Tactical analysis: AS Roma Attacking Variety in last third with Jose Mourinho

As Roma has a first good season under Jose Mourinho, as a coach, obviously the team had some halfway fauliers. Still, the team reunited again and added some new players with different profiles to get some flexibility, especially in the final third.

Scoring many goals at the league competition, with many goals in the other tournaments, make the team a stable way for getting a good rank to qualify for Europe next season.

This tactical analysis will take a deep look at attacking tactics with various tricks and utilising a whole team.

Utilities the flanks

One of the most priorities in Roma's attacking strategies this season is how to Utilise the flanks in the last third, even though the team has started with a back four, Where Mourinho used to play 4-2-3-1.

In the possession part where the full-backs stretch the pitch and the wingers go horizontally in the space, to make the numerical superiority in-depth and get more options for the crosses with Tammy Abraham in the box.

Wide full-backs, both wingers Carles Perez & Mkhitaryan Positioned inside at the half-spaces, with Pellegrini moving forward to support Tammy.

After stretching we have the pattern of moving forward from the attacking midfielders like Pellegrini vertical moving to be like the second striker.

The idea is to exploit the space behind the opponent's backline, surprising moving vertically from Pellegrini or Mkhitaryan to the box.

The same idea is repeated and the exploitation of the spaces behind the back of the opposing team.

Playing in the last third in the case of possession is the numerical increase on the sides and the use of spaces behind the opposite back of the opposing team.

Next to the overlap of the full-back in a 3-5-2 plan, and moving behind the wing in a space that escapes the control of the opponent’s back.

Here, for example, Kasdorp moved when Mkhitaryan received the ball, to take advantage of the wrong Lazio winger positioning and create a 2v1 position.

Here the picture is completed with the Dutch full back's cross towards Abraham, and we note the presence of Pellegrini as a second striker.

Talking about attacking with teams coached by Jose Mourinho, we must talk about how to use counter-attacks, medium pressure and play the balls quickly for the final third.

 Counter pressing

Counterpressing, one of Jose's most important offensive weapons, when he loses the ball, the team organizes itself closer to 5-3-2, leaving one of the midfielders (Mkhitaryan) on the closest himself, free and unmarked in the middle third.

The pressure is fierce on the ball carrier, when the opponent goes to the sides, here Roma tries to be in a position with a numerical advantage of 3 against 2 and then runs.

Here against Sampdoria, he tries to reverse the rebounding Mkhitaryan when cut in the least number of touches, towards the advanced wing Pellegrini, who went from the depth of the field to the edge to force the Sampdoria defender to move horizontally, resulting in emptying the space in the depth of the field.

Here, the cross was played to complement the counterattack with the Roma players organizing themselves, Abraham at the far post and Mkhitaryan at the near post, who succeeded in following the rebound and scored the goal.

Moving intensely in the last third when possessing the ball facilitates the solutions of the ball holder, as he has more than one teammate, and thus making the decision becomes easier in the last stage.

Roma is good at pressing the parties to the ball carrier, as there is a close distance between the five defenders and the three centres, specifically vertically.

Here it shows the defensive positioning of the team in the defensive third, a convergence of lines, with support for the parties while not leaving the wing-back alone in the face of opponents' players.

Zalewski pounced on the ball carrier, and then the ball was diverted, to Mkhitaryan, who is freely positioned deep in the field.

The Armenian cut a distance of 30 meters without pressure, with Abraham's movements confused the defence and left space for him to shoot, and the ball hit the crossbar.

These ideas have been implemented by the team under Mourinho's leadership since he took the job, they evolved as the elements absorbed them, and changed the format that contributed more to playing vertically.

Vertical process in possession

Verticality process in possession implemented since the beginning of Mourinho’s era at Roma.

Midfielders position in the right way, Zaniolo or Abraham starting diagonal runs at the right time.

Here in the stage of building attacks, the form turns to 3-4-3, the wings become on the line, and Mkhitaryan approaches in the depth, because of his ability to get out with the ball, relying more on Chris Smalling.

Mkhitaryan receives the ball, then releases Cristante, who is standing diagonally close to him, and then receives from Mkhitaryan the ball, so that the team remains in vertical play.

Here we see how Abraham went diagonally down, and pulled the central defender, while Zaniolo moved in front of the full-back.

Moving down from Abraham is a recurring idea, with different people using the space, moving it vertically.

Conclusion

The offensive work has become distinctive for Roma this season under the leadership of Mourinho, with the diversity of ideas, whether in terms of exploiting the parties, counter pressure and vertical play during possession, contributed to the development of the league and reaching a continental final for the first time in 31 years.