Custom Team Football Formation

Starting Lineup

Raya (Martínez) (Arsenal) · Mitchell (Calafiori) (Crystal Palace) · Van Hecke (Fofana) (Tottenham) · Schuster (Gabriel) (Brentford) · Khalaili (White) (Crystal Palace) · Janelt (Kamada) (Brentford) · Rice (Sangaré) (Arsenal) · Rogers (Damsgaard) (Chelsea) · Saka (Palmer) (Arsenal) · Sávio (Schade) (Tottenham) · Pedro (Havertz) (Chelsea)

Focusing on a high press and verticality, this lineup utilizes a 4-5-1 formation to disrupt opponents. This team wants to win the ball high up the pitch and move quickly toward the goal. The goal is to use intense pressure to force turnovers and then exploit spaces through direct passing.

Raya operates between the posts to organize the back line. The defensive unit maintains a flat back four with Mitchell acting as an attacking full back on the left. On the right, Khalaili provides width, while Schuster and Van Hecke operate as the central defenders. Schuster and Van Hecke must hold the line and win the second ball to keep the team stable. The defenders look to play out from the back to start attacks, but they must remain compact when the team drops into a mid-block.

The midfield relies on a double pivot consisting of Rice and Janelt to protect the center. Rice is known for his high pressing intensity and ability to intercept passes, while Janelt provides cover to shield the defense. Moving ahead of them, Saka and Sávio occupy the half-spaces to create chances. Rogers works as a central midfielder to connect the defensive and attacking lines, often arriving late into the box. This five man midfield unit can shift to compress the midfield when defending against central runners.

In the final third, Pedro acts as a lone striker and a pressing centre forward to harass the opposition back line. He is tasked to hold up the ball and wait for support from the advancing midfielders. Saka and Sávio often cut inside to create numerical superiority in the center, which allows the full backs to push high. The attack aims to use combinations in tight spaces to split the defence with a through ball. Pedro must find the feet of the striker to link up play with the runners from deep.

One major strength of this formation is the ability to press high in coordinated waves. By using Rice and Janelt to squeeze the space, the team can win it back high up the pitch. Another advantage is the flexibility to create wide overloads when Mitchell and Khalaili overlap the winger. This makes it difficult for the opposition to track back and cover both the flanks and the central zones.

This 4-5-1 formation is built to suffocate teams that try to play out from the back. It is best suited for games where the team needs to exploit transitions against a side that lacks defensive discipline.