Pep Guardiola

/Bayern Munich 2015-16

Bundesliga champions · Champions League semi-final (the last season before Manchester City)

The original inverted full-back + extremely short passing + technique to escape the press

Source: FBref / Sports Reference

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Style vector

TempoVery High

The best passing circulation in the Bundesliga

Pressing IntensityHigh

Counter-presses the instant possession is lost

WidthWide

The inverted full-back here became the blueprint for the Manchester City box midfield

Reliance on IndividualsModerate

Leans heavily on the positional understanding of Lahm and Xabi Alonso

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

3-2-2-3

A full-back tucks inside to win the midfield battle — the prototype of the later Manchester City box midfield.

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

StyleClosest to Vertical Tiki-TakaSet the instructions below by hand instead — picking this overwrites them with the preset's values · Based on: Passing Directness Shorter Passing · Tempo Very High

Line of EngagementHigh PressDiagram block: High Press

Style axesTempo Very High · Pressing Intensity High · Width Wide · Reliance on Individuals Moderate — no Defensive Line

In possessionPassing Directness Shorter Passing · Tempo Higher · Attacking Width Wider · Creative Freedom Balanced · Build-Up Play Out Of Defence

Overlay with another manager

Identity

·The inside wing-back experiment that predates Manchester City — compare with the later Guardiola entries to see the original idea
·The deep-lying playmaker (Xabi Alonso) is the axis of the rhythm — without a like-for-like replacement it cannot be reproduced
·Beating the press leans on the judgement of key players more than on drilled patterns — more so than in the later City years

Position mapping

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

In possession	Out of possession
GKBall-Playing Goalkeeper	GKSweeper Keeper
INVFB LInside Wing-Back	INVFB LPressing Full-Back
CB (L)No-Nonsense Centre-Back	CB (L)Centre-Back
CB (R)No-Nonsense Centre-Back	CB (R)Centre-Back
FB (R)Full-Back	FB (R)Full-Back
DMDeep Lying Playmaker	DMScreening Defensive Midfielder
CM (L)Advanced Playmaker	CM (L)Central Midfielder
CM (R)Channel Midfielder	CM (R)Central Midfielder
AM (L)Winger	AM (L)Tracking Winger
STFalse Nine	STCentre-Forward
AM (R)Winger	AM (R)Tracking Winger

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.

Robert LewandowskiThe finisher at the end of possession
Thiago AlcântaraThe axis that sets the tempo in tight spaces
Philipp LahmA full-back who tucks in to join the midfield

Attribute profiles

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

Inside Wing-Back

Top priority

Inside Wing-Back in possession — the same principle he later used at Manchester City

Required

Decisions 15+Passing 14+

Preferred

Positioning 14+

Set by the role

In possessionHolds PositionMoves Inside to DM

Out of possessionHolds PositionStays Wide

Every other player instruction stays at its default — those are yours to adjust.

Deep Lying Playmaker (Xabi Alonso)

Core

Deep Lying Playmaker in possession — the absolute axis of the side’s rhythm, irreplaceable

Required

Passing 17+Decisions 16+

Preferred

Vision 15+

Common approach (reference only)

Out of possessionTackling: Ease Off Tackles

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

GK Ball-Playing Goalkeeper

In possession: Ball-Playing Goalkeeper · Out of possession: Sweeper Keeper

Required

Technique 14+Passing 13+Pace 13+Positioning 14+

Preferred

Decisions 13+Marking 12+

CB L No-Nonsense Centre-Back

In possession: No-Nonsense Centre-Back · Out of possession: Centre-Back

Required

Tackling 13+Positioning 13+Strength 12+

Preferred

Heading 12+

CB R No-Nonsense Centre-Back

In possession: No-Nonsense Centre-Back · Out of possession: Centre-Back

Required

Tackling 13+Positioning 13+Strength 12+

Preferred

Heading 12+

FB R Full-Back

In possession: Full-Back · Out of possession: Full-Back

Required

Tackling 12+Crossing 12+

Preferred

Stamina 13+

Set by the role

Holds PositionStays Wide

Every other player instruction stays at its default — those are yours to adjust.

M L Advanced Playmaker

In possession: Advanced Playmaker · Out of possession: Central Midfielder

Required

Technique 15+Vision 14+Passing 13+Work Rate 13+

Preferred

Passing 13+Teamwork 12+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionPassing Risk: Take More Risks

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

M R Channel Midfielder

In possession: Channel Midfielder · Out of possession: Central Midfielder

Required

Passing 13+Work Rate 13+

Preferred

Off the Ball 12+Teamwork 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.

AM L Winger

In possession: Winger · Out of possession: Tracking Winger

Required

Technique 14+Crossing 13+Stamina 14+Tackling 11+

Preferred

Pace 13+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionAttacking Width: Stay Wider

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 False Nine

In possession: False Nine · Out of possession: Centre-Forward

Required

Passing 14+Decisions 14+Finishing 14+Off the Ball 13+

Preferred

Vision 13+Strength 12+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionFreedom of Movement: Roam From Position

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

AM R Winger

In possession: Winger · Out of possession: Tracking Winger

Required

Technique 14+Crossing 13+Stamina 14+Tackling 11+

Preferred

Pace 13+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionAttacking Width: Stay Wider

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.

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