De Zerbi's Innovative Brighton

in Football Manager 2024

Roberto De Zerbi’s tactical innovation involves creating dangerous counter attack-like transitions, using controlled build-up play to provoke - and then play through - opposition press, attacking space left behind.

---

De Zerbi’s Tactics in Football Manager 2024

Roberto De Zerbi set Brighton up in a structured 4-2-3-1 system:

• Cautious 4+2 build-up shape

• Wide Front 3 & roaming 10

• Artificial Transitions

---

Cautious 4+2 Build Up

Brighton build up possession from deep using a back four with a deep and narrow double pivot in front of them, outnumbering any opposition press.

We achieve this in Football Manager 2024 by combining a Positive team mentality with Defend duties, resulting in a Cautious individual mentality for the Central Midfielders in the double pivot.

We create the cautious build-up using:

• Cautious individual mentalities

• Short Passing

• Low Tempo

• Play out of Defence

• Waste Time (studs on the ball)

The purpose of the cautious build-up is to provoke the opposition into pressing high, and using the extra man to play through, before starting an attack.

---

Wide Front Three + Roaming 10

During the build-up phase, the attack stretches the opposition defence; wingers pinning the opposition fullbacks wide, and a central forward occupying the opposition centre backs.

The Attacking Midfielder is free to roam, dropping into spaces vacated as the opposition press to receive the pass and start an attack.

The purpose of this attacking positioning is to stretch the opposition vertically and horizontally, disjointing their press and opening space to attack.

---

Artificial Transitions

By drawing out and playing through the opposition press, Brighton artificially create a dangerous, counter attack-like scenario, although through settled build-up, rather than winning possession.

Having broken through, Brighton attack quickly and with freedom:

• Wingers free to roam inside

• Passing into Space

• ‘Counter’ attack in transition

---

Player Instructions

• Wingbacks:

  • Sit narrower in possession

• Inverted Wingers:

  • Stay wider when the team has the ball

  • Roam from position in the final third

• Attacking Midfielder

  • Roams from position

---

Thank you!

Thank you very much - as always - for reading and supporting my writing; I hope you enjoy reading and find something useful to apply to your own saves.

This post is the response to a request from the recent interactive premium post; feel free to let me know what else you would like to read about in the comments below!