Manchester United are a club in disarray at the moment. A horrendous past week has seen them knocked out of the Carabao Cup by the Championship’s Derby County, before being defeated 3-1 by West Ham United to succumb to their worst start to a league season in 29 years.
The Red Devils will be desperate to build on their opening 3-0 Champions League win at Basel when they host Valencia at Old Trafford.
However, the La Liga outfit need a lift as well after losing their opener to Juventus while their domestic campaign has also begun disappointingly. They sit 14th in the standings after seven games.
Here, we look at the tactics Marcelino may consider for this clash.
Check out United’s tactics here.
COMPACT SHAPE
Marcelino insists that his side remain tight and compact as a unit without possession. Valencia’s 4-4-2 system forms two banks of four, with the players well drilled and focused on covering spaces.
The two strikers, Michy Batshuayi and Kevin Gameiro, close down the opposition’s defender’s before retreating once bypassed, but don’t fall back quite as much as the rest of the team.
The midfield and defence cut out any space through the middle, making it difficult for the opposition to play through them, forcing them wide instead.
That doesn’t bode well for United, who lack creativity through the middle and width down the right.
Marcelino
COUNTER-ATTACK
Valencia are similar to Atletico Madrid in their compact shape, but also in their tendency to attack on the counter. They can keep the ball well, but struggle to work openings and are a far greater threat on the break.
Los Che get the ball into Batshuayi’s feet quickly and rely on him to hold it up before releasing forward runners like Gameiro and Goncalo Guedes.
Valencia haven’t been quite as effective on the break this season. Simone Zaza’s departure to Torino and Andreas Pereira return to United after a loan spell have hurt them.
However, this is still their best route to goal and United may field a sluggish midfield that’s easily bypassed.
Michy Batshuayi (r) and Goncalo Guedes
