Football Manager 2021's Unbeatable Tactics

In Football Manager, there are times during matches when we go long stretches craving even a single point, or the team hits a rough patch and back-to-back losses become inevitable. In this article, prepared for those going through such stretches, or for anyone who generally dislikes taking risks and wants to build their team around an unbeatable tactic, we'll talk about some tactical suggestions and the traits of a team with a solid defense.

How to Build an Unbeatable FM 21 Tactic

It wouldn't be realistic to say there's a truly unbeatable tactic or formation, in FM or in any other game. That said, going with the idea of an "unbeatable tactic," the templates and setups outlined below are proven, previously tested tactical formations that will make you hard to score against and let you walk away from most matches with a point or points. We built this approach around the idea that a draw doesn't count as a loss either. We focused on tactics that concede few goals, let you find goals on the counter-attack, and keep your back line solid.

Football Manager 2021 Tactics Guide

FM 21 5-3-2: Possession-Based

Just like with the 4-4-2 formation I discussed in earlier articles, the key to success with a 5-man defensive tactic is how well your squad's players fit the tactic you're deploying.

The most important element of the formation you see above is giving your wing-back-style full-backs instructions to join the attack and cut in early. This tactic will significantly boost your chances of finding goals. Don't forget to give your midfielders the "shoot on sight" instruction. Setting "Be More Disciplined" for your defensive setup is an absolute must for defensive tactics.

FM 21 5-3-2: Transition Attack

Compared to the 4-4-2, having an extra man in midfield may look better suited for pressing high, but for teams built around a defensive style, pushing players forward can leave you exposed at the back. If you think pressing high will cause you problems, you should give the "press after losing the ball" instruction and try quick attacks with "counter" once you win the ball back. With an extra centre-back, it's possible to build attacks through passing. But if you don't want to compromise your defensive discipline and want to avoid simple mistakes at the back, you can give the "hit the target man" instruction and build play with long balls from deep.

FM 21 5-3-2: Defensive Setup

As we mentioned with 4-man defenses, you should also keep the distance between your lines short with a 5-man defense. The biggest difference from the 4-4-2 can be seen in the defensive width the team creates. Because the 5-3-2 lacks wide players and stacks the central block, it can struggle against an opponent that plays wide. If you don't keep your pressing intensity high, keeping the distance between your lines short lets you meet the opponent in a tight space and prevent them from playing comfortably. Facing this tactic against opponents who completely dominate the game and never let you see the ball can produce surprisingly positive results.

FM 21 5-4-1: Diamond

The biggest difference between this diamond-shaped 5-man defense and the 5-3-2 is that you add one more man to midfield, meeting the opponent with a numerical advantage. Adding a player at the number 10 position means the two central midfielders playing behind him can play more freely and focus more on creative work. You can safely tell your two number 8s and your defensive midfielder to be more aggressive and attacking. Both having a one-man advantage in midfield battles and having it made up of solid players will help you win the midfield battle, and as rival midfielders tire from grinding against your midfielders, your influence over the match will grow as it progresses.

With this tactic, when building your squad, you should especially bring in a fast, clinical, quality player off the bench who can change the scoreline in the final 20-25 minutes. That way, someone who can unlock a tired opposing defense can bring you the result and the scoreline you want.

You can find our article covering 4-man defenses and the 4-4-2 template in full detail here.

You can find our article on FM 21's most promising players here.

You can find our list, built by combining high-potential wonderkids from the Turkish Süper Lig who will make a difference with players in their prime who will make a big contribution to your team, here.

TACTICS that will let you cause upsets against big teams in FM 21!