Mauricio Pochettino 4-3-3 PSG Tactic in FM22

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Even though PSG was eliminated by Carlo Ancelotti’s Real Madrid at round 16 of 2021/2022 UCL. When they perform well it is very interesting to watch. With that in mind, I chose to create a replica of Mauricio Pochettino 4-3-3 PSG tactic with the club in FM22, which I will detail in the post.

Mauricio Pochettino 4-3-3 PSG Tactic: Tactical Instructions

Build-Up

The Parisians mostly build up play from behind, but when the pressure is much on them, the goalkeeper takes direct kicks. When they build up from behind, the deepest midfielder drop back – either between the central defenders or ahead of them. Moreover, the fullbacks spread wide to provide out leg options.

PSG play with standard passing directness as they can use shorter passes to maintain possession and direct to launch counter-attacks – plus the team is also effective in passing the ball into space. In the approach play, Pochettino’s men can focus through the sides of the field or through the middle of it. In the final third, the Parisians can look for overlaps or underlaps at both sides of the field.

Atttackng

The attacking of their style of play is very narrow. Pochettino allows his men the freedom to roam and exchange positions, especially the front-three, which is very dangerous for the opposition defenders as they roam to delicate positions which makes it difficult for the defenders to pick them out. Counter attacks are the team’s “lethal weapon”.

In the final third, PSG can use any available option to get the ball in the back of the net, they can hit early crosses, shoot on sight or work their way into the box – which is why I didn’t set a specific instruction in the final third.

Defending

Pochettino prefers the team to use counter-press, which they do by applying frontline pressure to get back the ball in the opposition’s half. They defend in a 4-3-3 shape, the front-three don’t return to defend often, in order to save more energy for offensive transitions – which is also why they hit counters on the break.

Moreover, The Parisians press at a ‘more often’ intensity, plus they use a higher line of engagement and a higher defensive line to support the press – they equally apply offside traps. Lastly, PSG marks the opponents tighter.

Formation LineUp

Role Selections

GK

Navas/Donnarumma: Either of them is a sweeper keeper on support duty

CBs

Presnel Kimpembe and Marquinhos: They are both ball-playing defenders on defending duties. They both stay along the defensive line to break up attacks and prevent attackers from getting into the box. The two are comfortable with the ball and can launch defence-splitting passes.

FBs

Nuno Mendes and Achraf Hakimi: They are both complete wing-back on support duties. They both do all the attacks at flanks, especially Hakimi who stays wide while Messi moves to the midfield to operate. They still carry out their defensive duties effectively.

DM

Paredes/Verrati: When either of them is in this position, he is a deep-lying playmaker on defend duty. He holds his position and aids in protecting the defensive line. The other duties either of them does in this position is to recycle possession, dictate tempos and switch plays.

Danilo Pereira: Danilo in this position, is more of an anchor. He mainly protects the defensive line, he does the dirt jobs to win the ball and in intercepting moves.

CMs

Verrati/Paredes: Verrati or Paredes in this position, is equally a deep-lying playmaker but this time on support duty. Unlike in the DM position where either of them holds the position, here they are mobile from the position while they still switch plays or dictates tempo.

Gini Wijnaldum: Wijnaldum is a box-to-box midfielder. He does get forward to support the team’s attack and is equally capable in defensive situations.

Danilo Pereira: Danilo in this position is a ball-winning midfielder on support duty. He aims to win the ball higher up the pitch, transiting to the counter and at times gets forward to see the end of the counter.

Ws

Mbappe/Neymar: Mbappe or Neymar is an inside forward on attack. Either of them cuts inside from the flank and runs at the central defenders with the options to cross, shoot or assist. If two of them is in a match, they take turns on whom to be the striker or the winger.

Lionel Messi: Messi’s role is difficult to get right in football manager, but I think he is more like a trequartista at the wing position. He mostly moves to the attacking midfield position, looking to set up attacks and switch plays from there. At times, Messi is simply an advanced playmaker on attack duty.

Di Maria: Di Maria is an advanced playmaker on support duty on the right-wing. He can drop to midfield making himself available for the team passes and looks to spray passes to the attacks of the team.

CFs

Kylian Mbappe: Mbappe as a centre forward is an advanced forward. He leads the team attacks, keen to run behind the defence and attack the ball. He has the electrifying pace and the off-the-ball abilities to spearhead the attacks.

Neymar/Messi: When either of them is used here, he is a false-9. Once again, Messi’s role in this position is equally difficult to detect because he gets all the freedom to move around to any positions to impact the game better which is somehow similar to a false-9. Neymar on the other hand, is much more similar to a false-9 than Messi.