The 4-3-3 system works in different ways and it's is one of the most used formations in the game. We will analyze the 4-3-3 used by Fc Barcelona, Sarri-Ball's Version and Manchester City's 4-3-3 under Pep Guardiola.
No matter which club you support, whether you are a fan of a big club or a midtable team, there is a massive possibility that your favourite team has used this setup.
You must keep in mind that different teams use this formation in different ways, in this article we will mention those differences (and some similarities).
FC BARCELONA'S 4-3-3
We have all heard or read about the influence of Johan Cryuff on FC Barcelona. They, almost always play in the 4-3-3.
Ernesto Valverde often used the 4-4-2 but Barcelona are trying to move back to the 4-3-3 with Quique Setien. so, how is Barcelona setup different?
Since Barcelona is all about possession football, they start off by dropping the defensive Midfielder as the Centre backs spread and the fullbacks hug the touchline.
Barcelona always wants to build from the back, so dropping the deepest midfielder can help in building from the back and to deal with the opposition's Pressing. As most teams deploy one striker up front, Barcelona's centre backs will build play from the back.
But, against two striker teams (Atletico Madrid, Valencia, Getafe) Barcelona will drop a midfielder in the backline to create a 3v2 in build up phase.
These days it's Sergio Busquets but Yaya Toure has played this position for FCB as well as Pep Guardiola himself, who was part of Johan Cryuff's All-conquering "Dream Team".
The two Attacking Midfielders also help out in the build up. As their attack progresses, the two wingers look to keep the opposition fullbacks narrow and the Barcelona fullbacks provide the width in attack.
Jordi Alba, from left back has formed an amazing partnership with Lionel Messi. The Argentinian also had a fantastic understanding with former right back, Dani Alves as well.
Alves provided a massive amount of assists for Messi's goals. Even Valverde has used this setup in a lot of games. The Barcelona 4-3-3 is actually a 3-4-3 as we never see the likes of Busquets and the two centre backs contributing in attack, they only focus on recycling possession and stopping Counter-attacks.
Although, The Barcelona fullbacks start in a 4-3-3, they provide width like Wing-backs in a 3-4-3 formation.
This is how the 4-3-3 ⬇️
Semedo Pique Lenglet Alba
Busquets
Vidal De Jong
Messi Suarez Dembele
Becomes 3-4-3
Pique Lenglet
Busquets
Semedo Vidal De Jong Alba
Messi Suarez Dembele
MANCHESTER CITY 4-3-3
City's system is a lot different to
Barcelona or Sarri's 4-3-3 as Guardiola uses two number 10s (David Silva and Kevin De Bruyne) behind the front three.
Guardiola tried using the "traditional" 4-3-3 with two wingers and two attacking midfielders but after a lack of success in his first season at City, he switched it up.
Another massive difference in city's setup is that their full backs move into the midfield rather than overlapping like Barcelona's fullbacks.
Traditionally, teams use their fullbacks to create overloads and space on the wings but as Manchester City already have five amazing attacking players in attack, they don't always use their fullbacks.
In fact, Guardiola brings his fullbacks into the middle to deal with quick Counter-attacks from the opposition. Another massive Advantage is that Man City can do a counter-press when they lose possession.
The players are close to each other in the middle and Guardiola believes that Counter-pressing (pressuring the opposition when you lose the Ball) is part of their Defensive plan.
This is one of the reasons why City have so much possession and why they commit tactical fouls when the opposition beats the counter-pressing.
The Citizens try to win the ball back as soon as they lose it and as the saying goes "the opposition cannot score against us if they do not have the ball". Occasionally, Manchester City does push their full backs high as well to do overlaps and underlaps (Underlap is when the winger stays wide but the fullback makes a run into the box).
However, Benjamin Mendy has been Injured for most of his time in Manchester and Walker lacks dribbling ability, City mostly use their full backs in Midfield. It's not very often, but Guardiola does use them for Attacking width as well.
City's 4-3-3 becomes a 2-3-2-3. The two centre backs start the build up and fullbacks join the midfield.
The likes of David Silva and De Bruyne create from the middle and the width in City's system comes from the wingers. You would have noticed it many times how Sterling, Sane and Bernando Silva stay wide.
The wingers stay near the touchline to drag the opposition out of their shape, which allows the attacking Midfielders to run into space.
That's why Gundogan does not play in every game, he is used in bigger games, where City need a more conservative midfielder to support Fernandinho.
This is how City's 4-3-3⬇️
Walker Stones Laporte Mendy
Fernandinho
De Bruyne Silva
Sane Aguero Sterling
Becomes 2-3-2-3
Stones Laporte
Fernandinho
Walker Mendy↘️
De Bruyne Silva
Sane Aguero Sterling
The likes of Kevin De Bruyne, David and Bernado Silva combining with the wide forwards is a lot more fruitful than getting crosses from fullbacks, especially considering City's lack of height amongst the forwards.
This different positioning provides De Bruyne with the opportunity to make those stunning, accurate passes in the penalty box.
SARRI'S 4-3-3
We have seen two different versions of Sarri-Ball so far. First, we saw the beautiful and captivating football at Napoli.
Maurizio Sarri's players captured the hearts and imagination of everyone in the football world. That was followed by a successful but inconsistent one year spell at Chelsea. So, how does the Sarri-Ball version function?
Sarri's system does not turn into a 3-4-3 like Barcelona but it does have similarities. The "defensive midfielder" or the deepest midfielder is Extremely important for Sarri.
That's why the Italian coach took Jorginho with him to Chelsea and that's why Sarri played the brilliant N'golo Kante out of position.
Sarri's 4-3-3 requires the fullbacks to support the attack but the left back is more involved in the attack as compared to the right back.
At Napoli, F.Ghulam became a star player from left fullback while Marcos Alonso was the more adventures fullback at Chelsea.
At Juventus, Sarri's men attack regularly from the left side which sees Alex Sandro combining with Mathuidi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Sarri-Ball needs the striker to drop deep, not only to link up the play but to also drag the opponents out of position.
Sarri's system requires a lot of work in attack from the two wingers. The reason why Sarri-Ball didn't work perfectly at Chelsea was due to lack of a quality, consistent winger on the other side of Eden Hazard and the striker position was a problem as well.
Alvaro Morata was terribly out of form and The Higuain experiment did not work out either. Sarri-Ball is all about forcing the opposition out of shape.
A common theme in Sarri's setup is the winger pulling the opposition right back out of position. Then, the left back or the left midfielder would move into the space.
The likes of Bayern Munich, Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham, Unai Emery at Different clubs, Maximiliano Allegri at Juventus, Klopp's Liverpool and Zinedine Zidane have also used this formation very regularly.
