José Mourinho DOMINANT REAL MADRID 2011-12 WON EVERYTHING, 4.58 GOALS X GAME

[fmcalciomaestro]

Real Madrid 2011-12 Under José Mourinho in Football Manager 2024

Introduction
The 2011-12 season of José Mourinho's Real Madrid is memorable for its offensive power and defensive solidity. Below, we’ll explore how to emulate the playing style of this great team in Football Manager 2024.

Formation and Philosophy:
At the core of the tactic is a 4-2-3-1 formation with two defensive midfielders, a setup that ensures balance and allows for rapid transitions. The "positive" mentality pushes the team to seek victory with an attacking style, but without overcommitting.

Possession Phase:

• Width: Mourinho's Real Madrid maximized the use of the flanks, and we’ll do the same. Full-backs Arbeloa and Marcelo push up to the line of the midfielders, creating a 2-4-3-1 that widens the field and offers multiple passing options (Wide attacking width, overlap left and right, focus play on the flanks)
• Build-Up: We abandon sterile possession and opt for long passes to the full-backs or wingers Ronaldo and Di Maria. The "pass into space" instruction encourages vertical passing and through balls.
• Pace and Passing: The "higher" tempo and "slightly more direct" passing reflect Mourinho's desire to move the ball quickly into the attacking third.
• Finishing: Low crosses are ideal for utilizing the speed of Mbappé, the central striker in my save, while the "run into the box" instruction allows the four attackers to express their creativity.
• Run at defense: give free rein to our attacking players's dribbling skills
• Work the ball into the box: play the ball patiently to create chances

Transition Phase:

• Counterpress to regain possession quickly and high.
• Counter once possession is won.
• Freedom for goalkeeper Casillas to choose between short passes or long kicks.

Out of Possession:

• Higher pressing line and defensive line for compactness.
• "More often" pressing and "prevent short goalkeeper passes" to suffocate the opponent's build-up.
• "Get stuck in" tackles to intimidate the opponents (watch out for yellow cards!).
• "Step high" for offside and "trap outside" to push the opponents out wide.

Roles and Individual Instructions:

• Goalkeeper (Casillas): Sweeper-keeper, no frills, simple passes or long kicks.
• Right-back (Arbeloa): Support full-back, stay wider, get further forward, close down more.
• Right Centre-back (Pepe): Central defender (defend), take fewer risks, stay wider, short passing, mark tighter.
• Left Centre-back (Ramos): Ball-playing defender (defend), dribble more, stay wider, close down more.
• Left-back (Marcelo/Coentrao): Wing-back (attack), dribble more, stay wider, close down more.
• Right Defensive Midfielder (Khedira): Defensive midfielder (support), hold position, mark tighter, close down more.
• Left Defensive Midfielder (Xabi Alonso): Roaming playmaker (support), dribble more, move into channels.
• Right Winger (Di Maria): Inverted winger (attack), shoot more often, roaming from position.
• Left Winger (Cristiano Ronaldo):Inside forward (attack), roaming from position , shoot more often, sit narrower.
• Attacking Midfielder (Özil/Kaká): shadow striker (attack): shoot more often.
• Striker (Benzema/Higuaín): Complete forward (attack), link between midfield and attack.

STATS AND RESULTS
Tactic tested in a single season (2023-2024, with a database updated to February 2025) with Real Madrid. I made no moves in the player market to keep the same squad available to Real Madrid at this time. I won every available trophy, scoring a total of 178 goals in La Liga, conceding only 22, and remaining unbeaten throughout the league season.

• La Liga: Winner
  Points: 112 (W: 38 D: 37 L: 1 GF: 178 GA: 22)
• Champions League: Winner (Final: Real Madrid 2-1 Bayern Munich)
• Copa del Rey: Winner (Final: Real Madrid 2-0 Barcelona)

UEFA Super Cup: Winner (Final: Real Madrid 6-2 Atalanta)

More details here

 

[mezza147]

Could you show us your team stats goals/assists?

 

[fmcalciomaestro]

it's all in the video, please watch it

 

[mezza147]

I have watched it and it doesn't show the full team stats with goals and assists and who's set pieces did you use for your centre backs scoring all those goals?