Welcome back to The FM Technical Area, the Football Manager Podcast!

How did Robin Gosens go from Germany's fourth division to starring at the Euros in just five years? The answer lies in Gian Piero Gasperini's wingback revolution at Atalanta, where tactical intelligence consistently trumps individual brilliance.

In this episode, we dive deep into the system that transformed Atalanta from relegation battlers to Champions League regulars - without breaking the bank on world-class players. Gasperini's genius isn't just using wingbacks; it's his asymmetric approach that creates numerical superiority everywhere on the pitch.

What We'll Focus On:

• ​Why one attacking wingback paired with one defensive wingback is more effective than symmetrical deployment
• ​How center-backs must adapt their positioning to cover the space vacated by marauding wingbacks
• ​The specific FM roles and instructions that recreate Atalanta's 3-4-1-2 masterpiece
• ​Why tactical systems can elevate average players into key contributors

Key Insights:We'll explore how Gasperini's background in youth football shaped his philosophy of developing players within systems rather than relying on individual quality. You'll discover why positional fluidity and intelligent pressing triggers make this system so effective against technically superior opponents.

FM Application:Detailed tactical setup including formation, player roles, and crucial team instructions. We'll show you which attributes matter most for wingbacks (spoiler: it's not just pace and stamina), and how to implement this system with Championship-level players.

Real-World Analysis:Learn to spot the visual cues that separate effective wingback play from glorified full-back performance. We'll teach you what to watch for during matches and which statistics prove your system is working.

Perfect for intermediate FM players looking to maximize squad potential through tactical innovation rather than transfer spending.

---

Check out our ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠site⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Get in touch via email (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠), ⁠BlueSky (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GG⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠⁠, The Site Formerly Known as Twitter (⁠⁠GG⁠⁠/⁠⁠TTA⁠⁠) & Slack (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#gaffergraemo⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠& ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#thefmtechnicalarea⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠)

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠#WeAreTheCommunity⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Slack⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠BlueSky⁠⁠/ ⁠⁠X⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠) interactions form a vital part of the pod, so get involved!

Music from Pond5 - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Electronic Dance Music (Happy Background Summer Party Sport Club Short) - P5⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Music by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Pond5⁠⁠⁠⁠

---

Episode Sources:

• ​https://scoutedftbl.com/gasperini-atalanta-five-principles/
• ​https://breakingthelines.com/tactical-analysis/tactical-analysis-gian-piero-gasperinis-atalanta/
• ​https://the-footballanalyst.com/atalanta-gian-piero-gasperini-tactical-analysis/
• ​https://totalfootballanalysis.com/team-analysis/atalanta-attacking-tactics-202425-tactical-analysis
• ​https://www.forbes.com/sites/adamdigby/2025/06/18/why-gian-piero-gasperini-could-be-the-perfect-appointment-at-as-roma/
• ​https://totalfootballanalysis.com/head-coach-analysis/gian-piero-gasperini-tactics-roma-2025-2026-tactical-analysis