-behind, he can wait in the half-space to receive a line-breaking pass, where he can then either link-up play with Gyökeres and Edwards/Trincão, or he can look to use his excellent playmaking skills and find a different third-man run in-behind. To encourage this, I applied the following player instructions, as seen in the picture below:
Complete Forward – Attack:
The striker in this system has to be very good at almost everything. He has to be able to hold-up play, link-up play with flicks and passes, press high and relentlessly, get onto crosses and cut-backs like a poacher and, almost most importantly, make runs into wide channels to chase balls in-behind. Ideally, for Amorim and Sporting, Gyökeres is almost perfect in all these areas. To encourage this, I applied the following player instructions, as seen in the picture below:
Other Version of Tactic
Within the download link attached to this article, there’ll be two tactic files – one being this version of the tactic, and the other being a version of this tactic with an Inside Forward on the right. They got equally impressive results, so feel free to try both tactics.
READ ALSO: FM24 - Thomas Tuchel’s Champions League-Winning Chelsea Tactic
Results
I’ll be posting my results with Manchester United (using the Inside Forward version) on my X/Twitter account @AshtonGgmu.
However, with this version of the tactic, let’s look how we did with Sporting CP!
Liga Portugal:
In the Liga Portugal, we ended up winning the league UNBEATEN! We conjured up 28 wins in 34 games, drawing the other 6 games. Therefore, we accumulated 90 points out of a possible 102! We ended up scoring the greatest number of goals (116) and conceded the fewest number of goals (17) in the league, leaving us with a GD (goal difference) of +99!
Domestic Cups:
In the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira (Portuguese equivalent of Community Shield), we ended up dominating and beating FC Porto 3-0.
We also ended up winning the Allianz Cup, beating Braga 2-0 in the final.
However, in the Taça de Portugal Placard, we were defeated on penalties in Sixth Round to Moreirense, following an unfortunate mini-injury crisis.
UEFA Champions League:
We ended up WINNING the UEFA Champions League with Sporting CP, beating the great Real Madrid in the final on penalties after a thrilling 2-2 draw! On the way to the final, we beat Inter Milan 7-2 on aggregate, Barcelona 3-5 on aggregate and topped a group containing Atletico Madrid and AC Milan! This Champions League win meant we WON A QUADRUPLE!
Conclusion
Rúben Amorim is reportedly set to take over as Manchester United’s new head coach, replacing Erik ten Hag. From here, he’ll be leaving behind a club he (almost) single-handedly rebuilded from the bottom, up. He’ll be arriving at Manchester with a great reputation as being one of Europe’s most exciting young coaches, and having successfully rebuilded a Portuguese sleeping giant, and winning them their first league title in 19 years. In this article, I have showcased my recreation on Football Manager 2024 of his brilliant tactics, and it’s now time to see if he can end the title drought at his new club, Manchester United. I hope you have enjoyed this article, and I hope you achieve great success with this tactic on your FM24 saves. Thanks for reading.
