4-1-4-1 Tactics Explained | 4-1-4-1 Strengths & Weaknesses | Formation Principles

The 4-1-4-1 Formation Explained! The 4141 is the not too distant cousin of the 442, and while it may not be as popular as the 433, it’s only a few simple rotations away from quickly transforming into any other line-up. While it’s often seen as a rather defensive formation with good cover between the lines, the 4141 is not just a defensive powerhouse, and can quickly create dangerous opportunities on the attack. In today’s video we’re going to breaking down the tactics behind the 4141.
The 4-1-4-1 is a direct descendent of the 4-5-1 formation, but this slight variation started to gain popularity in 1981 thanks to Paolo Cesar Carpigiani’s Flamenco side which beat Liverpool 3-0 in the intercontinental cup. Faced with the issue of playing 4 Fantasistas in Lico, Zico, Adilio and Tita, he as any sane human would, decided to play them all behind the striker Nunes, giving the team incredible freedom in midfield to join the attack and rotate their positioning. In the modern game, a number of different teams and managers have used this formation throuought their career, Some key examples include Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea, Guardiola’s Bayern Munich, Luciano Spalletti’s Roma and more recently Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds to name a few.
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Chapters
00:00 Intro
00:31 Origin & Famous Teams
01:08 Player Roles & Responsibilities
05:08 Main Strenghts
05:50 Build-Up and Rotations
08:52 Final 3rd Attacking Patterns
11:13 Defensive Structure
12:40 Weaknesses
13:35 Closing Remarks

[@mumindanmallam]

Well, it kinda is a 4-3-3 most of the time innit.

[@FootballMeta]

Essentially, yeah

[@SHADOW-fu6uu]

No in 433 enemy defenders mark the wing position. But in 4141 their defenders will stand far in front compared to 433 , so you can do more incisive runs. If you put a deep lying forward as cf, then he will come down and the whole midfielders will run to cover cf position giving you more chances for false 9 attack or through passes 🙂

[@mumindanmallam]

@@SHADOW-fu6uu Formations are much more fluid than you think

[@SHADOW-fu6uu]

@@mumindanmallam sorry I thought this video was about PES as it came as a 4141 pes guide search result. All I told above was about pes👍

[@mumindanmallam]

@@SHADOW-fu6uu if it's that I totally understand what you mean

[@ZAHINborusse]

Been binge watching your show. Love your explaination. Hope there'll be an episode where you explain about Edin Terzic's gameplan on BVB, considering he's still new being a manager. Thank you!

[@Leeds1919LUFC]

Bielsa mastered this at Leeds. Phillips was pivotal in playing as the DM who would drop back into defence when in possession to create a 3-3-3-1 formation.

[@BenAnderson48]

I think in the initial roles and responsibilities you missed what separates the 4-3-3 from the 4-1-4-1. My understanding is that the 4-3-3 sees the front five consist of LB-LW-ST-RW-RB, while the 4-1-4-1 sees a front five of LM-LCM-ST-RCM-RM. If this characteristic is ignored, then the 4-3-3 and 4-1-4-1 are only distinguished by whether the outside mids track back significantly or not, which can vary game to game and should not be seen as a formation shift in my opinion. Changing how the front five look, however, is a rather large shift in playstyle and should help distinguish. In the team I coach, we play what would be considered in this definition a 4-1-4-1, with an in possession shape of 2-3-2-3 and out of possession shape 4-5-1. The CMs join the attack and the FBs stay in line with the DM (until the ball is played to a wing). If I was pushing both fullbacks to the byline and having the CMs stick back, I would say it is a 4-3-3. Jury is still out on having one fullback push while a winger inverts, while on the other side the winger stays wide and a CM pushes the back line. I'd probably call it a 4-3-3 to save a breath.

[@FootballMeta]

Good insight, and you're right, the front 5 can look different in a 433/4141

[@dystopiaproject]

So, In 4-1-4-1, the CMs, are more like Attacking midfielders (amf?) while the LMF/RMF will play as LWF/RWF but will track back a lot and help defending ?

[@mariomills]

Its just based on player profile, being fluid w positional play is more important than a defined formation imo. The one who stays more consistent are the Cdm and St, the rest should be able to read the game and play off another's positon👍

[@mumindanmallam]

From my understanding you are right and not right at the same time, mainly because in both formations the front five can consist of any of the stated examples you've made it all depends on the managers choice and sometimes on game state/the opponent's defensive structure.

[@mastiff85]

We desperately need a series of video concerning the application of tactics principles in football manager games

[@Akutannn]

I am currently using this formation in my FIFA career and I can say that it has become one of my favorite line ups.

[@liljimmy454]

Bruh same

[@vapidtone6511]

Ten Hag’s football also mostly shifts around being a 4-1-4-1. We saw it against Southampton the other day, with Eriksen playing the deep lying playmaker role that he wants De Jong for, and going forward to join Bruno while the CDM McTominay, soon to be Casemiro, stayed back. It changes when the fullbacks tuck into midfield and the wingers get further up the pitch to look like a 2-3-2-3. It also really exposed where United are lacking in personnel and quality. They really need a deep playmaking midfielder, a ball playing goalkeeper and a striker who is mobile enough to press from the front while also being big enough to hold up the ball.

[@NoobKing-lz2hb]

Ten Hag uses a 5-0-5

[@billytcat]

I love your channel. I've been trying to figure out what to run this season, and it was really nice to watch this and have you echo a lot of the thoughts l was having about running this formation.

[@billytcat]

I was like, false 9, inverted wingers, fullbacks pushing high for width, and you were all, false 9, inverted wingers, fullbacks pushing high for width.

[@mohamedabdelkader8665]

Hi Football Meta you are the king of the content .From you we pick up the Dynamic nearly of all Formation thank you not enough.

[@FootballMeta]

Thanks for the constant support mate, very happy you enjoy my content 💪🏻

[@mohamedabdelkader8665]

@@FootballMeta Welcome i have this for you and still we are looking for Liverpool this season 2022-2023 Too depressing that Salah did not score in 9/0 which is record PL win for Reds but the match was a good try to get Liverpool's season back on track .Fabio Carvalho What an immense talent (What a goal) He provides the necessary offensive addition . Talented and creative Harvey Elliot(What a goal) ,Stefan Bajactic,Bobby Clark,still we have Sepp Van Den Berg,Isaac Mabaya,Luke Chambers,Leighton Clarkson,Morton Tyler (on loan to Blackpool ) and other from The Academy (As long we bake our own cake we don't have to spend big Money on new signs and we don't have to wait for injuries to get back like season 2020-2021 ) As a Liverpool fan am not frustrated because our boys gave us a perfect response after Monday disappointment .

[@DFWTB9506]

Underrate channel/ content, no worries y’all get there

[@FootballMeta]

Thanks man 🙌🏻

[@romanquane5742]

We need a video on how you became an analyst/interested in tactics and how you came to live in Italy. Excellent work btw/ottimo lavoro 👍🏻⚽️

[@FootballMeta]

Grazie! I think I will cover this eventually

[@zionikoroha]

Love your posts man

[@B757addict]

This reminds me of Dortmund '15-'16 under tuchel and julian weigl's crucial role as the metronome

[@Gawsh]

That was a great season for Weigl.

[@coacheleven5023]

I use this formation in my team, because it strengthens the center with 3 midfielders and it doubles winger area, the way i play, one of the cm often moves to second striker in a 442 to help the press, so we shift always to the ball side, with the ball you use the 5 midfielders to circle the ball and change sides quickly, but in the offensiv play i relay heavily on my 1vs1 players so we can create chances and goals.

[@ignacysukowski5325]

I'm not here since a long time but love to listen how you explain strenghts and weaknesses of different tactics. Would you explain some more systems with 3 defenders?

[@FootballMeta]

Welcome back! Sounds good, I should probably do a more in depth version of the 3-5-2 🤔

[@parkerstrail7577]

I comprehensively understood what you taught , I hope to see the next formation 3-3-1-3 ?

[@steffancavill-fowler1306]

I have this formation for my hockey team )3-3-1-3. But would like your analysis on it. I have looked at using 4141 for a half court or really high press for one the side to trap the opponent.

[@rdnfootball]

Thanks FM 🔥

[@vendetta8022]

Im building a 4-3-3 based on this 4-1-4-1 idea in the video game football manager and it works well, very defensive yet still can create many chances.

[@user-tx5dv4qq3t]

thnx really nice video

[@sibstarr]

4141 is the Swiss army knife of formations

[@trevorlewatle1886]

Secretly my favorite formation.. That was a full team meeting.

[@billytcat]

It's about to be homework for my team.

[@stefansandbergsweden]

Please do a video on the 4-5-1! 🙏

[@Vinilou]

AMAZING 4-4-1-1 pls ❤

[@_Playmaker]

Please can you do a video on (principle of attack) and also inverted fullbacks 🤲

[@gabrieltoledo5997]

Can you guys do a 3-5-2 formation tactics explained

[@unaisameen8326]

My bro is genius 🥰😁

[@andriajovannie7541]

Big Sam used it when he was at Bolton specially whenever he face Wenger's Arsenal

[@TTTeLLeZ]

Can you do a 4-5-1 formation tactics video 😬

[@mohamedelgueddari9405]

Morocco dowit in world cup Qatar 2022 and that was beautiful

[@R-D-tk9zq]

Could you 343, 424 or maybe a Bielsa formation (3331 or 3313)

[@FootballMeta]

I already covered the 343, but the 424 could be fun to look at 🤔

[@Greene0]

Utd is cheffing with this atm

[@Gaaei]

#4141 #FootballMETA #Tactics! #Formations! #Football #Soccer

[@olocondo]

Can I use double B2B with an Anchor man in 4141 formation?

[@FootballMeta]

Yeah I think that would definitely work

[@abdulwahidalhassani5129]

You can do pretty much anything, just bare in mind how you want to approach the game.

[@appolokite]

Morocco 's tactics 😎

[@balavinay8365]

Hey mate , I appreciate your videos and I would to suggest a video , how to break the back 3 formation

[@FootballMeta]

Hey man, thanks! Great suggestion, I'll be making that video soon(ish) 🙌🏻

[@LostVillage100]

bro, we need the 4-3-2-1 formation

[@FootballMeta]

Good suggestion 🙌🏻

[@Daniel-ux4be]

Where do you get those tactical boards that you use here?

[@FootballMeta]

I made it myself, but I'm working on a way of manufacturing them 👍🏻

[@Daniel-ux4be]

@@FootballMeta it looks really clean and good. well done!

[@peseworld-s3162]

Tell me bro which type of passing style suit in this formation?

[@FootballMeta]

Hey man what do you mean? Like short/long passes?

[@peseworld-s3162]

@@FootballMeta yes. Short or long?

[@FootballMeta]

I'd say short mostly, if you go long you need the midfielders to push up a lot to support the striker, meaning you could get counter attacked. It's the same for the 433

[@mumindanmallam]

@@peseworld-s3162 If you're not playing with a front 2 or a target man it's always best to go short

[@ivosirakov1278]

Stupid question here. Why is it considered more defensive than 4-2-3-1, when in fact it has more attacking players(2 ATM)?

[@thatoneguy38]

There's a holding mid rather than 2 centre mids-the hm is in a better position to track back and he usually is a more defensive player. Also, the wingers play closer to the defence, and can come back more often. The 4-1-4-1 also makes a 4-5-1 or 5-4-1 for defence easier than the 4-2-3-1

[@xxx_xxx886]

´PAPAI LUXEMBURGO CRIOU FAZ DECADAS

[@dangerblader1617]

Can You do 4-4-1-1

[@amizekriidzwan1735]

4213 please

[@crazygiraffe3002]

basically a more walled version of 433 holding

[@diazkohen2149]

The defensive midfielder in 4-1-4-1 formation should be either Anchor or Deep Lying Playmaker. In PES, i once put destroyer type of midfielder into holding midfielder position...Oh my god... That's the worst decision i have ever made💀💀💀

[@aritramondal2003]

I can't understand tactics of the manager by watching the game...any suggestion please 😅

[@FootballMeta]

Always start with how they build-up from the goalkeeper, that can help you understand where they want to find advantages

[@cerpin_text]

if possible I recommend literally pausing while the camera is high where you can see full plays clearly, and from there orient yourself to all the different players and how they're positioned. initially ignore who each player is, and think more about where they're placed (compared to both teammates and opposition), and when you get more used to seeing those patterns and spaces you can think about "why is that player there". thats where individual players can come in handy. for example it is more efficient for someone like messi, neymar, etc to move down calmly centrally between opposition defensive midfielders than if an attacker like Haaland or Sébastien Haller does it. why? because they're better on the ball in situations requiring that technical creativity. they can manipulate opposition players to make room to hit passes or dribbles. you will rarely see centrebacks do that very efficiently, for example. that also due to tons of reasons, some of which being they're just not that good at that aspect of the game, but also mixed with things like opposition organisation, too many players (from both teams) in one space so no room to find that pass or dribble, etc etc etc. underneath the simple exterior of "kick the ball" there's a lot of beautiful complexity here :3

[@FootballMeta]

@@cerpin_text great tips

[@gabrieljacobs1008]

3-4-2-1 next?

[@mumindanmallam]

Check the 3-4-3 video, he touched on it.

[@gabrieljacobs1008]

@@mumindanmallam thanks mate

[@marijn.ligthart]

GK Neuer CB Terry CB Calvalho LB Cancelo RB Walker HM Lahm LW Lico CM Zico CM Adilea RW Tito ST Totti

[@teemedias1470]

4-4-2 Is good while 4-1-4-1 is the Best when playing against an offensive side.

[@m-im_]

4-1-4-1 فان دايك وراموس واروخو وبيكيه ديونغ ليفاندوسكي ميسي ومبامبي رونالدو نيمار

[@raphaels33]

All this new sterategies I still preffer the 4-4-2 decent defense, decent atack..... not excelent on anything but great on everything

[@mozzarellapotato]

can someone explain how this is any different than a 4-5-1?

[@FootballMeta]

They're very similar to be honest. With a 4-5-1 there might be more rotations with the holding mid and centre mids, but the principles are the same

[@mozzarellapotato]

@@FootballMeta so is that often the case with formations like this? i’ve seen teams say the play a 3-2-3-2 for example, and i’m just like “???” is that not just 3-5-2?

[@davidm.wilmington5325]

@@mozzarellapotato Yes - just like a 4-3-3 often looks more like a 3-4-3 (or a Liverpool 2-1-4-3!) or the 4-2-3-1 is a 4-5-1. . . or whatever. More and more, I set up a team based on player personalities/tendencies, use whatever formation or position label that will help that player play the role, and then describe it to others as whatever X-Y-Z label is closest. I think pro coaches must be doing something like that even though we fans and pundits still want to use old formation formats.

[@soumyasaha8665]

@@mozzarellapotato 3-2-3-2 is a variation of 3-5-2 only.

[@slowmolife4289]

Bro, sei italiano?

[@FootballMeta]

No ma vivo in Italia 🍕

[@slowmolife4289]

@@FootballMeta immaginavo. Pronunci troppo bene i nomi italiani ahah

[@MikeBaas]

I don't understand how a striker with a weakness in holding can lead to the team getting trapped in their own half.

[@billytcat]

They'll lose possession to the CB when they get the pass.

[@MikeBaas]

@@billytcat Seems obvious now!

[@ramprasad_v]

So this formation needs a proper Sweeper keeper, holding midfilder, false nine striker.

[@thrombolic]

In real world, there is too much responsibility for the CDM who is left out to intercept the ball all alone…when that CDM is injured, you’re practically dead 😏⚽️

[@sakuragi_hanamichi3263]

Are you going to make a video about why Liverpool is so bad now and why Klopp is a tactics noob?

[@lloydnkala949]

😂 What I realized is that those lads now arrive on matches super tired (from hard trainings etc) eg Napoli CL game and it made it hard for them to be running around or follow through their coach tactics that require fast paces. They looked so exhausted.

[@FootballMeta]

I will, I want to see how their next few games go and then I think I will take a look at Liverpool 😉

[@sakuragi_hanamichi3263]

@@FootballMeta yes!! And if is it Salah fault or the tactics

[@sakuragi_hanamichi3263]

@@lloydnkala949 Maybe they are exhausted but Trent is so bad that he isn't bothered to defend, just walk around. Luis Dias is running okay but he is selfish and doesn't help to make a team attack, he just runs with the ball from the wing to the center and then take a shoot. The right wing is messy with Salah, Trent and Elliot there. Midfield doesn't exist and can't play a forward pass not mentioning even creative one. Even Virgil is bad.

[@abdulwahidalhassani5129]

@@sakuragi_hanamichi3263 you cant have a short player and then blame him for not scoring headers, same with trent, trent is an offensive full back, and it is not his job to be great at defending, so the only one who should be blamed is klopp to be honest.

[@xXOblivionXx1]

Spelling mistake in title?

[@FootballMeta]

Can't believe I never noticed that haha thank you