Opting for Manchester United’s best formation and Starting 11 inEA Sports FC 25can go a long way in getting a good experience. Executing certain tactical plays that you’re used to will likely be difficult, considering the player ratings and the team’s current form. However, if you’re a long-time fan and there’s no better place for you than Old Trafford, then thisEA Sports FC 25guide will help you out.
Note that it will be challenging going up against other heavy-weightslikeManchester City’s best formation and Starting 11 inEA Sports FC 25. Fortunately, this is not an impossible task. With the top line-up and specific player roles detailed here, you will have a decent chance to net wins.
Best Formation for Manchester United in EA Sports FC 25
Manchester United is having a rough season, with Erik ten Hag’s plans yet to bear fruit. Despite having a decent amount of wins and draws across all competitions, the club is currently placed somewhere in the middle of the England Premier League’s table. There is some decent talent, yes. However, theStarting 11’s playstyles and current ratings inEA Sports FC 25mean that you need to go for a formation with defensive measures.
4-3-3 Holding Formation for Manchester United
The 4-3-3 Holding formation becomes necessary here because you need more defense, and here are a couple of reasons for that. First,excluding Dalot, the backline is a bit slow. This means that unless you are really good at placing your defenders in appropriate spots, you stand a good chance of being left upfield while attackers run past you.
Second, Casemiro is one of the top-rated players. Naturally, he’s a part of Manchester United’s best formation and Starting 11 in EA Sports FC 25. A concern that should be mentioned here is that he is quite slow, which can be an issue if you’re up against agile players. What he does bring to the table is stellar defensive acumen with 91 Aggression and a list of crucial playstyles like Block and Slide Tackle. As such, it’s better to play him as a CDM.
Keep Bruno Fernandes and Eriksen in Roaming Playmakerplayer roles inEA Sports FC 25. This will let them get in the opponent’s gaps and create chances for the attacking trio. The former also has high shooting stats, which means you get an additional player to score goals if you need to.
Manchester United’s 4-3-3 Holding formation also allows Garnacho and Antony to play on the wings, where they shine. Setting them up in the Wide Playmaker role gives you enough width to draw out defenses and then quickly cut in inside. However,it’s advised that you pass the ball to Rashford or Fernandes for the final shot as the two wingers have only middling stats here. Also, go for short ground passes.
Manchester United’s topright backs inEA Sports FC 25, namely Dalot and Mazraoui, have decent pace and passing. With the LB and the RB as Wingbacks, you will have support to release pressure or cross down the wing to create chances. They’ll automatically be back at the defending line when you lose possession. This will help conserve stamina and make them funnel attackers when they’re closer and the team is coming in for support. This will give you higher chances of keeping a tight spread and stealing the ball back or forcing the opponent into a riskier long shot.
Best Starting 11 for Manchester United in EA Sports FC 25
Manchester United’s current stats on team select screen are: 77 ATT, 79 MID, and 80 DEF. Naturally, this is lower than many other clubs in the Premier League. This means that you will have trouble playing against stronger teams, and it would be best to stick to a Balanced Build-Up Style and go for a safe, counterattack-oriented playstyle.
Let’s start with the attackers. Garnacho and Antony have decent pace and dribbling stats, but their passing and shooting are below par. But since both have Finesse Shot, and Garnacho has Acrobatic as well, you can take a chance with them from inside the box. Most of the time, it’s best to stick with Rashford. He has stellar pace and decent dribbling, which can help you get past the opponent’s backline.Rashford doesn’t have a lot ofplaystyles inEA Sports FC 25, but Power Shot+ can come in handy. So, making enough space to set one off can net you a good chunk of goals.
Meanwhile, Fernandes also has high stats, good for shooting and great for passing. His Long Ball+ and Pinged Pass are usually the way to assist from a distance, especially lining up for the wingers.The Dead Ball playstyle here is a particular highlight and can make an easy meal of free kicks and corners.Eriksen is much the same, but he has lower speed and stamina. Since he comes with 83 Passing and 84 Ball Control, It’s best to let him find gaps on his own. However, keep an eye on his stamina. When controlling players with less stamina and pace, like Casemiro and Eriksen, be patient with your tackles. Otherwise, reckless or mistimed play will give attackers an opportunity to outrun you.
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Sweeper Keeper+ (Balanced)
Shaw and Dalot serve well as Wingbacks. The two have decent stamina and passing stats, although their defense isn’t noteworthy. However, their aggression, pace, and stamina can help you pressure attackers into making mistakes.This is the recommended strategy here, as Martinez and De Ligt aren’t fast enough to keep running around.The latter is especially slower with lower stamina. They have a bunch of effective playstyles, like Block and Bruiser, so they are good at the Stopper role. Keep them in their spots, and they’ll get the job done.
Meanwhile, Onana is a good goalkeeper inEA Sports FC 25. A thing to note is that he doesn’t have any playstyle+.Fortunately, with 83 Diving and 86 Reflexes, and two effective playstyles - Footwork and Rush Out, Onana is pretty good nonetheless.
Best Substitutes for Manchester United in EA Sports FC 25
Since Manchester United’s best formation and Starting 11 are out of the way, let’s explore the best substitutes you need in your team.
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Rasmus Hojlund
Manchester United’s best substitutes, once again, aren’t highly rated. Further, while player roles and playstyles do have a good impact on the gameplay mechanics, having lower-than-average raw stats means you will still be on the back foot. This means that you will have a harder time in the late game, especially with first-string choices like Eriksen and De Ligt subbed out.It is recommended to play a strategic game based on passing and counterattacking, rather than rushing in like you would if you pickedReal Madrid inEA Sports FC 25.
When you’re going through Smart Tactics' suggestions during gameplay, focus on picking those that align with this sort of playstyle. This could be changing the formation to five at the back or even switching the playstyle to Tiki Taka. These are usually okay, but it has been noticed that some go against custom player roles and tactics and can mess with your team’s overall synergy. This can really impact your presence in the match, especially with how paramount of a role FC IQ plays inEA Sports FC 25.