In my last post I shared my Football Manager 2026 save reveal – Introducing my manager and the idea behind the save.

If you missed it you can catch up clicking this link – https://thegafferslounge.com/2025/11/17/el-huracan-renace/

As Gabriel Batistuta – I want to bring back Menotti’s Ideologies with a modern twist. In this post I dive into Menotti and his identity on and off the pitch.

Introduction & Philosophical Foundations

César Luis Menotti is one of the defining figures in Argentine football, particularly known for ushering in an attacking, possession-oriented philosophy in contrast to the more pragmatic, result-first schools (e.g. the Bilardismo tradition) For him, football was not merely a contest to win, but a spectacle, a kind of festival (in his words) that had to preserve dignity, imagination and freedom, even at the expense of risk-taking.

Menotti’s coaching identity was built on a few interlocking ideas:

• Possession, control and rhythm: He believed that controlling the ball was the way to open spaces and impose one’s will on the game
  
• Freedom within a structure: His teams generally operated within clear systems, but with latitude for creative players to roam, improvise and express themselves. He sought balance between structure and expressive play, insisting players should “ask questions” of the game
  
• Verticality and incisiveness: Possession, for Menotti, was not sterile — the team should always look for penetration, dynamic movement, combinations and the ability to break lines
  
• Pressure, reduction of space and aggression in transition: Once possession is lost, his teams would strive to “shrink the field,” press, cut off passing lanes, force errors and regain control quickly
  
• Risk acceptance & commitment to an idea: Menotti explicitly rejected overly conservative tactics. He thought that a coach must transmit clear convictions and that avoiding risks went against the spirit of the spectacle of football

In Argentine football, his approach gave rise to the term Menottismo, often positioned in opposition to Bilardismo (which prizes pragmatism, tight structure and tactical rigidity)

In practice, Menotti’s teams did not always play in exactly the same shape, he adapted to personnel and context but the 4-3-3 was his preferred base in many of his Argentina teams, and variants (4-1-2-3, 4-2-3-1, etc.) also appeared in his club work

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Tactical Structures: In Possession vs Out of Possession

In Possession

When Menotti’s teams had the ball, the goal was to control, circulate, probe and then break through.

Key features:

• Triangular passing and multiple options: The 4-3-3 structure naturally gives triangles and passing options. Menotti’s teams would build patiently, often via the midfield pivot, to draw out opponents and create pockets of space
• Tempo  variation: Though the team could play with flair, Menotti was not always about frenetic speed. His teams could slow down, maintain possession and look for the right moment to launch forward. He would use a relatively lower tempo to avoid reckless transitions.
• Movement, rotations and positional interchanges: Creative players were allowed and encouraged to drift, rotate and exploit gaps. The front line and wide players would stretch the opposition, interchange, and exploit vacated lanes. The attacking midfielder (or 10) was focused on timing runs into the box rather than staying static
• Width and overloads: Wide attackers and fullbacks would create width, stretch the defence and allow inside runs or combinations centrally. The position of the wingers or wide forwards was not rigid; they could invert, cut in or stay wide depending on the phase.
• Pivot as launching point: The deeper central midfielder had a crucial role, he would link defence to attack, initiate possession circulation and dictate tempo. He also played a somewhat deep “free” role in stepping into gaps or recycling possession
• Penetrating runs & late arrivals: Beyond combinative play, Menotti’s teams exploited late runs from midfields into the box, often catching opponents off guard. The ability of the 10 or wide forwards to time arrival into the final third often resulted in goals.

Thus, the in-possession phase in Menotti’s model was less about rigid dictates and more about balance, patience, width and attack orchestration.

Out of Possession

When the ball was lost, the defensive strategy had to be active, not passive.

Key pillars:

• High defensive line & offside traps: Menotti’s teams often pushed their line higher, reducing space in behind and compressing the field. The offside trap was part of the strategy of “shrinking space.”
• Immediate pressure / counter-pressing: The concept of pressing or pursuing quick recovery was integral. After losing possession, forwards, midfielders and even fullbacks would seek to pressure quickly, cut passing options, and force the opponent into rushed decisions.
• Zonal / semi-zonal defensive structure with intelligent positioning: While pressing, the team would aim to cover passing lanes, maintain compactness, force play wide or backward and avoid getting stretched. The idea was to guide opponents into less dangerous zones.
• Covering relationships in defense: Centerback pairings could operate in “stopper + cover” modes: one steps out to challenge or thwart, the other covers behind. This cushion allowed a more aggressive push higher up the pitch without leaving the backline excessively vulnerable.
• Trigger-based pressing: The decision to press might depend on triggers (a loose pass, a weak touch, vulnerable opponent, etc.). Menotti’s teams didn’t press mindlessly but sought to apply pressure when favorable moments arose.
• Transitions & regrouping: If the pressing failed or the opponent bypassed, the team would have to quickly fallback, reorganize, and defend in a more compact block.

Hence, defensively, Menotti’s style combined aggression, compression, trap-based defence and collective accountability.

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Hypothetical 11 Roles: Ideal Player Profiles in a Menotti System

Below is a mapping of how, in a prototypical Menotti 4-3-3 or 4-1-2-3 variant, looking at the ideal profile for each of the 11 roles, and how those roles function in his system.

Position	Role Name / Brief Description	Key Attributes / Personality	What They Bring to the System
Goalkeeper	Sweeper-Keeper / Ball-playing GK	Good distribution, calm under pressure, willing to sweep behind the line, capable with feet and in 1v1s	Enables build-up from back, provides safety behind high line, supports defenders when under pressure
Right Fullback (RB)	Attacking fullback / Overlapping runner	Stamina, pace, crossing ability, defensive awareness, ability to overlap and underlap	Provides width, supports the attack, aids overloads on flank, recovers defensively when needed
Left Fullback (LB)	Attacking fullback / Wide support	Similar to RB	Helps stretch play, offers passing outlet, assists midfield overloads or combinations
Right Center Back (RCB)	Stopper / Aggressive central defender	Strong tackling, anticipation, brave in duels, aggressive stepping up (when paired with cover)	Challenges opposition buildup, compresses space, supports high line
Left Center Back (LCB)	Cover / Cleared, more conservative central defender	Good reading of game, pace to cover, composure, clearance ability	Sweeps behind, covers gaps, supports RCB in defensive balance
Defensive Pivot / Deep Midfielder (CDM / “5”)	Anchor, metronome & linking pivot	Passing range (short + deeper), positional sense, stamina, awareness, calmness, tactical intelligence	Distributes play, shields defence, links phases, dictates tempo
Right Central Midfielder (CM / “8”)	Box-to-Box / Advanced Midfielder	Energy, forward runs, ball carrying, ability to press, defensive support	Supports attack, links with forwards, arrives late in box, recovers in defense
Left Central Midfielder (CM / “8”)	Creative / Linker / Box arrival	Good vision, dribbling, spatial awareness, timing, ability to combine, stamina	Creates chances, supports attack, rotates positions, helps press from mid
Right Forward / Right Winger (RW)	Wide attacker / inside-forward / dribbler	Pace, dribbling, ability to cut inside, creativity, goal threat, positional flexibility	Stretches defenses, dribbles, links with midfield, combines with striker
Left Forward / Left Winger (LW)	Wide attacker / inverted / creative outlet	Similar qualities as RW, but perhaps more interplay and interchange	Offers width, supports central arrival, can drift, combine, assist & score
Center Forward (CF / “9”)	Dynamic striker / target or off-the-shoulder forward	Good finishing, intelligent movement, ability to press, link-up play, ability to drop or stretch	Focal point of attack, presses defenders, occupies channels, makes space for midfield runners

A few further notes on how Menotti might tweak or assign:

• The “5” (deep pivot) is absolutely central in his philosophy; this was often Américo Gallego in his Argentine squads, who would initiate attacks and maintain defensive stability.
• The front three / wide players had latitude to roam, interchange and make penetrating runs. For instance.
• The fullbacks, while supportive, had to be disciplined they couldn’t abandon their defensive responsibilities but were encouraged to combine and support attacks.
• The central midfield pairing ahead of the pivot (in a 4-1-2-3 variant) would have complementary skillsets: one more box-to-box, the other more creative or link-oriented.
• The balance between defence and attack is delicate: the backline and pivot must guard against overexposure when attacking or pressing.

Menotti prized versatility and football intelligence so many players in his squads could operate in more than one role, drift, rotate, and adapt to the evolving dynamic of a match.

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Example Key Players & Personalities in Menotti’s Squads

Menotti’s success was not purely tactical — he built systems around players, protected their freedom and drew on their personalities. Below are a few emblematic examples:

• Mario Kempes: Perhaps the signature figure in Menotti’s 1978 side. Kempes was not merely a goalscorer he could drift wide, make runs into the box, link play and exploit half-spaces. His movement and timing complemented the system’s fluidity
• Osvaldo Ardiles: A technically gifted midfielder with excellent passing range and positional sense. He fit the idea of the creative, intelligent midfielder able to combine, circulate and contribute in both phases.
• Leopoldo Luque: A more direct forward supporting Kempes, again adding options in attack and enabling combinations.
• Miguel Brindisi (in his club work, e.g. Huracán): He was a classic creative midfielder, adept in tight space, good at combination play and linking attack. In Menotti’s Huracán teams, the attacking positions were filled with tricksters, dribblers, players comfortable in tight areas and combinations
• Carlos Babington: At Huracán, he was another expressive attacking presence, able to play in wide zones or inside, combining flair with tactical awareness
• Omar Larrosa: As part of the Huracán ensemble, he brought tenacity and linked play.
• Daniel Passarella: Though more defensive minded, Passarella’s reading of the game and leadership and aggressive defensive contributions supported the high line and compression tactics.
• Alberto Tarantini: A fullback with both defensive and forward thrust, offering width and energy.

Menotti often built around a few star creatives but also surrounded them with supporting cast who respected the structure and were willing to work hard off the ball. He valued intelligence, humility, tactical awareness, reliability and a willingness to sacrifice when required.

He also sought characters who believed in him, in the idea and in collective commitment. His communication skill was renowned: many accounts say Menotti could persuade players to commit fully to his vision; even demanding instructions, when issued, were generally accepted because he convinced them of the “why” behind them

From Angel Cappa’s testimonial:

“He is capable, in an instant, of picking out the qualities and defects of a team … regardless of what he asks you, he always wins you over in the end.”

Thus, personality-wise, Menotti’s ideal squad had:

• Creatives / Expressive players: who were comfortable improvising, roaming, linking and creating.
• Disciplined workhorses: in midfield and defence who accepted structure, pressing and collective defence.
• Leaders: especially in defence and midfield who could maintain balance and composure.
• Mental resilience & belief: players who would not shy from risk, who embraced the artistic dimension of football.

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Some Challenges, Critiques & Adaptations

No system is perfect, and Menotti’s approach had vulnerabilities.

• Exposure on the flanks / in behind: A high line means susceptibility to fast transitions and balls over the top. If the press fails or wide attacks are broken, the defence can be stretched.
• Overreliance on creative players: If key creatives are neutralized, the team may struggle to break down compact defences.
• Risk in matches requiring pragmatism: Against ultra-defensive or highly physical opponents, the expressive style can sometimes struggle in tight, scrappy games.
• Fatigue and intensity: The physical demands of pressing, high line and attacking support can strain the squad over a season.
• Adaptability: Menotti’s systems were sometimes criticized for rigidity in contexts where adaptability or in-game switching would be necessary.

Despite these, Menotti did evolve his systems depending on opponent, context, or personnel (e.g. variants in midfield shape, use of deeper lines, more caution in certain matches).

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Putting It All Together: A Hypothetical Match Flow

1. Build-up phase: The goalkeeper or fullbacks initiate possession. The pivot drops deep or drifts to receive. Fullback and wingers stretch the pitch.
2. Progression: The pivot and midfielders circulate, shifting the point of attack, dragging defenders, opening spaces. Wingers combine or overload. The central attacker may drift or interchange.
3. Penetration / final third: The “8” midfielders arrive late into the box. Overlaps from fullbacks, diagonal switches and combinations probe for gaps. The striker times runs, drifts or holds up.
4. Turnover: If possession is lost, forward players press; midfielders and fullbacks compress into compact shape. The defence holds a high line with vigilance, covering the depth with the back pairing.
5. If pressing fails: The team drops into a more compact block, recovers shape, and attempts to recover control while preventing deep penetration.
6. Transitions & adjustments: If the opponent breaks lines, the backline or pivot adjust shape. If the opponent is ultra-defensive, the team may slow tempo and look for patience rather than forced breakthroughs.

Over the course of 90 minutes, Menotti’s side is meant to dictate rhythm, impose control and attack with fluidity, while being defensively coherent and aggressive in recovery.

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Closing Thoughts

César Luis Menotti’s legacy extends beyond just the trophies he won: his philosophy left a lasting imprint on Argentine and Latin American thought around football. He insisted that a team is “an idea, more than an idea a commitment, more than a commitment a set of clear convictions a coach must transmit”

His tactical blueprint is not a rigid manual but a living design, a system that balances structure and freedom, risk and discipline, control and rupture. The 4-3-3 (or variants) is a foundation, but the magic lies in how the creative players roam, the pivot circulates and the team as a unit presses and defends.
This is what I will be trying to recreate at Huracan under Gabriel Batistuta.