Francesco Farioli: style of play and tactics

A former pupil of Roberto De Zerbi, Francesco Farioli is very much part of the new Italian coaching school. Prior to becoming Nice manager at the age of 34, Farioli was De Zerbi’s goalkeeping coach at Italian clubs Benevento and Sassuolo. It was a relationship that began in a slightly unconventional way. “I wrote an article about Foggia on a website, Wyscout,” explained Farioli in an interview with L'Équipe. “Some time later, I received a message of congratulations from a member of De Zerbi’s coaching staff.

“We started working together a year and a half later… we focused on football 24 hours a day. Sometimes we would continue working on the computer until 2am. Those were good times.”

Since receiving that grounding, Farioli has risen rapidly within the coaching ranks. At the age of just 31, he took over Turkish team Fatih Karagümrük, before moving on to Alanyaspor (below). There, he achieved an impressive fifth place in the 2021/22 Turkish season.

His move to Ligue 1 came in the summer of 2023, at a club that has previously served as a launchpad for new coaches, including Patrick Vieira. After 20 games of his debut season, Farioli had guided Nice to second in the Ligue 1 table, behind only perennial champions Paris Saint-Germain.

Below, our UEFA-licensed coaches have analysed Farioli’s style of play, highlighting the key aspects of his tactical approach in his first few months at Nice…

Build-up with a 2-3-2

Faroli’s Nice side have deployed a distinctive, daring way of building up from the back, using a 2-3-2 structure. The first line of this 2-3-2 is formed by two centre-backs, operating at the same height, with a pivot and full-backs in front. Ahead, the number eights are positioned centrally, in behind the first line of the opposition press (below).

Goalkeeper Marcin Bulka, centre-backs Dante and Jean-Clear Todibo, and the dropping pivot Youssouf Ndayishimiye create an overload when building up in their own box (above).

Once Bulka has passed to a centre-back, Dante, Todibo and Ndayishimiye position themselves to draw the opposition inside the box, and then take advantage of the gap behind the opposing strikers. This space — behind the opposition’s first line of press — allows Nice to link with one of their number eights.

To make this link, a full-back (Melvin Bard, below) makes a breakaway run inside. Meanwhile, the eight on the same side (Morgan Sanson, below), makes a supporting run where they can connect with play. Using this 2-3-2 structure and movement, Nice have typically been able to progress their build-up fluidly to the midfield line.

Full-backs and wingers working in partnership

In possession, Farioli places importance on the relationship and movement of his wide players. The full-backs and wingers are positioned in the same channel, although they avoid occupying the same spaces. In the opposition half, the full-backs occupy the inside lanes or the central space, where Nice aim to have an overload. The wingers, meanwhile, seek out 1v1s, with space to attack behind their direct opponent (below).

Having full-backs inside creates a passing lane, as they drag a marker with them. It also positions the full-backs close to the play in the event of a defensive transition, where they can press immediately after a turnover. The other full-back’s position inside can free the other winger on the blind side of their marker, enabling a switch of play if needed.

Attacking five

In the attacking phase, Farioli likes to see up to five players behind the opposition’s second line of press. This is commonly the striker, wingers and number eights, who pin the defensive and midfield lines.

These five players work together to open up the inside channel, giving the centre-back time and space to link up with the striker (below). The positioning of these five, in behind the opposition's second line, can help create gaps between the opposing full-back and centre-back, which Farioli’s team attack to progress into the final third.

When the opposition defensive set-up is stretched, with spaces inside and behind the opposing midfield line, Farioli’s number eights look to creating passing lanes with the pivot. Here, the wingers and striker aim for depth and width, creating space for the ball-carrier to drive forward (below) and force one of the opposition centre-backs to jump out. This can in turn create 3v3 situations.

Direct on the counter

Nice work hard in their press, with a view to using it as a means to launch counter-attacks, especially when the ball is poached in midfield. After winning possession in this area, they always seek to play their first pass forward (below).

Once this first pass has been played, the attacking players make high-intensity sprints towards the final third, to take advantage of the extra spaces often found in attacking transition. Inside the box, the objective is to make as few passes as possible before shooting.

Typically, number eight Sanson arrives from the second line to attack the space between the centre-back and the opposing right-back. He then looks to link up with the striker, who should have evaded his marker with a breakaway run from the inside-right channel, in order to finish (below).

Press and defensive organisation

After 20 games of the 2023/24 Ligue 1 season, Farioli’s Nice had conceded just 11 goals — comfortably the best record in the division. This defensive meanness stemmed from the organisation implemented by their Italian coach.

Out of possession, as the opposition begin their build-up, Nice’s attacking trio individually mark the first line, aiming to force play wide. The second line – Jordan Lotomba, Pablo Rosario and Sanson in the example below — have closed down the opposing midfielders, while a centre-back jumped into the opposition half, anticipating the possible receiver (below).

If the opposition progress the ball and sustain possession, Nice have adopted a low block to reduce central spaces and gaps (below). With space at a premium, the opposition are often forced to make square passes. As a result, Nice have had no need to rush defensive actions, and can instead work to force mistakes from the opponent.

Indeed, Farioli has summed up his coaching style by stating that: “It is the small details that help us make the difference.” Certainly, it is an approach that has quickly made a difference to a club that has never previously qualified for the Champions League group stage. This is one detail that Farioli has them in a position to change.

To learn more about football tactics and gain insights from coaches at the top of the game, visit CV Academy

Author: The Coaches' Voice