Unai Emery

/Villarreal 2020-22

Europa League winners (2021) · Champions League semi-final (2022) — 7th in La Liga, a clear overperformance

Mid block + pragmatic counters — a more restrained version of the Sevilla template

Source: FBref / Sports Reference

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Style vector

Pressing IntensityLow

More restrained than his Sevilla side

Reliance on IndividualsLow

An organised mid block makes up for the limits of the squad

TempoModerate

Plays it safe by default and only raises the speed in transition

WidthModerate

Uses the middle and the flanks in balance, as the game asks

Players only move where their role tag says — it's not a match replay

4-4-2

A pragmatic 4-4-2 with the double pivot holding firm and quick connections forward on the counter.

MentalityBalancedBased on: Pressing Intensity Low — only one axis, so treat it as a rough guide

StyleClosest to Fluid Counter-AttackSet the instructions below by hand instead — picking this overwrites them with the preset's values · Based on: Pressing Intensity Low · Passing Directness More Direct

Line of EngagementMid BlockDiagram block: Mid Block

Style axesPressing Intensity Low · Reliance on Individuals Low · Tempo Moderate · Width Moderate — no Defensive Line

In possessionPassing Directness More Direct · Tempo Moderate · Creative Freedom Be More Disciplined

Overlay with another manager

Identity

·Emery’s Europe-specific organisation (see Sevilla 2015-16) applied to a mid-table league squad
·A seventh-placed league side reaching a Champions League semi-final — a textbook overperformance

Position mapping

Shows where the same player moves to between in- and out-of-possession phases.

In possession	Out of possession
GKNo Nonsense Goalkeeper	GKLine-Holding Keeper
FB (L)Full-Back	FB (L)Holding Full-Back
CB (L)No-Nonsense Centre-Back	CB (L)Covering Centre-Back
CB (R)No-Nonsense Centre-Back	CB (R)Covering Centre-Back
FB (R)Full-Back	FB (R)Holding Full-Back
CM (L)Wide Midfielder	CM (L)Tracking Wide Midfielder
CM (C)Defensive Midfielder	CM (C)Defensive Midfielder
CM (C)Central Midfielder	CM (C)Central Midfielder
CM (R)Wide Midfielder	CM (R)Tracking Wide Midfielder
ST 1Deep Lying Forward	ST 1Tracking Centre-Forward
ST 2Channel Forward	ST 2Centre-Forward

Team instructions

Most important first. Switch to in-game order when you copy it across.

Amber badges are the identity-defining instructions. We only set a value where the data gives a clear signal; where it does not, the FM default is left in place and shown faded — those are yours to adjust. Click an item to check it off.

In Possession

Out of Possession

Things FM's tactic settings cannot express

FM26 handles one in-possession shape, one out-of-possession shape, and the switch between them. The items below fall outside that — this card carries only what the game can take.

Chained rotations within a phase — Switching between the two shapes exists, but there is no setting for players swapping positions with each other depending on where the ball is.
Ball-position triggers — Conditional movement like "the right wing-back tucks in only when the ball is on the left" cannot be set.
Player-to-player rules — Roles are set per player and cannot reference each other — "when A pushes up, B covers" is not expressible.
Automatic changes by time or score — In-match tactical changes are manual; there is no way to pre-set a condition.

Players who defined this system

Not an appearance ranking — these players embodied the system’s roles.

Gerard MorenoFinishing counters and linking play up front
Dani ParejoSets the tempo in front of the mid block
Pau TorresThe left-footed starting point of the build-up

Attribute profiles

Tap a position on the pitch and the attributes that spot needs appear right there.

Double Pivot

Top priority

A defensive-midfield role in and out of possession

Required

Positioning 15+

Preferred

Tackling 13+

Common approach (reference only)

In possession: Wide Midfielder · Out of possession: Tracking Wide Midfielder

Required

Passing 12+Stamina 13+Tackling 11+

Preferred

Crossing 12+Work Rate 13+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionAttacking Width: Stay Wider

Out of possessionMarking Target: Mark Position

A common tweak among users of this role — not something the game requires, so feel free to change it.

M R Wide Midfielder

In possession: Wide Midfielder · Out of possession: Tracking Wide Midfielder

Required

Passing 12+Stamina 13+Tackling 11+

Preferred

Crossing 12+Work Rate 13+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionAttacking Width: Stay Wider

Out of possessionMarking Target: Mark Position

A common tweak among users of this role — not something the game requires, so feel free to change it.

ST 1 Deep Lying Forward

In possession: Deep Lying Forward · Out of possession: Tracking Centre-Forward

Required

Passing 13+First Touch 13+Finishing 13+Stamina 13+

Preferred

Vision 12+Pace 13+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionHold Up Ball: Yes

Out of possessionTrigger Press: More Often

A common tweak among users of this role — not something the game requires, so feel free to change it.

ST 2 Channel Forward

In possession: Channel Forward · Out of possession: Centre-Forward

Required

Pace 15+Finishing 13+Off the Ball 13+

Preferred

Off the Ball 13+Strength 12+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionAttacking Width: Move Into Channels

A common tweak among users of this role — not something the game requires, so feel free to change it.

This is a well-founded starting point — the FM match engine is a separate system, so real match performance is not guaranteed.