MUNMan UnitedClub page
ROMRomaClub page
Squad value€928.8m
Squad value€498.4m
Key playerBryan Mbeumo
Key playerDonyell Malen
Head coachMichael Carrick
Head coachGian Piero Gasperini
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Roma go man for man all over the pitch, and United keep passing it round at the back rather than going long.
“In fase di non possesso, Gasperini non scende a compromessi: la Roma adotta una marcatura a uomo feroce e asfissiante a tutto campo.”Out of possession, Gasperini makes no compromises: Roma use ferocious, suffocating man-marking all over the pitch. our translation
“Rather than force long balls forward when the press arrived, United’s centre-backs and goalkeeper kept circulating possession.”Carrick's United press with four forwards, so winning the ball means four players near goal, and Roma's man-marking leaves their whole team camped upfield.
“A 4-2-4 built on "trios," third-man runs and a high press designed to create counter-attacks.”The Manchester Daily, 20 Aug 2026
“Le due punte sui due centrali in fase di possesso prevedono come conseguenza l’innalzamento degli esterni fino ai terzini per uno schieramento immediatamente sbilanciato in avanti che porta come naturale conseguenza, se le marcature ovviamente funzionano, a giocare nella metà campo avversaria, cosa che la Roma ha fatto praticamente per tutta la partita.”With the two forwards on the two centre-backs during the build-up, the consequence is that the wide players push up onto the full-backs, giving a shape immediately tipped forward, which naturally leads — if the marking is working, of course — to playing in the opponents' half, which is what Roma did for practically the whole match. our translation
Man United are slight favourites, and they shoot more often than any other side in England, so expect them to keep having a go. Gasperini changes his shape within minutes to match any change of line-up, so every Roma player keeps one direct opponent: watch the shirts pair off all over the pitch. New signing Rodrigo Mora plays as the one creator behind two strikers, and the front three keep swapping places. Bruno Fernandes plays just behind United's striker, and Bryan Mbeumo leads them in league goals.
“No top-flight team attempted more shots or had a greater number of shots on target than Carrick’s United, so creativity is unlikely to be in short supply.”Premier League, Adrian Clarke, 17 Aug 2026
“Dopo un po’ altro giro, altra corsa: Mandragora in campo al posto di Atta, 433 per i viola, 352 per la Roma, con i centrali sulle tre punte, i due esterni di centrocampo sui terzini, i tre centrocampisti a duellare con i dirimpettai e i due attaccanti davanti.”After a while, another turn of the wheel, another lap: Mandragora on for Atta, 4-3-3 for Fiorentina, 3-5-2 for Roma, with the centre-backs on the three forwards, the two wing-backs on the full-backs, the three midfielders duelling with their opposite numbers and the two strikers up front. our translation
Il Romanista, Daniele Lo Monaco, 26 Aug 2026
“Per Gasperini nasce così un’altra Roma possibile: Mora numero 10, due punte davanti e continui scambi di posizione”So another possible Roma is born for Gasperini: Mora as the number 10, two strikers in front of him and constant swapping of positions our translation
RomaForever.it, Jacopo Mandò, 20 Aug 2026
“Bruno Fernandes returned to the No.10 role, full-backs became more asymmetrical, and United played with longer, more central possession sequences.”Pundits are split on how hard they chase the ball: some say they hunt the ball high up the pitch, others that they wait and pick their moments.
“A 4-2-4 built on "trios," third-man runs and a high press designed to create counter-attacks.”“United have proportionately deployed a high block to a greater extent than any other Premier League team this season (42%) and this is up considerably from Carrick’s time in charge last term (26%).”“Without the ball Carrick enforced a compact mid-block and a simple 4-4-2 press.”“In fact, the three games when opposition teams have completed most passes against United have come in the last three games against Como, Atletico Madrid and Leeds. This has coincided with Carrick's attempts to be more compact and solid defensively.”Their pressing and marking switches are well drilled.
“Dall'altro lato, la Roma si conferma una squadra forte e in forma, con dei principi ormai assimilati da tutti i suoi giocatori: il pressing, quando eseguito, è gestito bene; i cambi di marcatura son sempre fatti alla perfezione; inoltre, i movimenti in catena stanno portando tanti frutti in termini di creazione di occasioni.”On the other side, Roma confirm themselves as a strong side in form, with principles every player has absorbed: the pressing, when they do it, is well managed; the switches of marking are always done perfectly; and the combinations down the flanks are creating plenty of chances. our translation