SubsArjen Robben
Marek Hamšík
Mateo Kovačić
Nicolás Otamendi
TacticsMy goal when building this team was to put together a highly experienced and well oiled machine that could not only play counter attacking football but also be able to hold possession effectively. Starting at the back, I have Alisson in goal, who with his outstanding reflexes and solid concentration, will do what he does best which is make great saves up close and from long range. In possession, he will focus on distributing the ball up the field in an effective manner.
My back four begins with two well rounded fullbacks in Alex Sandro and Héctor Bellerín, who will focus on providing extra width on the midfield, looking to cross or put in a through ball whenever the opportunity for each arises. When my team doesn't have the ball, they will focus predominantly on their defensive duties. Looking to win the ball back so that my team can quickly hit my opponent on the counter.
In the middle of my defensive back line, I have the legendary Italian CB pairing in Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci. Bonucci will focus on sweeping up balls from behind the defensive line with his great tactical awareness and strong intercepting abilities. Bonucci will also look to turn defense into instant offense with his fantastic passing. Chiellini will focus on stopping the opposing attackers, win the ball without giving away a free kick and get it cleared safely up field in a no-nonsense manner. He will have a stopper role, meaning that he will push ahead of the defensive line and close down players before they get to the area.
The center of my midfield contains two tactically astute and high work rate midfielders in Marco Verratti and Fabinho. Fabinho's main duty will be to sit in the hole between the defense and the midfield, intercepting moves, winning the ball and laying off simple passes to his more creative teammates. Verratti will focus on connecting my defense and attack with his pinpoint passing. Without possession, he will look to sit back in midfield and clog up my opponent's passing lanes in order to recover the ball.
On the left side of my midfield, Koke will push up to support the attack, often surging late into the box to get on the end of crosses and pull backs as well as providing a threat from distance. On the right side of my midfield, Ángel Di María will aim to beat his man on the outside, ready to surge into space. He will try and run at the defense in the final third, causing panic and indecision prior to shooting or attempting to make a through ball/cross to a teammate. Defensively, both Koke and Di María will aim to press the opposing full backs, win the ball high up the pitch and either hold it up for the rest of the team, get in a quick cross or put in a through ball.
In attack, I have two complete forwards in Luis Suárez and Sergio Agüero who's numbers this past season combine for a total of 61 goals and 25 assists. They will look to take advantage of any opportunities created for them and they will also look to play off of one another. Both are equally deadly finishers and solid chance creators. Suárez will drop back a bit looking to pick the ball up and work it forward to spearhead attacking opportunities, by using his pace, play making and dribbling abilities in his favor. Agüero will sit on the shoulder of the last defender, looking to break the defensive line and run onto through balls with his excellent positioning, movement and awareness. Both will track back to help the team on defense by pressuring the opponent's CB's into making mistakes that my team can quickly capitalize on.
Set PiecesSet piece taker: Marco Verratti (except direct FK’s – Luis Suárez).
Penalty kick taker: Sergio Agüero.