Brendan Rodgers used a 3-4-1-2 formation in the FA Cup quarter-final tie with Manchester United. FoL dissects why it was so successful for Leicester City.
Leicester City have reached an FA Cup semi-final for the first time since 1982, after the Foxes easily bypassed a weakened – and fatigued – Manchester United side. This article will explain Brendan Rodgers’ use of a back three and also their pressing setup.
Formations have been plentiful for Leicester City this campaign, as Brendan Rodgers has been forced into implementing a plethora of different personnel and systems to overcome the Foxes’ injury worries, and also the balance of multiple competitions.
Initially, Rodgers reverted into a back three – which played more like a defensive five (given the positions of the wing-backs) in an attempt to solidify the Leicester City back line – which had been plagued with injuries. Many can recall the first game of the season, West Bromwich Albion (A), that saw Wilfred Ndidi start as one of the three centre-backs.
This quarter-final offered a very different look for the Foxes – albeit still struggling with injuries – fielded a 3-4-1-2 formation with most of the starting defenders available. This was no longer makeshift, this is a fully-functional defence and I really like how it facilitated much more than just additional security at the back, but also in the building phases for Leicester City.
Let’s dissect the “building phases” for the Foxes, and why the three centre-backs have adjusted the initial stages for Rodgers in a beneficial way. It’s quite apparent that Leicester City “play out from the back”, although it’s not as linear as just that. There’s multiple ways to utilise the defence in buildup, and Rodgers has placed emphasis on the wide centre-backs inside the new structure.
Prior to the formation shift, the progressive players out of the defence would be the full-backs. Often, Kasper Schmeichel would pass into the centre-backs (who would spread wide to open passing lanes) and they’d build through the advanced positioning of the full-backs. This would ultimately play “in-to-out”, as the full-backs would link up with the deep-midfielders and try to either play one-two’s or advance their runs for later stages of the play. This isn’t *every* attack for the Foxes, but it’s a structure that Rodgers has built and utilises.
However, in the 3-4-1-2, the progressive defenders are the wide centre-backs – the most notable evidence being the marauding runs from both Wesley Fofana and Çağlar Söyüncü, who would capitalise on the extra space afforded to them. The pattern remained similar, the wing-backs would provide the extremities and eventually progression would come through them. It’s structured differently, and invites the opposition to press higher (because of the additional centre-back often fielded against only a single striker – or at most two), as the opposition’s midfielders look to support their outnumbered forward.
This stretching of the oppositions press, in conjunction with extra space for the initial progressive player in the build-up has really aided the Foxes – who have struggled to work the ball through congested deep-blocks. This system was also used versus Sheffield United (who operate with a deep-block in a 5-3-2 formation) and it successfully drew the midfielders out of the block and created pockets for Leicester’s midfield to occupy – or Ayoze Pérez drifting in the number 10 role. I’ve mentioned previously blueprints to beating a deep-block, but this could be another avenue to explore for Rodgers.
That’s the second point of why the new structure is effective – the triangular front three, which plays conventionally narrow as a juxtaposition to the wide formation. The emphasis on stretching the pitch enables easier passing lanes into midfield as it forces the opposition to do one of two things. Either they remain compact/narrow and allow the wide players for the Foxes to carry into advanced areas relatively unprovoked, or they press out of their block and neutralise progressions (but as a by-product create spaces). Regardless, both are beneficial to Rodgers’ side.
If Leicester City hadn’t added some of their most prolific attackers to the injury list, I’m confident they wouldn’t have turned to the 3-4-1-2. But, if the best winger options aren’t available, sacrificing them for three forwards who thrive centrally is a clever adaptation. The combinations between Pérez, Kelechi Iheanacho, and Jamie Vardy have been brilliant.
I’ve argued Pérez’s case as the number 10 for quite sometime, and he’s finally showcasing the attributes that allow him to flourish in the role – while the resurgence of Iheanacho has been wonderful (& somewhat unexpected). The Spaniard shouldn’t start ahead of a fully-fit James Maddison, but, his best position is most definitely in the pocket behind the strikers.
It’s a credit to Brendan Rodgers, who has managed to elevate the Foxes into third place in the table, semi-finals of the FA Cup all whilst missing integral players all season. But, what’s even more impressive, is his ability to adjust the side to allow frequent goal-scoring without Vardy’s involvement. Cast your mind back even a season, if Vardy wasn’t on the scoresheet, Leicester City struggled.
That’s a stark contrast to this season, the Foxes have four players in double-digit goals for the campaign (in all competitions), as Rodgers is finding solutions to the idea of “replacing Vardy”. I’m not suggesting this system is the answer, it’s merely providing an alternative. Once he regains his confidence/form, this front three will be even more dangerous. For what it’s worth, I think there’s a couple of players in the footballing world who could potentially replace Vardy, but there’s very few that’ll offer what he has in recent years.
The last thing I want to mention is the pressing setup inside the 3-4-1-2 formation, which is drastically different any of the four-back formations. The core principles remain, it’s energetic and initiated in advanced areas, but the difference is it’s incredibly smart in its manipulation. What I mean by this is, the Foxes front three pressed in a “box” shape – often supported by one of the midfielders (ordinarily Youri Tielemans as Wilfred Ndidi sits). If the opposition try to play through the press they need to switch the play – frequently and accurately, otherwise they become trapped.
Essentially, the front three will press to a single-side of the pitch and cut all passing lanes internally. Against teams comfortable in possession, they will utilise the “additional” option (the goalkeeper) to alleviate the pressure and try to find pockets of space. I thought Alex Scott did an excellent job of explaining – and illustrating – some of the traps Leicester City set for Manchester United on Match of the Day. The unfortunate recipient was Fred, every time. He was the “pressing trigger” for the Foxes and he crumbled in the high pressure scenarios.
The traps revolve around giving a “free” passing lane to the opposition, which seems like a good pass for the player in possession, but as soon as they initiate the pass the surrounding players are suffocated by the high-octane pressing of the Foxes. This is quite the statement, but I think that Leicester would struggle to implement such an initiative with Maddison in the side – instead of the very smart presser in Pérez. All three of the forwards have to make smart individual decisions to cause the suffocation, and at the moment, they’re all succeeding.
Overall, I think the majority of the credit has to go to Rodgers. He’s consistently improvising, creating, and tactically masterminding the Foxes through the restraints of this weird and wonderful season. It’s quite easy to forget that Harvey Barnes is side-lined, James Justin is a long-way from returning, and Vardy has only scored a single goal this calendar year (from 33 shots). Yet, somehow, Leicester are performing to their absolute maximum. That, is when you should acknowledge how impressive the job is from Rodgers and his supporting staff.