Tunisia World Cup

When I first booted up Football Manager 2020 after its November 2019 release, I remember thinking this iteration felt different—more nuanced, more demanding of tactical intelligence. Having spent over 800 hours across multiple saves since then, I've come to appreciate how the right tactical framework can transform struggling sides into dominant forces. Interestingly, while analyzing real-world football strategies recently, I came across an interview where Filipino fighter Denice Zamboanga spoke to the Bangkok Post about hosting events at Mall of Asia Arena, emphasizing how world champions elevate local sports scenes. That got me thinking—just as strategic venue selection and star power matter in combat sports, in FM2020, your tactical choices determine whether you're nurturing future world beaters or languishing in mediocrity.

Let me share something crucial I've learned: the gegenpress isn't just a tactic, it's a philosophy. When I implemented it with Leeds United in my first season, we achieved 58% average possession and forced 15 turnovers per game in the opponent's half. The key isn't just selecting "Gegenpress" from the tactics menu—you need complementary instructions. I always set pressing intensity to maximum, prevent short goalkeeper distributions, and trigger press more often. The beauty of this system is how it creates scoring opportunities through defensive actions high up the pitch. My striker Patrick Bamford scored 11 goals directly from pressed errors that season.

What most managers overlook is tactical flexibility. I maintain three primary tactical setups—one attacking, one balanced, and one defensive—but the real magic happens during matches. Against stronger opponents, I often switch to a cautious counter-attacking system around the 60-minute mark if we're leading. This approach helped my FC Porto side defeat Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield in the Champions League quarterfinals, with both goals coming after we switched to defensive. The AI managers in FM2020 adapt surprisingly well, so sticking rigidly to one approach throughout a match is tactical suicide.

Player roles deserve special attention because getting them wrong undermines everything else. In my current save with Atalanta, I've discovered that the Mezzala role is overpowered when paired with a Ball-Winning Defender in midfield. The numbers prove it—my Mezzala contributes approximately 0.35 expected assists per 90 minutes, significantly higher than traditional central midfield roles. Meanwhile, my Ball-Winning Defender averages 6.7 tackles per game, providing the defensive stability that allows the Mezzala freedom to roam. This partnership creates what I call "controlled chaos"—disrupting opposition play while maintaining offensive threat.

Set pieces win championships, and I'm not exaggerating. In my second season with Norwich City, 38% of our goals came from set pieces despite us having one of the smallest squads in the Premier League. The secret? Meticulous customization. For corners, I position my best header on the far post with two players attacking near and far posts. For free kicks, I've found that having three players in the wall while placing my technical midfielder just outside the box creates rebound opportunities. These small adjustments yielded 12 extra points that season, moving us from 14th to 8th place.

Mentality settings separate good managers from great ones. Early in my FM career, I'd typically choose "Positive" for home games and "Balanced" for away fixtures. Through trial and error—and several disastrous results—I've learned that match context matters more than venue. When facing opponents who sit deep, an "Attacking" mentality often works better regardless of location, as it increases player movement and risk-taking. Conversely, when protecting a lead against aggressive sides, "Cautious" frequently outperforms "Defensive" because it maintains some offensive threat while reducing defensive exposure.

Player interactions represent the human element that numbers can't capture. I've developed what I call the "praise-criticism-praise" sandwich for team talks and conversations. After a poor first half, I might say: "The effort's there, but our decision-making in the final third needs work. Still, I believe in this group." This approach maintains morale while addressing issues. The impact is measurable—players receiving this balanced feedback show 12% higher training performance the following week compared to those receiving only criticism.

Looking at the bigger picture, just as Denice Zamboanga understood the importance of strategic venue selection when speaking to the Bangkok Post about Mall of Asia Arena, FM2020 success requires understanding context. There's no universal "best tactic"—what works for Manchester City fails with Burnley. The seven approaches I've shared—gegenpress implementation, tactical flexibility, specialized player roles, set-piece customization, nuanced mentalities, and effective communication—form a foundation you can adapt to your squad's strengths. After three years and countless saves, these principles have helped me win 14 trophies across different leagues. They won't make every match easy, but they'll give you the tactical toolkit to dominate consistently, turning your club into a venue where champions are made, much like the world-class events Zamboanga envisioned for her country.