Why has the three-center-back formation become unpopular in the Premier League?

There is a notable tactical trend in the Premier League: Teams are no longer using the three-center-back formation. Is this shift temporary, and when will this formation regain popularity?

Looking closely over the past decade, teams that achieved remarkable success in continental competitions often employed the three-center-back formation. RB Leipzig created an incredible story in the 2019-20 Champions League season, reaching the semifinals. The following season saw Chelsea's unexpected Champions League victory. When Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard midway through the 2020-21 season, he switched Chelsea to a three-center-back setup, resulting in them finishing fourth in the Premier League and winning their second Champions League title. Nine years earlier, Chelsea won the Premier League in the 2016-17 season under Antonio Conte also using a three-center-back formation. Then, in the 2022-23 season, Manchester City achieved an astonishing treble, including their first-ever Champions League title. One factor contributing to that season's success was Guardiola's use of a three-center-back formation, even though his defensive personnel were accustomed to a four-man defense.

So why has the three-center-back formation lost its place in the Premier League? Part of the reason is that Manchester United, a team using this formation this season, dismissed Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese strategist's stubborn adherence to this formation led to Manchester United's poor performance in the first half of the season. Michael Carrick took over earlier this year and reintroduced the familiar four-man defense system at Old Trafford.

Additionally, the issue with the three-center-back formation is a higher risk of counter-attacks compared to using a pair of center-backs in a four-man defense. The four-man defense is considered to have greater advantages in creating dominant gameplay. This stems from its ability to deploy more attacking players and require fewer personnel for defensive duties. This explains why statistics show that matches using a four-man defense dominate the Premier League: 4,025 matches with the 4-2-3-1 formation, 2,259 matches with the 4-4-2 formation, 2,040 matches with the 4-3-3 formation, while only 683 matches featured teams using the 3-4-2-1 formation.

Is there any chance for the three-center-back formation to revive in the near future? Tactical formations in modern football are no longer immutable. Five years ago, Pep Guardiola joked: "Tactical formations are like mobile phone numbers." Choosing a tactical formation is no longer purely a technical matter. It's about selecting a suitable match approach for your players. Regardless of the tactical formation chosen for your team, the key lies in creating space, controlling it, and exploiting it thoroughly on the field.