Unleashing Stones and Rodri’s Attacking Runs: Decoding Man Utd’s 4-2-4-0 Formation
Manchester United’s game plan against Manchester City on Sunday was clear from the start – sit deep and counter. The team set up in a 4-2-4-0 formation, with Scott McTominay and Bruno Fernandes as the advanced central players, and Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho attacking from the wide positions. Their strategy was to not dominate possession or press aggressively, but rather to catch City on the break. And it worked, as United scored an early goal and put City under pressure to break down their deep defensive block.
A key factor in City’s success in breaking down United’s defense was the performance of Rodri and John Stones. While Rodri is technically a holding midfielder and Stones a center-back, they effectively played as a midfield duo in a 3-2-5 shape when City had possession. This allowed them to control the center of the pitch and create space for their attacking players.
Rodri and Stones didn’t just stay in their designated positions, though. They made forward runs that caused serious problems for United’s defense. Stones, in particular, made runs from deep positions into the channels, catching United’s defenders off guard. This movement allowed City to get into dangerous positions and create scoring opportunities. The ball often came from Kyle Walker on the right, who found Stones in between the lines of United’s midfielders.
Despite United playing with four central midfielders, they struggled to stop these types of passes and conceded a significant amount of space to City. Rodri and Stones positioned themselves between the lines more permanently in the second half, making it even harder for United to contain them. Their positive play eventually led to goals for City.
In one instance, Rodri made a run into the channel, drawing McTominay away from his defensive position. This created space for Phil Foden to receive the ball and score. In another example, Stones distracted United’s holding midfielder, allowing Foden to shoot and score. The attacking runs of Rodri and Stones proved to be crucial in all three goals for City.
This more flexible approach to positioning and attacking responsibility is something that Pep Guardiola has been implementing at City. While they used to have five players attacking and five players guarding against counters, the roles have become more fluid. Stones stepping forward into midfield and Rodri providing a threat in the final third is not a new concept, but it has become even more prominent in recent games.
Overall, Manchester United’s 4-2-4-0 formation was successful in catching City on the break and scoring an early goal. However, the performance of Rodri and Stones proved to be the difference in the game. Their attacking runs and ability to create space for their teammates were crucial in City’s victory. As Guardiola continues to experiment with different formations and player roles, it will be interesting to see how this affects City’s attacking play in future matches.