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Manchester United has been on the lookout to create a title winning squad ever since the end of Ferguson era. Jose Mourinho, in 2017/18, brought Manchester United closest to a PL title, finishing second to their city rivals, Manchester City. Even after this, United's season ended trophyless. Jose Mourinho, therefore, in his third season (probably his last too!) would be hoping to return United back to their glory days and restore his image as a master tactician, after some dull and boring displays in the concluded season. Mourinho has a wealth of talent and youth at his disposal and while he's added Fred, Diogo Dalot and Lee Grant to his squad, he's expected to make a marquee signing, like Bale or Perisic. Any marquee signing would probably cost them their record fee or around the sum they paid for Pogba (thanks to this inflated transfer market). Players such as Marcus Rashford, Ander Herrera and Anthony Martial, who were warming the bench last season, will be hoping to adapt to any role and impress Mourinho and get more game time. Trusted lieutenants such as Antonio Valenica, Nemanja Matic, David de Gea(even after the world cup!) and Romelu Lukaku are expected to retain their place in the starting lineup and recreate their splendid form of the previous season. After the arrival of Diogo Dalot, players like Matteo Darmian or Luke Shaw or both are expected to be sold and replaced but might just stick around for another season as squad players. Andreas Pereira and Timmy Fosu-Mensah are expected to go out on loans again this season, but Mourinho may keep them after their impressive performances. So, from the players currently at his disposal and one or two signings (Over to you, Woodward!), it's no doubt that the Special One can conjure some magic and add another PL title to his resume. Here are some of the formations may use for the upcoming season :
4-2-3-1 Formation
Jose Mourinho has usually preferred this formation over others and is foreseen to do the same. This formation provides depth to offence as well as defence, and that is why is preferred by Mourinho. During attack, the two central midfielders may join the attack and during defense, be brought back to stop the play. David de Gea, even after a horrendous display at the World Cup 2018, is expected to start as United's #1. Eric Bailly is set to start at the heart of the defence this season, after being overlooked during the end of last season. Partnering him would either be Phil Jones, who had a good season (barring the FA Cup Final) or Marcos Rojo, both of whom play at the Left Center Back position. Mourinho is expected to deploy Ashley Young and Antonio Valenica as his marauding full backs. Mourinho has a lot of trust in his fullbacks and while Valencia is the type of right-back he prefers, the inconsistency of Luke Shaw and Darmian has given the nod to Ashley Young as the first choice left back. While both of them are pacy, Young still has to still work on his defensive skills. Nemanja Matic is expected to stop the opponent's attack and have World Cup winner Paul Pogba beside him in the midfield role. Paul Pogba is a leader on the pitch and his form & creative flair is crucial for United going forward. Nemanja Matic is a rock and has been entrusted by Mourinho for years to provide with interceptions at the center of the park and win aerial duels. Alexis Sanchez is expected to start in the left of attacking midfield with Juan Mata on the opposite side. Sanchez has been favourite of Mourinho's and is envisioned to start over Marcus Rashford and Tony Martial. At Arsenal, he played as LM and that's where he found his splendid form, something Mourinho will be expecting him to replicate. Jesse Lingard's free flowing role through the centre, with the English team and United team previously, is expected to continue this season too. The past season has proven that Lingard is extremely efficient when played at the middle of the attacking midfield, where he can drift to the wings to make the play and switch his roles with Mata. Presence of Pogba's flair complements the hard work put in by Lingard. Up front, World Cup Golden Boot contender Romelu Lukaku retains his place in the lineup. A big money signing, Lukaku scored an impressive 27 goals in his first season and will surely be leading the line once again. Marouane Fellaini, Fred, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial are expected to come off the bench and add some spice to the attack. Chris Smalling is another player who is well versed with this formation and can be put in the 11.
4-3-3 Formation
In order to get the best out of their record signing, Mourinho may deploy a system Pogba excelled at Juventus - the three-player midfield. With it being said that the money spent on the Brazilian Fred is another money spent on Pogba, it's hoped that it can unleash the beast United once paid a record sum for. This system is highly efficient for attacking teams because in possession, it can have up to 7 players for attack. With Matic and Fred providing the cover in midfield, Pogba shall be the creator-in-chief of the team and his free role shall help him in providing his defense-splitting balls to the strikers and wingers. The three central midfielders will form a tight triangle in the middle of the pitch and portray the roles of 'creator-destroyer-passer', with Pogba being the creator, Matic the destroyer and Fred/Herrera, the passer. During the early stages of the season, Mourinho may choose Ander Herrera over Fred, giving the Brazilian time to adapt to the taxing British games. With the presence of Sanchez on the left and Lukaku up top, Marcus Rashford will be left to take his chances on the right side of the midfield, after an impressive World Cup. Both of these players, Rashford and Sanchez, are all-round attacking players with pace and shooting ability, who use their speed on the wings before cutting in towards goal. Lukaku can play as a false nine at times too, with him dropping to allow the wingers to go ahead, but don't expect to see much of that. The defense isn't expected to change much apart from the center back pairing, of whoever is fit and has had a good run of games. Young and Valencia are expected to go on their marauding runs forward and provide the crosses. This system allows them to utilize large amounts of space due to the wingers being far ahead on the pitch. The fluidity of this system allows it to be converted into a 4-2-3-1 formation at will, with Pogba occupying the CAM role. Lingard, Mata, Martial can be brought on the pitch as attacking substitutes.
3-5-2 Formation
Jose Mourinho, against some top attacking sides and season defining games (that sublime 2-0 win against Conte's 3-4-3 Chelsea in 2017 !!!), uses this 3-5-2 formation. Whenever he needs to break down the opponent's attack, neutralize them and launch fast counterattacks of his own, this formation is deployed. It provides three central midfielders who can outnumber or match the opponents, and width via the wing-backs. This formation can also be used in the absence of Romelu Lukaku upfront, when crosses and long balls can't do the trick. Expected to choose his three fit defenders (can vary from Bailly to Tuanzebe), with Matic protecting the defense. Matic can slot in between the central defenders during defense, providing extra cover and neutralizing the attack. Herrera or Fellaini will be expected to break down the attacks with their hard stance tackling, allowing Pogba and Lingard to run the show and provide Rashford with their pinpoint through balls, while Rashford runs behind the defences. Mourinho trusts Fellaini to use his physicality to win challenges and his aerial prowess is an added benefit during crosses and set pieces. Former POTY Herrera is a master passer with a great sense of tackling and can come every now and then in the box to score a goal or two. Pogba and Lingard are United's creative number 10s and are expected to provide the striker with balls as well as try an out-of-the-box stunner! Fred can put his hat in the ring for a place in the lineup, with his passing and vision, a valuable asset. While captain Valencia is a sure starter, expect Darmian or Shaw (in case they stay) to claim Young's place. Scott McTominay can be brought into the mix after having an impressive breakthrough season, wherein he showcased his imposing man marking skills. Martial can also be expected to start up front with this formation, with him running behind the defenses all the time, whereas Mata can be a good replacement for Lingard in the creative role. Mata is not pacy, but makes it up for it by his expert vision.
4-1-4-1 Formation
Jose Mourinho can take a leaf out of the bald wizard, Pep Guardiola's book and base his system on the Manchester City's recent title-winning formation. This formation allows for more players being involved in every attack and a system of high pressing on the pitch. Considering the number of attackers Manchester United has, it may be an option to look forward to. United can get the most mileage out of playing with two banks of four if they're used properly by Mourinho. With Matic protecting the defense and allowing the full backs to go on an advanced crossing position, this system will probably result in a lot of goals and assists for each the attacker, just like it did for the quartet of Sane-De Bruyne-Silva-Sterling. Matic gets a double role in this formation as both a holder and a link-up passer. The first thing is that Matic has to help cover the defense and add an extra layer of protection by making hard tackles and putting attacking players under pressure. He also has to be a link between the defence and the attack. For the central attacking role, Lingard or Fred can partner with Pogba or Sanchez through the middle and fall back and partner Matic during defense. Martial or Rashford can then take up their preferred left midfield role, while Mata can be expected to showcase his impressive through balls, from the right of the midfield. With the wingers being allowed the freedom to roam all around the pitch, it takes a lot of the opposition’s defense out of position and creates gaps and opportunities. All the channels would run into Lukaku, who would be hoping to continue his goal-scoring touch. The fluidity of this system allows it to convert to a 4-4-2 diamond formation, with one of the wingers partnering the striker and a central attacking midfielder drifting to the wings. The issues with this system are that it might result in the team being caught outnumbered during counter attacks and be dysfunctional if the CDM isn't functioning properly.
