Football Manager 2020 Tactics: Defending In A José Mourinho Mid-Block

A good football team performs as a unit. When using a mid-block, you need a unit that isn’t just physically fit but mentally strong as well. As '90s songbird Des’ree once sang, ‘you gotta be cool, you gotta be calm, you gotta stay together’.

Having a handful of key attributes in mind when scouting or selecting players will help set a baseline for your team. That baseline is dependant on your club, league or country but the following should be good to high for the level you’re competing at.

Anticipation  -  This is a reactive tactic. You’re lying in wait for an opportunity to get the ball back in an area where you have the advantage. Players should be alert to where the ball is going and anticipation helps the team react quickly. High ratings in this attribute will see players cut off passing lanes, step up to make an interception and predict where the play is going in attack or defence.

Concentration  -  Arguably the most important attribute out of the five, concentration dictates how alert your player will be for 90 minutes. Having a high rating here will reduce mistakes throughout the game.

Decisions  - An attribute that is important in both attack and defence. Going forward, you want your players to pick the right pass, cross or shot. Defensively, you want your players to know what to do and when to do it. A good rating reduces the chance your player will dive into a challenge or break the shape when it’s unnecessary.

Determination -  If the opponent does get behind you, you want players that are going to track back. If you go a goal or two down, you want players whose heads won’t drop and are itching to put things right. With a highly determined squad you will see them fight until the bitter end.

Positioning - Finally, you want players that know where they should be on the pitch. This is more of a midfield and defensive requirement that can be relaxed when it comes to attackers. Ultimately, positioning means your player won’t wander off when out of possession. When all the attributes are combined you end up with a solid, disciplined side capable of catching the opponent out.