Man Utd’s 2007/08 Tactics Under Sir Alex Ferguson Explained

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In today’s video we’re looking at Sir Alex Ferguson’s 2007/08 Manchester United team and why it’s considered one the greatest European sides over the last 20 years. We breakdown the tactics deployed by Sir Alex Ferguson and we’ve also got some data provided by Instat, our professional scouting platform from the Champions League final vs. Chelsea in 2008.
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Sir Alex Ferguson mainy set his side up in a 4-4-2 in that period. The best eleven being; Edwin van der Sar in goal. Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand at centre back. Patrice Evra and Wes Brown at full back. A central midfield pairing of Paul Scholes and Michael Carrick flanked by Ryan Giggs and Cristiano Ronaldo - with Carlos Tevez and Wayne Rooney leading the line.
Combining Ferguson’s approach of looking to exploit the opposition with the intelligent and versatile players in his squad meant that trying to make a plan to stop United over 90 minutes was almost impossible. Even if the opposition created a counter for the initial tactics, Ferguson had enough variety and the players were drilled enough that he could tweak his side to break the opposition’s counter. This unpredictability when facing this Manchester United side was one of the key themes of Ferguson’s philosophy.
Let’s take a look at some tactics. Whilst this United team was deadly in attack, what made them champions was their ability to defend. In defence, when United lost possession, they’d look to counter press aggressively in a man to man scheme. But if they couldn’t win the ball back, they’d drop into their mid block, either a 4-4-1-1 or a 4-1-4-1, depending on their opposition and their own personnel.
As promised we’ve got some data from the 2008 Champions League final. Cristiano Ronaldo played with so much confidence in his first UCL final - his numbers reflected the performance as well: CR7 had the most; passes into the final third (28), passes into the penalty area (nine), fouls suffered (nine), crosses (eight) and key passes (three) on the pitch vs. Chelsea.
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What was the best Manchester United side in the Sir Alex Ferguson era? Drop your thoughts below!!!
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[@StatmanDave]

Who is the Premier League's best ever side?

[@Aj_DDG]

United, statman!!

[@Renko24]

Chelsea 09-10!

[@brianogorman7752]

United 08 Arsenal 98 Chelsea 06

[@bingbing24]

United 2007-2009 City 2017-2019 Aresnal 2002-2003 Chelsea 2005-2006

[@ananthapadmanabhanss4553]

United 2007/08

[@Smith89123]

The most perfectly constructed squad I’ve ever seen at united. The depth was insane

[@kmz595]

It is a pity they did not win the treble but on paper they best team the premier league has ever seen. Yes better than the invincible,s 99 treble winners, Chelsea 04/05 and City's centurions.

[@junaldinho100]

This team were more lethal than the treble winning side.

[@BamBam-dc1js]

Yes, this team was better than the 99' team, best epl team so far.

[@StatmanDave]

;)

[@jazzbazz3003]

Na city 17 to 19 team was better

[@ehwassupdoc7901]

@@jazzbazz3003 I prefer this team this was unbeatable much stronger everywhere

[@fifacatalyst864]

@@jazzbazz3003 how many UCL’s did that team win?

[@jcxkzhgco3050]

@@fifacatalyst864 4 Minus 4= 0

[@Rooney8MUFC]

Continuity of the back four was key. Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand and Brown more or less played every league game together (30+). Also, you can't overlook the unselfishness of Rooney in that front 3: he was our top assister for that season.

[@dani__crocs]

This is one of the best "tactics explained" type videos I've ever seen. You showed the theory, the philosophies and the statistics that reveals important information about the team, but you also showed specific goals and broke down how the team works in real game situations, which is key to understand it. Thank you and good job mate!

[@joeswar123]

Yesss been suggesting this for years. Would love this on Barcelona 94 or Milan 89/90

[@StatmanDave]

Milan would be sick!!!!!

[@markant9534]

@@StatmanDave Do you think Liverpool could have beaten Milan 89/90 in the European cup if they had not been banned during that time?

[@thepaleking2579]

@@markant9534 united would've had the same amount of cls as barca or liverpool if english clubs weren't banned that time

[@ehwassupdoc7901]

@@thepaleking2579 no United wouldnt have even qualified.

[@starkwinterfell6016]

Sir Alex Ferguson is best in the world.... Always

[@Pat14922]

Seems a long time ago now , but the 93/ 94 team were great to watch, especially on the counter - Giggs Sharp and Kanchelskis on the wings , Bruce and Pally at the back , and King Eric. Not so good in Europe but Uefa still had that restriction on foreign players rule - so we always struggled.

[@rudradc]

Without a shadow of a doubt...It was the best side...And there is a slight hint that OGS wants to play his team like this side...We defeated Barcelona with this side in that Barcelona era...It's been 13 years, but still watching those matches makes your blood boil as a United fan... Nostalgic.

[@YvesDarbouze]

He’s describing exactly Ole’s system. This is what Ole is trying to do with inferior players but It’s counter attacking

[@jakekavanagh08]

No he is describing SAF's team which Ole is trying to emulate

[@Summer-rj9ms]

No Ole is mimickin' Jose, not Fergie. What matches are you watchin'

[@ChadYu]

@@jakekavanagh08 idk if it's still true but around the time ole was signed permanently it was revealed that SAF was mentoring him so it's no surprise really 😂

[@leroyokwiri]

exactly ole also uses his own players to stop the oppositions press

[@jonathanthompson6783]

🤣🤣🤣

[@tomclowes5874]

The depth of squad is what did it, so much quality outside the first 11 you mentioned

[@ethan-lq1xg]

please do one for the 2009/ 2010 Inter Milan. The treble-winning team :)

[@StatmanDave]

FIREEEEE

[@muhammadtariq8400]

One of my favourite non united teams ever

[@Chanman2203]

Unbelievable team.

[@Tbakathebest]

Great video. Excellent break down of one of my favourite united teams

[@thomasayling222]

In other words, defensive systems played offensively? They were so structured that they actually had more freedom to be unpredictable! Intriguing 🤯

[@mustykaoje]

Thanks dave! You always know what we want.

[@andrewthornton6192]

Loved the 07-09 United teams. Rio and Vidic were unreal. Fergie also had his ‘champs’ league KO formation with fletcher and Park being brought in.

[@treycumberbatch5257]

Aite Statman, how do we replicate this in FIFA? 🤣

[@fp0119]

I’d love to know 😂

[@Sinomonjoseph]

By buying sancho we could do this once more next season as we have a fluid front three with martial rashford and sancho, where they can play across front three with devastating speed.. And pogba and bruno behind them..

[@conorwright139]

Love the videos dave keep it up

[@StatmanDave]

Cheers Conor

[@henrykwidini7071]

Great stuff

[@DakotaRawson]

Counter attack is key to making any football team more exciting to watch

[@ujasvaria5772]

I am disappointed that you didn't mention ji sung park.

[@ujasvaria5772]

CannonBaller9Pin yes he did but it wasn’t enough. He was our utility player, he could play on either wings, as an attack midfielder and as a centre forward as well as second striker. My man also had other worldly stamina and pace. Underrated IMO

[@kevin-pu2lx]

@@ujasvaria5772 he was our best player in the 2011 champions league final

[@buchakhilesh6516]

You should start coaching mate

[@StatmanDave]

DAMN RIGHT

[@MASHAFFILIATEDPZ]

Wish you could replicate things like this in football manager 😔

[@olasv2903]

Can you make a video on Norways future as a national team? I’m very elitefotball about their future, and maybe you have som interesting opinions and topics?

[@joshuacatford2804]

Love how seamless the ads are, they link with the video and aren't obnoxious, doing it the right way

[@RajeshKumar-go8id]

Can you do a video on chelsea 09-10 season one of the most underrated sides that broke many records at that time

[@Pinky_T]

Rah Statman Dave, leave poor Newcastle alone man, you've killed them enough

[@Zinedinezam]

Shows how good Carlos Queiroz was as a coach 08/09 team wasn't as good when he left. Fergies tactics were different for the first part of the 08/09 season and reverted back to Queiroz tactics when he realised the clanger he dropped of buying Berbatov, brought tevez back into the first 11 for later part of the season.

[@ananthapadmanabhanss4553]

As usual superstar statman😇

[@StatmanDave]

cheers

[@parag803]

Still we are missing width from our full backs and crosses. Our full backs are like inverted full backs. So we play narrow in final third and it puts pressure on our midfielders to create chances in tight spaces and so we loose the ball many times.

[@akashganatra1418]

Definitely there's no doubt about that. Looked as if Dave was looking up to it.

[@puskasisagod3727]

Crazy to think it was Portsmouth that stopped this team from winning the treble 🤯

[@Adamhuge7]

they got robbed in the final

[@DontBeBitter]

They would've had 2 UCLs in a row if it weren't for UEFALONA

[@StatmanDave]

👌👌👌

[@devilgames2217]

Chelsea and Us (united) got robbed in 2009.

[@markant9534]

@@devilgames2217 Utd were completely outplayed in the 2009 final.

[@kairihd3521]

@@devilgames2217 nah united got outclassed in 2009, when messi scored a header u know u did bad

[@s.yohannes6429]

His point is that Barca shouldn't have been in the final and United would have a better chance of beating Chelsea in Rome..

[@Armin_kormin]

The period from 2006-2011 was the time when I fell in love with United. You enjoyed every game, only frustrating thing were matches with Barcelona, we were unlucky so many times... I love it that you reminded me of all that with this. Keep it up !

[@kevin-pu2lx]

Yeah 2009 and 2011 champions league finals still give me nightmares. We would of been the best team in Europe during that year if it wasn't for the golden generation of Spain. We should of played Barcelona like we did in 2008 semi finals, sit back and nullify Barcelonas midfield like inter did in 2010 but that was not the United way. Fergie last champions league match against real Madrid in 2013 was such a great game until nani red card and Ramos fouled evra in the penalty area. The draw was rigged for us, we would of faced Dortmund in the semis, even morinho said the better team lost. We could of won the champions league that season

[@Armin_kormin]

@@kevin-pu2lx I agree on every point you made, it's unfortunate..

[@skullfist7885]

Can you do Keegan Tactics next please? I have only been a fan of Newcastle for 7 years. I have no idea how Newcastle played their version of a 442.

[@muhammadtariq8400]

Underrated team If only they could defend would've been a force to be wreckoned with

[@j2darow32]

could you do a video of football manager tactic for the man united 2007/08 team

[@mell3109]

Best team could be in 2-3 years time

[@StatmanDave]

I can't wait!!!!

[@tehfuriousdtv4661]

Do a video about what signings Tottenham need to make and how they can improve tactically under Jose Mourinho!

[@zain5167]

If it wasn't for the worst refereeing display I've ever seen (in the FA Cup vs Portsmouth), this team would have won the treble.

[@kevin-pu2lx]

UEFALONA cheated to win the champions league final

[@ScienceCommunicator2001]

Statman Dave please do one Arsenal's Invincibles

[@bradleynelson8754]

Dave, seeing how united have been since the restart, could u do a video on how ole is trying emulate this side

[@maklyram]

I can see why Ole wants to emulate this system. It''s the best system for Martial and Greenwood to play together with Rashy and Bruno occupying the wings. While Pogba controls the team in a midfield two with Scott or Matic. Fred will have the park ji sung role, being an energizer off the bench.

[@SydPeppa]

Hi Statmandave, if Ji played in this game, would we have easily won this game? He was phenomenal that season.

[@StatmanDave]

He was class

[@muhammadtariq8400]

Could u do one on the 68 European cup team that would be cool

[@StatmanDave]

That would be very cool

[@muhammadtariq8400]

@@StatmanDave also is Abdul ur sidekick? Haha love the work mate

[@StatmanDave]

He’s my hype man

[@muhammadtariq8400]

@@StatmanDave haha nice one pal

[@OriginsAndInsertions]

Rooney, Ronaldo, Tevez... how lethal

[@MrGlennJohnsen]

Compare this team to todays Man United team, right back and goal keeper are the only positions todays team would have in a combined XI.

[@callumbrowns]

Awesome please do there 2003 team I think that one is one of his best ever behind this and 1999

[@dd-uf9nw]

Make one about Mourinho's Chelsea.

[@alimhussain8744]

That’s why Ole plays a 4-2-3-1 🤔 interesting 👀

[@Pacbandit13]

Nah its because he hasn't got a clue, pound land mourinho but with better vibes

[@enricophillips4291]

Please do José Mourinho 2008-2010 inter Milan side

[@James-bb7ix]

Do analysis on diego simeone please

[@rayrayray5911]

Newcastle definitely took a lot of collateral damage from Man Utd this season 😂

[@wiggajiggajr6017]

What the name of the formation app?

[@nigelbhebhe2805]

writing this stuff down so I can use it in FM...

[@Egbert758]

United used to play like how Liverpool are playing now

[@bingbing24]

You mean liverpool are now playing like united played 12 years ago right?

[@dankid8856]

Uh .....

[@alexwilliams314]

Not quite but similar

[@muhammadtariq8400]

Lol not really one team won 3 league titles in a row and a UCL whilst one team has only won a UCL

[@shantanushrivastava9981]

No not at all. Man Utd played with unpredictability with various players involved in different roles, which they switched frequently and effortlessly. The current Liverpool team has players with pre-defined instructions. Their wingers and fullbacks have to overload the box while their mids and CF create chances. Van Dijk, Matip/Gomez, and Robertson more or less form a back 3 to prevent opponent's attacks. There is no flexibility in the team if one of them fails to perform the whole team goes downhill. On the other hand, Man Utd did not rely on individual brilliance and every player worked hard as others. As a result of this hard work, they scraped out results or even won emphatically even when their star players were not at their best.

[@aco_LIFTS]

Should Ole add Rene Meulensteen to his backroom staff?

[@muhammadtariq8400]

That would be sick he's a really good coach and would add experience along with the youthful Mckenna and Carrick

[@oggyjack8252]

Still some Liverpool fans think their team is best in history. Lfc won because all the teams have been inconsistent this year. If we had bought Bruno in the Summer, we could have easily compete with top 4

[@ihabammoury2879]

I think bruno fernandes is like wayne rooney when rooney is playing as CAM

[@StatmanDave]

Slightly different, but both class AMs.

[@ihabammoury2879]

@@StatmanDave yes that what i meant

[@jean-paulwalters8408]

@@StatmanDave More the Firmino, Ronaldo was the Mane and Tevez was the Salah

[@jpbreslin8245]

@Jean- paul Walters don’t even compare those idiots to those legends

[@Dmaj089]

@@jean-paulwalters8408 Rooney was way better than Firmino,Tevez and Salah I'm not sure and Ronaldo is far far better than Mane

[@vincentbow6389]

And some 12 y/o Liv fan think their current squad is better

[@timcoffey9943]

O'Shea was ahead of Brown in that 1st 11

[@abdishakurmohamed6050]

Man utd 😍😍

[@emmaoye2704]

Why cant we adopt this playstyle, its still working likr charm.

[@jamestaylor5417]

9:34 - Did you hear that United strikers? THEY DIDN’T STAY STATIC.

[@chrisleemasango6651]

Tevez Rooney and Ronaldo, will soon be replaced by Rashford Martial ( Greenwood) and Sancho...

[@markweighell7894]

I'd love it if you could just do 1 bloody vlog without 666 hand sign, just 1

[@neb185]

I want to show this video to anybody who thinks SAF didn't understand tactics.

[@j_ramone]

Tactical Genius... OLE TAKE NOTES 😂😂

[@WWE2KUNIVERSEELITE]

has anyone done this in fm?

[@joshwiggan]

When are we gonna get 'How Jose Mourinho can rebuild Spurs'

[@RandomVideosFirst]

Still pissed we didn’t sign Tevez in the summer of 09 when Ronaldo left but instead got Valencia.

[@bdpat100]

Best premier league team. Last year Man City. Or Mourinho first title winning team. What about this year Liverpool

[@Nik_O_Hell]

I THINK I AM THE FIRST COMMENT!!!

[@StatmanDave]

WOOOOOOOOO

[@shad0w1599]

It's a shame that this squad didn't win the treble they deserved it for sure

[@keoseleka1937]

What other Prem teams do you support?

[@danielmwendwa791]

It's like Newcastle was their training ground

[@aidanmagill6769]

Why take 30 passes to create a chance when you can do it in 3?

[@ryanpinkham4766]

I thought Gary played rb then

[@fakhrizalghani6985]

i think dave is a manchunian

[@keoseleka1937]

Do you play fantasy

[@prod.2733]

my unpopular opinion will always be Rooney is the best player the Prem has ever seen.

[@muhammadtariq8400]

Nah easily Ronaldo or Scholes imo but he's up there

[@kha_lis5319]

Better than that overrated current liverpool team

[@muhammadtariq8400]

They r so overhyped they've won 1 UCL and this team has been together for around 3 years and people act like they have dominated world football for years Also let's not forget they got knocked out in the Round of 16 lol

[@NPA272727]

just shows you how united have gone downhill over the years

[@leonzandbergen3352]

The current Man U squad won't make this class man United team except from Bruno, wan bassaka mason greenwood and tuanzebe and maybe Brandon Williams the rest of the Man U players are OK players but too mediocre for this team