Overview: Manchester United’s Tactical Evolution Under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
Since his appointment as Manchester United’s manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has been at the center of intense scrutiny and debate. Despite not reaching the heights of Sir Alex Ferguson’s tenure, Solskjaer has crafted a more dynamic, attacking side capable of impressive results. Remarkably, after a poor start to the season that saw the team sitting in 15th place, United rebounded and climbed to second after 15 matches, amassing 30 points and remaining unbeaten in 10 consecutive league fixtures. While criticism and speculation about his future persist, Solskjaer’s strategic acumen has been notably underrated. This analysis explores the tactical blueprint shaping Manchester United’s current identity.
Formation Focus: The Enduring 4-2-3-1
One of the staple characteristics of Solskjaer’s Manchester United is the consistent use of the 4-2-3-1 formation. This setup is designed to maximize Bruno Fernandes’ impact by positioning him in his favored central attacking midfield role, while also deploying two deeper midfielders for defensive solidity. Alternative configurations, such as the 4-4-2 diamond and 3-4-1-2, have occasionally appeared, but even these adaptions primarily serve to maintain Fernandes as the creative heartbeat.
In goal, David De Gea retains his status as first-choice, overcoming competition from Dean Henderson, who showed promise during his loan at Sheffield United. The defense features a mostly stable back four: Alex Telles’ arrival from Porto has created competition with Luke Shaw at left-back, while Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof are frequent starters. Harry Maguire, the club captain, stands out for his resilience and ability to play every league minute, providing leadership and aerial presence despite occasional early season struggles.
Midfield Balance: The Rise of Fred and McTominay
Midfield has emerged as a critical component of Solskjaer’s system, with Fred and Scott McTominay forming a surprisingly effective partnership. Fred, once dismissed as unreliable, has become indispensable for his defensive contributions—ranking as one of the squad’s top tacklers. McTominay, a box-to-box presence, supplements Fred’s defensive work with forward runs and smart positioning.
Bruno Fernandes remains central, both tactically and statistically. The Portuguese maestro has made direct contributions to more than half of United’s goals this season (10 goals and 7 assists out of 31 total team goals), second only to Tottenham’s Harry Kane in combined goals and assists. Fernandes’ value is compounded by his defensive involvement, frequently leading transitions and tracking back to support the team’s shape.
Attacking Threat: Dependence on Key Forwards
Manchester United’s attacking potency heavily relies on the productive partnership between Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes. Rashford, enjoying a stellar year, has tallied 7 goals and 4 assists, often benefitting from service by Fernandes, whose 4 assists for Rashford rank among the top combinations in the league.
Depth up front includes Edinson Cavani, who has made notable impacts off the bench with 3 goals and 2 assists in limited minutes. However, Anthony Martial and Mason Greenwood have struggled to consistently match Cavani’s efficiency, combining for only 2 goals and 3 assists across 21 appearances. As the season progresses, Cavani’s movement and clinical finishing could see him favored as the primary striker, reshuffling the lineup and potentially adjusting the team’s left-sided emphasis.
Squad rotation has also been a hallmark, with 24 of 25 registered Premier League players making appearances and 22 different starters so far. This depth allows flexibility, with contributions from experienced players like Juan Mata and Nemanja Matic, and emerging talent like Donny van de Beek. Paul Pogba’s future remains uncertain, but his quality adds another dimension when called upon.
Counter-Attacking Mastery: Speed and Transitions
A defining trait of Solskjaer’s tactical identity is a commitment to rapid counter-attacking football. While counter-attacking has always been part of United’s DNA, under Solskjaer it has become even more central, particularly with the addition of Bruno Fernandes, who excels in both defensive and offensive transitions.
United often struggle in matches where they dominate possession but thrive when ceding the ball and striking on the break. For example, against Leeds United, they had only 42% possession yet scored repeatedly through lightning-fast transitions, leading the league in “counter-attacking goals” by WhoScored’s criteria, with five such goals without conceding from similar play.
Their counter-attacks typically initiate from the left, where Rashford and Fernandes operate most effectively. Fullbacks Shaw or Telles frequently support these moves. United attacks through vertical surges, favoring through balls over crosses, which aligns with the characteristics of quick breakaways. After recovering the ball—often via coordinated pressing traps on the left—runners like Rashford, Martial, or Fernandes drive forward, while supporting teammates exploit central gaps left by the opposing midfield. This method proved effective in the 6-2 win over Leeds, where combinations of movement, decoy runs, and clever positioning led to simple yet decisive goals.
Although most attacks originate or develop on the left, United display enough versatility to involve wide players or switch flanks, as evidenced by goals against teams like Newcastle and Everton. Nonetheless, the left-sided approach remains their most distinct and productive route.
Defensive Vulnerabilities: Set Pieces and Penalties
Despite their offensive strengths, United’s defense has been a cause for concern, conceding 23 goals in the league—among the poorer records for teams near the top of the table. A significant portion of these goals has come from set pieces. United have allowed six goals from such situations, often due to weaknesses in aerial duels. This is surprising given the physicality of players like Maguire, Lindelof, and McTominay but is compounded by zonal marking errors that misalign defenders with opposing aerial threats.
The team has also conceded four penalties, pointing toward lapses in concentration or individual mistakes rather than systemic flaws. Addressing these issues, particularly at set plays, is critical if Solskjaer aims to sustain a title challenge.
Pressing Strategy: The High Line and Structured Press
Another notable feature of Solskjaer’s tactical setup is the implementation of an aggressive high press, which naturally results in a higher defensive line. Manchester United have been among the league leaders in catching opponents offside—a testament to their successful coordination and timing at the back.
The pressing system is carefully constructed: United often funnel opposition play to the left side, using body positioning and winger placement to steer the ball toward their stronger pressing duo of Rashford and Fernandes. The right winger tends to occupy central spaces, ensuring numerical superiority and trapping the opposition near the touchline. On opposition goal kicks, United typically shape into a 4-4-2 press, engaging the striker high and forming a diamond with the fullback, central midfielder, winger, and Fernandes. This compact approach allows for quick turnovers and immediate transition into attack.
Fernandes is also pivotal here; his relentless energy ensures he is both a pressing trigger and an outlet during the transition phase. This dual responsibility showcases his importance beyond just chance creation.
Summary: Solskjaer’s Tactical Identity and Prospects
Manchester United have developed into one of the Premier League’s most dangerous outfits on the break, blending high-pressing with clinical attacking transitions. Their reliance on key players, particularly Fernandes and Rashford, underpins their offensive output, while defensive weaknesses—especially at set pieces—remain the primary area needing improvement.
If the defensive lapses can be addressed and the squad continues to buy into Solskjaer’s tactics, Manchester United are well positioned to remain in the Premier League title conversation. Their strong string of results and consistent tactical identity have stabilized the club’s trajectory, suggesting a promising road ahead for both the manager and his evolving team.
