A comparative analysis of Jose Mourinho's and Alex Ferguson's work at Manchester United and possible solutions

#2 Finalizing a formation for the team

Paul Pogba

Mourinho has not yet been able to finalize a formation for his team. He has dabbled in a 4-3-3 with Anthony Martial, Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Marcus Rashford and then changed it to a 4-5-1 with Romelu Lukaku as the lone striker.

The likes of Jesse Lingard and Juan Mata have been tried as attacking midfielders without much success. Mata has played as a wing forward too which is definitely not his preferred playing position.

Paul Pogba has performed decently in the midfield but not had a specific role. He has played both as a holding midfielder and a box-to-box one. The same is true about Marouane Fellaini. Nemanja Matic, however, has been a good signing and continues to impress as a defensive midfielder. Ander Herrera has been consistent in the central midfield as well.

Ferguson, on the other hand, always had a finalized formation for his side. His great side of the 1990s played in a 4-4-2 formation and a brilliant midfield comprising of Roy Keane, David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes. Each of those midfielders had a specific role assigned to him.

Later on, he switched to a 4-3-3 with Giggs, Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo as the forwards. He used Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher very successfully in the defensive/central midfield.

Then, Ferguson again went back to a 4-4-2 successfully with Rooney and Danny Welbeck up front and the likes of Scholes, Fletcher, Carrick and Giggs in the midfield. He experimented with a 4-5-1 at times too but did not make frequent changes in his formations.

Probable solution for Mourinho:

United should play in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Nemanja Matic and Pogba as the double pivot, Alexis Sanchez, Fred and Anthony Martial in the attacking midfield and Lukaku as the lone striker.

The likes of Herrera, Lingaard and Rashford could be used as substitutes. This formation would allow Mourinho to properly utilize Pogba’s speed, Martial’s skills, Sanchez’s versatility and Lukaku’s strength.

Pogba has a good passing range and his distribution skills should be utilized properly. This formation would also allow United to be more direct and clinical in their approach.