Mauricio Pochettino

/Tottenham 2016-17

Premier League runners-up

High press + a fluid 4-2-3-1 built around Kane and Son

Source: FBref / Sports Reference

Not enough votes yet (4) to rank — shown as New for now.

Style vector

Pressing IntensityModerate

Ranked 14th per game, 8th out of possession (fouls: 10 · tackles: 5 · interceptions: ranked 20th)

Defensive LineVery High

2.9 opponent offsides per game, ranked 1st in the league

TempoVery High

17.6 shots per game, ranked 1st in the league

WidthModerate

20.1 crosses per game, ranked 9th in the league

Build-UpShort

60.5% possession, ranked 3rd in the league

Further notesWritten by hand — not compared against the league

DirectnessModerate

Circulation alongside vertical runs

Reliance on IndividualsModerate

Built on Kane’s link-up play and Son’s runs

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

4-2-3-1

The double pivot holds firm, and the moment Kane drops to link, Son and the others attack the space behind.

MentalityPositive to AttackingBased on: Defensive Line Very High · Pressing Intensity Moderate

StyleClosest to Fluid Counter-AttackSet the instructions below by hand instead — picking this overwrites them with the preset's values · Based on: Attacking Transition Counter · Pressing Intensity Moderate

Line of EngagementHigh PressDiagram block: High Press

Style axesPressing Intensity Moderate · Defensive Line Very High · Tempo Very High · Width Moderate · Build-Up Short

In possessionAttacking Transition Counter · Tempo Higher · Attacking Width Wider

Overlay with another manager

Identity

·The attack begins when the striker drops in to link — a static target man will not make this work
·The runs from between the lines have to be timed to the striker’s link-up play
·One full-back pushes on like a wing-back while the other holds — the two sides are not symmetric

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
FB (L)Wing-Back	FB (L)Holding 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
DM (L)Defensive Midfielder	DM (L)Defensive Midfielder
DM (R)Box To Box Midfielder	DM (R)Central Midfielder
AM (C)Advanced Playmaker	AM (C)Central Midfielder
AM (L)Inside Forward	AM (L)Tracking Winger
STFalse Nine	STTracking Centre-Forward
AM (R)Wide Forward	AM (R)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.

Harry KaneFinishing up front
Son Heung-minFinishing from wide by attacking the space in behind
Christian EriksenThe final pass from between the lines

Attribute profiles

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

Link-Up Striker

Top priority

False Nine in possession — drops in to link and opens the runs from behind him

Required

Off the Ball 16+Passing 14+First Touch 15+

Preferred

Finishing 15+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionFreedom of Movement: Roam From Position

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.

Runner From Deep

Core

Inside Forward / Wide Forward in possession — runs into the space the striker creates

Required

Pace 16+Off the Ball 15+

Preferred

Finishing 14+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionDribbling Direction: Cut Inside With BallAttacking Width: Sit Narrower

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.

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+

FB L Wing-Back

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

Required

Stamina 14+Crossing 13+Tackling 13+Positioning 13+

Preferred

Pace 13+Stamina 12+

Set by the role

In possessionGets Further ForwardStays Wide

Out of possessionHolds PositionStays Wide

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

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.

DM L Defensive Midfielder

In possession: Defensive Midfielder · Out of possession: Defensive Midfielder

Required

Positioning 13+Tackling 12+Teamwork 13+

Preferred

Passing 12+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionPassing Risk: Take Fewer Risks

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

DM R Box To Box Midfielder

In possession: Box To Box Midfielder · Out of possession: Central Midfielder

Required

Work Rate 15+Stamina 14+Passing 13+

Preferred

Tackling 12+Teamwork 12+

Common approach (reference only)

In possessionForward Runs: Make More Runs

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

AM C 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.

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

Mauricio Pochettino

Style vector

Further notesWritten by hand — not compared against the league

Position mapping

Team instructions

Players who defined this system

Attribute profiles

Link-Up Striker

Runner From Deep

GK Ball-Playing Goalkeeper

FB L Wing-Back

CB L No-Nonsense Centre-Back

CB R No-Nonsense Centre-Back

FB R Full-Back

DM L Defensive Midfielder

DM R Box To Box Midfielder

AM C Advanced Playmaker

About this card