Did anyone think it would take this long for Manchester United to recover after Sir Alex Ferguson? Despite five trophies being lifted at Old Trafford since he left, the Red Devils are all at sea.
The quality of football played under David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho was dire, and despite a slight resurgence under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, they have slumped once again.
With a new-look young squad and still a healthy bank balance, resurging Manchester United on FIFA 20’s Career Mode is one of the most exciting tasks you can do on the game.
RealSport runs you though everything you need to take them back to where they belong – atop of the English Premier League.
Team Rating
It’s a four and a half star rating for Man United on the game, made up by an 83 attack, 79 midfield and 80 defence.
Starting Lineup & Formation
Manchester United’s default formation is a conventional 4-2-3-1 Wide. You can stick with this formation, and may wish to use it against it more dangerous opposition, but we have opted for a more versatile 4-3-3 Holding.
The best outfielder in your squad by a country mile is Paul Pogba (OVR 88), and he will have far greater influence on the left-hand side of a midfield three, rather than stifled as a left defensive midfielder.
If you want to go even more attacking go for a 4-3-3 Attack, with a straight 4-4-2 or 4-1-2-1-2 other possible options.
David De Gea (92 GK Reflexes) is the best man in the team, and he will be vital playing against a shaky defence of Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Victor Lindelof, Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw.
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Nemanja Matic is the defensive midfielder flanked by Juan Mata and star man Paul Pogba (90 ball control).
Jesse Lingard moves out to the right wing, with speedy duo Marcus Rashford (94 sprint speed) and Anthony Martial (89 sprint speed) making up the attack.
On the bench go for Sergio Romero (OVR 80), Eric Bailly (OVR 80), Ashley Young (OVR 77), Scott McTominay (OVR 77), Fred (OVR 78), Andreas Pereira (OVR 77) and Daniel James (OVR 72).
Tactics and instructions
You will see that most of your strength comes down the left-hand side, with the pacey Martial (89 sprint speed) out wide and support being offered by baller Pogba (90 long passing).
Your main strategy should be to get Martial in behind on the left-hand side, and look to find the likes of Rashford and Pogba running off him.
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There is s beautiful contrast in this United side, with Juan Mata (87 composure) providing some guile in midfield when the game slows down, and Jesse Lingard’s (89 stamina) energy will also be very useful when you need to turn the screw.
Having changed the formation, you will need to go through all the players instructions, on each game plan mentality (ultra defensive to ultra attacking), and ensure they are filled correctly.
In a balanced mentality, head over to Nemanja Matic and change his attacking support to stay back while attacking. This will ensure you have cover on the counter-attack.
As for Paul Pogba, he will add some impetus going forward so his attacking support should be get forward and support on crosses to get into box for cross.
Juan Mata is the playmaker, and to get the most out of him his positioning freedom should be set to free roam.
That does adjust Jesse Lingard’s role in the side, and he will need to pick up some of the defensive slack let go by Mata and Pogba. The England midfielder’s defensive support should be come back on defence.
As for your two attacking threats, Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial should have attacking/support runs on get in behind. Martial’s chance creation should also be on cut inside.
Training
In your training sessions, look to use those with the promising player badge to make the most out of your time.
At United, this includes Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Daniel James, Andreas Pereira, Scott McTominay, Victor Lindelof, Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Diogo Dalot.
The Transfer Market
Starting transfer budget: £167 million
Starting wage budget: £518,000 a week
Who should go
With the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Romelu Lukaku now out of the club this season, it is a re-building job. There isn’t much more talent you can ship, with a few more departures leaving your squad a bit thin.
With the arrival of Harry Maguire however, you are now oversubscribed in central defence, and at long last you can be rid of both Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo. The pairing should collect you a combined £16 million, freeing up £175,000 a week in your wage budget.
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You then need to look at players who don’t have the potential to be first team Manchester United players. The vast majority of the youngsters at the club have the capacity to reach an 80 overall at the least, but the ones that don’t are Demetri Mitchell and Luca Ercolani. Sell the two defenders for £1.5 million to save £25,000 a week in wages.
Loans
With the Europa League to contend with this season, there will be plenty of opportunity for your young guns to get some minutes.
Ethan Laird has Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Ashley Young, Diogo Dalot and Timothy Fosu-Mensah ahead of him in the pecking order at right back and can be sent out on a two-year loan to get some valuable experience.
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It’s a similar tale for midfielder Dylan Levitt, who can also be loaned out for the next two seasons.
With another defender set to be in your plans for your summer, you may wish to loan out one of Axel Tuanzebe or Timothy Fosu-Mensah as well.
Who to sign
New transfer budget: £185 million
New wage budget: £718,000 a week
New world class striker
With Romelu Lukaku and Zlatan Ibrahimovic leaving Old Trafford in recent seaons, they do look short of numbers up top. It does mean you will shuffle things around to bring in a new forward, with Rashford either moved out wide, or you change to a two up front system.
We’ve gone for PSG marksman Edison Cavani. The Uruguayan is experienced, and with his contract up at the end of season he should cost around £54 million plus £176,000 a week wages.
The 32-year-old has stats of 93 positioning, 91 stamina and 90 volleys, giving him an 88 overall.
Alternative options
- Lorenzo Insigne – Napoli, Age 28, OVR 87, POT 87, Cost: £70 million, Wage: £126,000 a week
- Dries Mertens – Napoli, Age 32, OVR 87, POT 87, Cost: £44 million, Wage: £122,000 a week
- Ciro Immobile – Lazio, Age 29, OVR 86, POT 86, Cost: £63 million, Wage: £95,000 a week
- Iago Aspas – Celta Vigo, Age 31, OVR 85, POT 85, Cost: £62 million, Wage: £44,000 a week
- Gonzalo Higuain – Piemonte Calcio, Age 85, POT 85, Cost: £43 million, Wage: £158,000 a week
Holding midfielder
Nemanja Matic now looks fragile in defensive midfield, with his place under threat from Scott McTominay. Someone with more reliability are mobility would be a huge asset to this United team.
Joshua Kimmich has been playing as a right back since making his Bayern Munich debut, but we are now starting to see the German international drift into midfield.
The 24-year-old’s defensive ability and energy make him perfect for a defensive midfield role, with his best stats of 94 stamina, 91 crossing and 87 reactions. You can pick him up for arpimd £70 million, with wages of £113,000 a week, getting you his 86 overall and 88 potential.
Alternative options
- Marquinhos – PSG, Age 25, OVR 86, POT 90, Cost: £83 million, Wage: £108,000 a week
- Marco Verratti – PSG, Age 26, OVR 86, POT 89, Cost: £80 million, Wage: £126,000 a week
- Sergej Milinkovic-Savic – Lazio, Age 24, OVR 85, POT 90, Cost: £74 million, Wage: £66,000 a week
- Fabian – Napoli, Age 23, OVR 83, POT 90, Cost: £59 million, Wage: £68,000 a week
- Corentin Tolisso – Bayern Munich, Age 24, OVR 83, PTO 88, Cost: £48 million, Wage: £99,000 a week
Bolster the back line
Aaron Wan-Bissaka may be your weakest link in the back four, but with a superb potential of 88, it won’t be long before that is rectified. Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof are OK-ish, but bringing in a world class centre back which change the landscape of this United team.
Toby Alderweireld, in the last year of his contract, was linked with a move to Manchester, and it was a huge surprise to see the Red Devils fork out £80 million on England international Harry Maguire instead.
The Spurs man offers stats of 90 defensive awareness, 90 standing tackle and 88 interceptions to take him to an 87 overall. Aged 30, he will set you back £48 million with wages of £140,000 a week.
Alternative options
- Jan Vertonghen – Spurs, Age 32, OVR 87, POT 83, Cost: £38 million, Wage: £140,000 a week
- Leonardo Bonucci – Piemonte Calcio, Age 32, OVR 86, POT 86, Cost: £38 million, Wage: £144,000 a week
- Stefan de Vrij – Inter Milan, Age 28, OVR 84, POT 85, Cost: £47 million, Wage: £79,000 a week
- Jerome Boateng – Bayern Munich, Age 30, OVR 84, POT 84, Cost: £33 million, Wage: 113,000 a week
- Manuel Akanji – Borussia Dortmund, Age 23, OVR 83, POT 88, Cost: £45 million, Wage: £69,000 a week
Board Objectives
With a young and hungry squad backed up by cash to burn, you can quickly make strides with this United side.
For your objectives, Brand Exposure is the most important, and here you must look to gain £108 million from shirt sales over the season. Also, you need to earn £342,000,000 through competition prize money over the next three seasons – the clock is ticking. Sign those big names and both these tasks should look after themselves.
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Domestic Success requires you to finish in a Champions League place (top four) in the Premier League whilst also reaching the semi-finals of the FA Cup.
It will be no surprise to see that you need to win the Europa League for your Continental Success objective.
There is no financial objective to follow so spend at will!
Reignite the fire of the Red Devils
Whilst the rest of the Premier League (and Europe) have sat their laughing, it must be pretty miserable being a Manchester United fan at the moment.
For all there years of dominance, they have fallen way off their perch and big rebuilding job is needed at Old Trafford.
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Fortunately for you, there is a big budget to spend with no financial fair play restrictions, so you can quickly make these team into one that looks odds on to finish inside the top four at the very least.
Add to that the potential of the squad’s young players, and you will be well within the title frame in the next four years, and can even commence another spell dominance.
Crisis? What crisis?
Full Manchester United player ratings
| Name | Age | Pos | Country | OVR | POT | V | W |
| Goalkeepers | |||||||
| D. De Gea | 28 | GK | Spain | 89 | 90 | £50.4m | £185k |
| S. Romero | 32 | GK | Argentina | 80 | 80 | £8.1m | £77k |
| L. Grant | 36 | GK | England | 72 | 72 | £473k | £27k |
| Defenders | |||||||
| H. Maguire | 26 | CB | England | 82 | 83 | £20.7m | £113k |
| V. Lindelöf | 24 | CB | Sweden | 81 | 87 | £19.8m | £87k |
| L. Shaw | 23 | LB | England | 81 | 84 | £18m | £87k |
| E. Bailly | 25 | CB | Ivory Coast | 80 | 83 | £14.9m | £95k |
| A. Wan-Bissaka | 21 | RB | England | 79 | 88 | £15.8m | £64k |
| P. Jones | 27 | CB | England | 79 | 80 | £11.3m | £90k |
| M. Rojo | 29 | CB | Argentina | 78 | 78 | £7.7m | £85k |
| A. Young | 33 | RB LB |
England | 77 | 77 | £3.6m | £76k |
| Diogo Dalot | 20 | RB LB RM |
Portugal | 75 | 85 | £9m | £48k |
| A. Tuanzebe | 21 | CB RB |
England | 74 | 85 | £8.1m | £45k |
| T. Fosu-Mensah | 21 | RB CB |
Netherlands | 73 | 81 | £5m | £41k |
| D. Mitchell | 22 | LB | England | 66 | 77 | £900k | £17k |
| E. Laird | 17 | RB LB CB |
England | 64 | 82 | £743k | £900 |
| B. Williams | 18 | LB RB |
England | 63 | 81 | £630k | £4k |
| L. Ercolani | 19 | CB | Italy | 63 | 77 | £675k | £8k |
| Midfielders | |||||||
| P. Pogba | 26 | CM CDM |
France | 88 | 91 | £65.3m | £225k |
| J. Lingard | 26 | CAM RW |
England | 82 | 82 | £21.6m | £122k |
| Juan Mata | 31 | CAM RM |
Spain | 82 | 82 | £17.6m | £122k |
| N. Matic | 30 | CDM CM |
Serbia | 81 | 81 | £13.1m | £104k |
| Fred | 26 | CM | Brazil | 78 | 80 | £11.3m | £89k |
| S. McTominay | 22 | CDM CM |
Scotland | 77 | 84 | £10.4m | £65k |
| Andreas Pereira | 23 | RM CM CAM |
Brazil | 77 | 82 | £10.8m | £73k |
| D. James | 21 | LM LW RM |
Wales | 72 | 84 | £5m | £41k |
| A. Gomes | 18 | CAM CM LW |
England | 68 | 86 | £1.7m | £11k |
| T. Chong | 19 | LM RW LW |
Netherlands | 65 | 83 | £1m | £11k |
| J. Garner | 18 | CDM CM |
England | 64 | 84 | £788k | £5k |
| D. Levitt | 18 | CM CDM |
Wales | 63 | 82 | £675k | £5k |
| Attackers | |||||||
| M. Rashford | 21 | ST LM |
England | 83 | 88 | £32m | £113k |
| A. Martial | 23 | LW ST LM |
France | 83 | 88 | £31.1m | £126k |
| M. Greenwood | 17 | CF RM ST |
England | 67 | 87 | £1.4m | £6k |
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