Vertical Tiki-Taka – Possession with Purpose

Are you tired of racking up 70% possession in Football Manager, only to see your team produce three shots and zero highlights? In this week’s episode of The FM Technical Area, we’re breaking the myth that Tiki-Taka has to be slow, sideways, and predictable.

Inspired by Míchel’s Girona, we explore Vertical Tiki-Taka — a modern twist on the possession game. It’s a style that values quick, forward-thinking passes, using possession not just to control the ball but to carve open defenses at pace.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The difference between horizontal possession and vertical possession, and why the latter is so dangerous in FM.

• How to set up formations, roles, and instructions that bring Vertical Tiki-Taka to life.

• The real-world tactical principles that underpin this system: direct progression, controlled chaos in the final third, and relentless high pressing.

• How to spot the data signs that your tactic is (or isn’t) working — from forward pass percentages to passes per attacking sequence.

• Why this style isn’t just for elite clubs: with the right off-the-ball movement and decision-making, even a lower-league side can make it work.

We’ll also dive into:

• A case study from a save where shifting to this system transformed a mid-table underdog into a European contender.

• Key player attributes that fuel success — decisions, anticipation, and off-the-ball intelligence.

• Community contributions, including your favourite player roles in pressing systems.

Whether you’re chasing underdog glory or fine-tuning a top-tier side, this episode will show you how to turn sterile possession into purposeful attacking football.

🎧 Listen now and start transforming your FM save with Vertical Tiki-Taka.

🔗 Resources & Mentions:

• https://themastermindsite.com/2023/10/15/michel-girona-tactical-analysis/

• https://www.hudl.com/blog/michel-girona-la-liga-style-substance

• https://community.sports-interactive.com/forums/topic/583471-michels-girona-la-liga-destroying-tactics/
• https://secretmatchday.com/the-secret-to-gironas-rise-is-not-the-city-group/
• https://the-footballanalyst.com/girona-michel-tactical-analysis/
• https://learning.coachesvoice.com/cv/michel-girona-tactics/
• Reading: Jonathan Wilson’s Inverting the Pyramid & The Athletic’s Girona tactical analysis

Community spotlight:

• https://fmnatics.com/
• https://coffeehousefm.com/fmrensieblog/hey-football-manager-i-miss-you