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Bring control and stability to your team with the 4-3-3 Tiki Taka tactics in Football Manager 26 and keep winning.
The 4-3-3 Tiki Taka system is one of the best tactics in Football Manager 26. It brings control and stability to a chaotic game and allows you to suffocate your opponents while holding the ball. Contrary to the flashy tactics such as the Gegenpress, the Tiki Taka system with a balanced 4-3-3 creates a framework under which even mediocre players can contribute significantly to the team.
Since this style of play depends on a rigid structure instead of individual flair, your team can thrive against opponents even if they are superior to you. To learn more about the 4-3-3 Tiki Taka tactic in Football Manager 26, check out this article.
Best 4-3-3 Tiki Taka Team Shape for Football Manager 26
The 4-3-3 Tiki Taka was invented, or at least popularized, by the renowned manager and coach Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona during their prime years. This tactic creates a system that uses patience and possession to force opponents into making mistakes and then exploits the half-spaces they leave open. If you prioritize control over flashy, aggressive plays, this system would be ideal for your team.
The narrower shape with two inside forwards gives you options to hold the ball in the opponent’s final third, while your Channel Forward pushes their defensive line further in. In the midfield, the attacking midfielder and the midfield playmaker dictate the tempo of the game, while the deep-lying playmaker pulls the strings from behind.
Finally, the wingbacks do not have much to do since you won’t be whipping crosses in. Primarily, the CBs and WBs will look to support the midfield and ensure that your players always have someone open to pass the ball to.
4-3-3 Tiki Taka Team Shape
- GK: Ball-playing Goalkeeper / Sweeper Keeper
- LB: Wing-Back / Full-Back
- CB: Ball-Playing Centre-Back / Centre-Back
- CB: Ball-Playing Centre-Back / Centre-Back
- RB: Wing-Back / Full-Back
- DM: Deep-lying Playmaker / Screening Defensive Midfielder
- CM: Attacking midfielder / Central Midfielder
- CM: Midfield Playmaker / Central Midfielder
- LW: Inside Forward / Tracking Wide Midfielder
- RW: Inside Forward / Tracking Wide Midfielder
- ST: Channel Forward / Tracking Centre Forward
Also Read: Football Manager 26 In-Game Editor Guide
Best 4-3-3 Tiki Taka Team Instructions for Football Manager 26
Once you have set your team’s shape, it is time to move on to instructions. The team instructions for this system are absolutely crucial, and without them, you will play like any other possession-based tactic. As mentioned earlier, your primary goal with the 4-3-3 Tiki Taka is to control the game and move up the pitch by passing in triangles. For that, a narrower width and much shorter passing with a lower tempo are needed.
Furthermore, follow the instructions below to set the out-of-possession setup so that your team defends with compactness and structure while they don’t have the ball. However, that does not mean you will be playing defensively. On the contrary, this tactic in FM26 ensures that your team presses high up to cover as much space as possible and close down your rivals’ passing lanes.
4-3-3 Team Instructions
In Possession
- Overview
- Passing Directness: Much Shorter
- Tempo: Much Lower
- Attacking Width: Narrower
- Attacking Transition: Counter-Attack
- Creative Freedom: Balanced
- Time Wasting: Standard
- Play for Set Pieces
- Final Third
- Dribbling: Balanced
- Patience: Work the ball into the box
- Shots from Distance: Balanced
- Crossing Style: Low Crosses
- Progression
- Supporting Runs: Balanced
- Dribbling: Balanced
- Progress Through: Middle
- Pass Reception: Pass to Feet
- Buildup
- Build-Up Strategy: Play Through Press
- Goal Kicks: Short
- GK Distribution (Speed): Slow Pace
- GK Distribution: Centre-Backs
Out of Possession
- Overview
- Line of Engagement: High Press
- Defensive Line: Much Higher
- Defensive Line Behavior: Step Up More
- Trigger Press: Much More Often
- Defensive Transition: Counter-Press
- Tackling: Standard
- High Press
- Pressing Trap: Trap Outside
- Short Goalkeeper Distribution: Yes
- Mid Block
- Pressing Trap: Trap Outside
- Low Block
- Cross Engagement: Balanced
Read More: Football Manager 26: Best 4-4-2 Fluid Counter-Attack Tactics
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