EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL 16/17 AJAX VS MANCHESTER UNITED

This is my first game review and I will be using this series to show off my tactical nous and opposition analysis. This game is the first in a two part series where we look at shape winning the game vs decisions (players) winning the game. It will make more sense after you have read both articles but this game is an excellent example of how defensive shape can win a game. As Mourinho says finals are to be won not played. I will be focusing on the winning team throughout the article before talking about how I would have adjusted as spoiler alert Ajax who lost at the end. I don‘t want this to be mistaken for me saying it is just defensive shape that wins games. As you will see at the end if Ajax had been less rigid with their shape this was a very winnable game.

Ajax setup is 4-3-3 on paper, it played out as a fairly old school 4-3-3 with the fullbacks neither inverting nor playing super high to allow the wingers to come inside.

United’s actual shape differs to the graphic and was a 4-2-3-1 with Fellaini as a defensive 10/withdrawn target-man and two pivots in behind him; Pogba (left) and Herrera (right).