Manchester United's "fluid four" system explained and why it works wonders against attacking sides

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On Saturday, Manchester United clawed their way through to their 20th FA Cup final at the expense of Mauricio Pochettino's Spurs who lost 2-1 after taking the lead in the opening ten minutes.

Mourinho's side came back from behind yet again this season showcasing the incredible change in character and mentality the United dressing room has witnessed. As the Red Devils get prepared for their trip back to Wembley for the final, let's examine the tactic that has provided success to United in the past few months against the more attacking sides:

#5 The defensive setup

Jose Mourinho is infamous for his defensive methods. Whether you love them or you hate them, you cannot deny that he has succeeded everywhere Jose has managed. So, as you would expect, this tactic is also built upon a very solid defensive foundation.

There is nothing complex about United's defending. It's a simple containing tactic in which every outfield player except Lukaku gets behind the ball and guards their box.

All United players except Lukaku get behind the ball and try to contain the man in possession. This results in a lack of options for the opposition man on the ball and forces him to play risky passes which often result in the loss of possession. After some patience when United win possession back they hit the opposition on the counter utilising the pace of their front three.

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