Tactical Insights: How Philippe Clement Stabilised Norwich City in the 2025/26 season | OneFootball

When Philippe Clement first arrived at Norwich City, the Canaries were rooted within the relegation zone after a disastrous start to the 2025/26 campaign. Liam Manning, the predecessor, had lost his job as a consequence.

Ever since the dark wintery days of November and December, the sun has shone brightly on Norwich City, who over time climbed up the table and moved towards stability.

So, how did Philippe Clement stabilise Norwich City?

The early days

In his first days at the club after officially being appointed, Clement emphasised the need for everyone to be together and united whilst also wanting the team to play an attacking style of football with a clearly defined structure with snd without the ball.

The Belgian coach made an impression early with his organisation skills through communication.

Before beginning any training sessions, he wanted to have short conversations with his players as well as the club’s Head Of Performance and Head Of Medical to create clear alignment so that everybody was on the same page. During these conversations, Clement introduced his structural concept, the four pillars: Technical, Physical, Tactical and Mental.

Forming Structural identity

With the hectic nature of the Championship, establishing identity in the early stages was difficult due to limited training sessions. But, despite that, Clement didn’t take long to get his ideas across.

Birmingham City 4-1 Norwich

On paper at the time, this would’ve been a tricky away day regardless. Whilst the result looked ugly, ideas were evident to shape long-term identity.

Without the ball, Norwich would look to defend in a 4-2-2-2 mid-block. The intention was to protect the central spaces by blocking off access whilst also having the capacity to jump out wide to set up a potential pressing trap.

However, this didn’t work against Birmingham City because there was not enough ball-pressure and with the opposing winger stretching the pitch, Birmingham found it easy to escape with the switch of play. The timings of the necessary jumps were also not in sync meaning it was easily exploitable.

Norwich 1-1 Oxford United

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Image credit: Canaries co.uk

In the screenshots above, you can see the build-up shape Norwich intended to use against Oxford United.

In screenshot one, Norwich created a 3-1-4-2 when they had established control of the ball. The intention of this is to overload the first and second phase to retain ball control. How this was created: The left-back pushes high and wide on the left flank, the left-winger inverts inside to become an attacking midfielder alongside the no.10, one of the central midfielders drop into the backline to create a back three, the right-winger comes inside to behave like a second striker, right-back pushes high and wide.

In screenshot two, Norwich use a 3-2 base in the first phase of build-up. The left-back inverts into midfield to form a double pivot with one central midfielder dropping into the backline to create a potential passing angle. The intention of the 3-2 base is to also have rest defence protection in case they gave the ball away in a bad area.

Without the ball, Norwich intended to block Oxford United with the 4-2-2-2 mid-block which once again forced the opponent to play wide. Norwich remained vulnerable though due to lack of ball-pressure which allowed Oxford United to create from the wide channels.

Image credit: Canaries co.uk

Norwich 3-1 QPR

Out of possession, QPR were looking to block in a 4-4-2, designed to block off any potential central progression for Norwich. But Clement’s side were able to find a solution to counter it.

In the build-up phase of their play, Norwich would use a 3-1 base to overload QPR’s front two. A midfielder would drop into the backline to form the back three and as a result it gave their centre backs, often the left centre-back, the platform to create a wider angle in order to attack the centre of the pitch in the second phase or to carry the ball forward to gain territorial control.

In this match in particular, Norwich were also taking more risks with the ball in comparison to previous matches. They were attempting more line-breaking passes to progress and create chances.

Out of possession, Norwich also showed a greater physical intensity to win the ball back. Whilst they still had vulnerability in wider areas, they were beginning to look more solid as a unit.

Sheffield United 1-1 Norwich

Up to this point, the Canaries would be more direct in their possession play by going long to bypass an opponent’s press. But this encounter against the Blades showcased an important development, both on the technical and mental side.

Rather than going long from open play or from goal kicks all the time, Norwich were taking greater risk at the back by attempting to play through the Sheffield United press in order to progressively play themselves into space higher up the pitch. In the screenshot below, you can see how Clement’s team broke the first line of Sheffield United’s press.

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Clement’s team also showed more willingness to press higher up the pitch by attempting to go man-to-man in the first and second line. However, Sheffield United still found some success beating or bypassing the press through long balls for an aerial contest or through wide progression across the floor.

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

READ MORE: Rayo Vallecano: How the Smallest Club in La Liga Reached a European Final

Tactical adaptability: Tackling a back three

In all previous matches under Philippe Clement up to this point, Norwich City were yet to face a tactical challenge under Philippe Clement involving a back three. Throughout the campaign up until this point, both Preston North End and Southampton were well-drilled with a back three.

Norwich 2-1 Southampton

In the early stages, Southampton were deliberately playing in and around their area to entice the high-press from Norwich City. The intention was so they could play through the press to exploit the spaces that would appear in pockets behind the first line.

In the three screenshots below, you can see how Southampton were able to do this before winning a free-kick in a dangerous area at the end of the sequence.

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

The solution Philippe Clement’s team was to revert to the structural foundation that had been laid from the previous matches. Rather than chase the ball high and get caught out, they went into their 4-2-2-2 blocking shape to prevent Southampton from cutting through them with ease.

From that 4-2-2-2 base, Norwich were then able to create pressing traps to push Southampton onto one side of the pitch.

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Southampton were looking to defend in a 5-4-1 mid-block to block off central and wide progression. However, they made the choice to not engage in the first phase of Norwich City’s build-up.

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

With a player like Kenny McLean given plenty of time on the ball to pick out whatever pass he wanted, Clement’s team found a solution to break Southampton’s defensive block by attacking the wide channels through inside runs.

Jovon Makama would look to drag his defensive marker across, using his greater acceleration speed to get away and with great precision Kenny McLean would pick him out which helped Norwich gain territory.

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Preston 1-1 Norwich

The main difference between Southampton and Preston was how the latter wanted to press high and place Norwich under pressure when in possession. This was so they could force a potential high turnover or force Norwich to a panicked long-ball where an aerial duel could be contested between centre-back and striker.

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Norwich were able to find a solution to the Preston high-press. Kenny McLean would drop deep to act as a +1 against the Preston front two, this formed a 3v2 overload. He would then seek out Makama with a long range pass to help Norwich gain territory up the pitch.

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Why Clement’s team failED to beat Watford

In both fixtures this season, Norwich fell short by one goal against Watford. Whilst one game had more goals and the other didn’t, the sort of issues Clement’s team faced were not only different but also similar in many ways.

Watford 3-2 Norwich

Structurally without the ball, Norwich looked to play a higher defensive line which would help support a potential high-press. However, this didn’t prove to be as effective as Philippe Clement would’ve hoped for.

To counter Norwich City’s 4-2-2-2 high-press, Watford would use one of their central midfielders to drop into the backline to create an overload against the Canaries front two (3v2). Initially, this gave Norwich structural disruption as they were unsure how to deal with Watford creating the +1.

One solution Clement’s team tried to create was their no8 or winger stepping up higher to form a front three so that in the first phase of Watford’s build-up it was 3v3. However, due to the timing of the jump being inconsistent, Watford were able to play through and around Norwich’s press and retain ball-control.

With the ball, Norwich looked to use counter-movements to create space against Watford’s compact 4-4-2, involving their full-back and the winger in front. The winger would imvert inside into a pocket of space whilst the full-back would hold the width on the outside line.

One of the counter-movements was the winger dragging his defensive marker short into uncomfortable territory so that a passing lane would open beyond into the full-back.

Another counter-movement would be the full-back coming short for the pass, dragging his defensive marker forward into inviting territory which would’ve opened a passing lane into the pocket for the inverted winger.

Defensive vulnerability remained persistent, but in this match it was likely down to a combination of physical and mental fatigue with Clement’s team having a busy schedule of matches at that moment.

Norwich 0-1 Watford

Whilst in possession, Norwich encountered a similar problem to the first meeting with Watford. As you can see in the screenshot below, Watford are sat in a compact deep-block where there are absolutely no spaces between-the-lines for Norwich to exploit. As a consequence, the Canaries had lots of ball circulation without being able to create anything meaningful or significant.

Image credit: Canaries co.uk

Whilst Watford had possession, they once again created the +1 overload in the first phase with a midfielder dropping into the backline which prevented Norwich from effectively pressing higher up the pitch.

The positioning of Chakvetdaze also caused Norwich some problems because he was constantly on the move. Whether it be pulling out wide, playing alongside/off the shoulder of the no.9 or dropping into midfield; Norwich were unable to stop his influence on the game without breaking structural solidity.

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Peak performance: How Clement’s team operated at their best

West Brom 0-5 Norwich

West Brom were looking to defend in a 5-2-3 out of possession and for the opening goal of the match, Norwich found it incredibly easy to exploit the spaces between-the-lines, particularly between the defence and midfield.

In the first screenshot below, you can see how multiple West Brom players look to box Kenny McLean in and force a turnover. However, due to the angles not being correctly cut off, McLean is able to find a gap to find Oscar Schwartau.

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

In the second screenshot, you can now see the space Schwartau has ahead and around him. With such big hole in West Brom’s defence/midfield, he has the time to decide what he wants to do with the ball.

One of the reasons why he has so much space is because Charlie Taylor and Samuel Iling-Junior are being pinned back to cover off the inside channel. If either of them looks to jump forward to apply pressure, a gap opens to be potentially exploited.

Nat Phillips is also unable to apply direct pressure because if he jumps up vertically, not only is the distance far too big but it allows the passing lane straight through the middle into Jovon Makama to be exploited.

Schwartau therefore goes on to step forward and score from long range.

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

In regards to pressing, Norwich were also able to trap West Brom onto one side whenever they wanted to build-up. In screenshot one, his would involve the striker, attacking midfielder, left-winger, left-back and sometimes the left central-midfielder all condensing space to push West Brom across as part of a designed pressing trap.

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

The same trap would also be set on the opposing side, as seen in screenshot two.

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

The reason Philippe Clement coached his team to use this specific pressing trap was so that West Brom’s ability to create and overload wide areas was restricted and stopped at the starting source. With West Brom looking to build-up in a 3-4-3, Norwich knew they’d have a numerical advantage centrally after turning possession over in the wider channel.

Norwich 2-1 Coventry

When Coventry were inside their own half, Norwich looked to box them in by squeezing them to one side of the pitch, the same as they did against West Brom. This time, the intent was to stop Coventry City from progressing through small-space combinations, a switch of play or a long ball down the line. This gave Norwich key territorial control in moments.

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

When Coventry had established control of possession, Norwich looked to block in a zonal 4-4-2 mid-block. This was to block any significant ball progression from Coventry.

If the inside channel was attacked, a winger would shift across to protect the space and with the help of the striker a turnover of possession in order to counter attack was made possible.

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

With the ball Norwich looked to exploit wide spaces when being squeezed to one side. Their right-winger would drift inside to drag Jay Dasilva across into a central area and that opened up space down the right flank for Kellen Fisher to attack. With not enough ball-pressure from Coventry, after Kenny McLean stepped up from a deeper position to receive, Norwich were able to exploit the space and create a good opportunity.

Image credit: Canaries.co.uk

Data comparison: First 4 matches vs last 4 matches

Data source: Opta

The data graphic above shows a comparison of the key performance metrics across Philippe Clement’s first four matches in charge vs his final four matches in charge in the 2025/26 campaign.

During the early days across those first four matches, the data backs up how Norwich were forming defensive solidity after a poor start and this is backed up with the number of duels contested and won in comparison to the final four matches of the season.

Norwich made clear and significant improvements in how they distrubuted and took care of the ball in different phases of play. For example, you can see in the first four matches they gave the ball away in their own defensive third 166 times in total in comparison to just 126 times in the final four matches.

Since arriving at Norwich last winter, Clement has made a significant impact on the team’s fortunes and guided them to a top half finish, finishing 9th and just eight points off a play-off spot.

Maybe Philippe Clement could take the Canaries back to the Premier League next season.