Direct Answer
To fix defensive problems in Football Manager you need to restore structure, reduce risk and match roles to player attributes. Most defensive issues are caused by poor positioning, fatigue, morale drops or excessive instructions rather than by the formation itself.
Why Defensive Problems Keep Appearing
If you’re conceding goals despite “doing everything right”, you’re not alone. Many players tweak tactics endlessly without realising that Football Manager punishes instability and overreaction.
Defensive issues usually build up over time. They appear when small weaknesses combine: tired players, poor role balance, low morale or unrealistic pressing demands. Understanding how the match engine evaluates positioning and decisions is essential, as explained in our guide on how the Football Manager match engine works.
Start by Reducing Risk, Not Changing Shape
The first instinct is often to change formation. That’s rarely the solution.
Before touching shape:
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Lower mentality one step
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Reduce pressing intensity
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Check defensive line height
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Remove unnecessary overlaps
Small risk adjustments often fix problems immediately, especially if your squad is struggling physically or mentally.
Defensive Shape Matters More Than Tackling
Good defending isn’t about aggression. It’s about spacing and coverage.
Common shape-related issues include:
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Full-backs pushing too high without cover
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Midfielders leaving central areas unprotected
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Centre-backs exposed to direct balls
If your defensive shape collapses in transition, the issue is usually structural, not individual. This is a recurring theme across the Tactics section on FootballManagerGuru.
Roles and Attributes: The Hidden Weakness
Many defensive problems come from role mismatches.
Typical examples:
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Defenders with low positioning playing in high lines
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Midfielders with poor decisions asked to press aggressively
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Wide players ignoring defensive duties
Attributes matter more than role names. A disciplined player with average tackling often defends better than a “ball winner” with poor positioning. This connects directly with how attributes affect performance.
Fatigue and Rotation Are Defensive Tools
If your defence collapses late in matches, fatigue is the first thing to check.
Warning signs:
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Goals conceded after the 60th minute
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Players missing simple clearances
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Loss of pressing coordination
Pressing-heavy systems, as explained in our guide on how pressing really works, require careful rotation. Ignoring fatigue almost guarantees defensive problems.
Morale and Confidence Affect Defending
Defending is heavily influenced by confidence.
Low morale leads to:
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Hesitation
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Poor decision-making
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Slower reactions
This is why defensive problems often appear after a bad run of results. Fixing morale, as discussed in our guide on morale and team dynamics, can stabilise performances faster than tactical changes.
Opposition Context Matters
Sometimes your defence isn’t “bad”. The context changed.
Common situations:
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You’re now considered favourites
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Opponents sit deeper and counter
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Space behind your line is targeted
This often happens as reputation grows, something explored in our article on what reputation means in Football Manager. Defending against counters requires different risk management than defending against possession teams.
Common Defensive Mistakes Players Make
Some frequent errors include:
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Increasing pressing when already struggling
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Using very high lines without pace
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Overloading instructions
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Ignoring player suitability
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Constantly changing partnerships
These reactions usually create new problems instead of fixing existing ones.
Practical Steps to Fix Defensive Issues
To stabilise your defence:
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Simplify instructions
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Protect central areas first
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Match roles to attributes
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Rotate to manage fatigue
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Stabilise morale before chasing perfection
Consistency almost always beats complexity.
Conclusion
Defensive problems in Football Manager are rarely about tactics alone. They’re about balance, context and player suitability. When things go wrong, the solution is usually to simplify and stabilise, not to reinvent everything.
Once you understand why defensive issues appear, fixing them becomes logical instead of frustrating. For a complete tactical framework, explore the Tactics section and the Football Manager Guides starting from the FootballManagerGuru homepage.