Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has adapted Manchester United game to Bruno Fernandes skills. The shape of 1-4-2-3-1 allows Bruno to play in his best role and position with a huge defensive work on two defensive midfielders.
1-4-4-2 and 1-3-4-1-2 experiments were also noticeably adapted to the Portuguese role.
They often defend in 1-4-4-2 formation where one full-back, two center midfielders and one winger form a tight diamond in the center of the field trying to push the opponent outside. They give their opponents little space to play by using a mixed pressing system with high defense line. However in combination with zonal marking they leave rivals a lot of space and opportunities to play beyond this line.
Solsjkaer relies on counterattacks with clearly higher left wing. He is good playing under pressure but after lose the ball he uses moderately aggressive, but very tight pressure. The team moves forward in sequence of quick short passes. Avoids crosses and direct passes.
After retrieving the ball Manchester quickly moves the ball forward and moves higher in the entire formation looking for vertical passes behind the opponent’s defence line. One of the defensive midfielders always plays high by accumulating the opponent’s pressure and together with Bruno creating opportunities for other players to take a shot or fins free space.
