The Best Ways to Break Your Losing Streak and Dominate in Football Manager

There aren’t many worse feelings than being on a losing streak in Football Manager. When you’ve lost ten games in a row, every single player in your squad hates you and the board’s just called you in for a meeting.

Okay, there are probably worse feelings in life—but as far as video games go, this one’s right up there. It’s frustrating, stressful, and somehow feels personal. But here’s the good news: you can get out of it.

I’ve been there more times than I’d like to admit, and I’ve always managed to find the light at the end of the tunnel. And when you do break out of that slump, the satisfaction is unmatched—way more fulfilling than if you’d just cruised through the season. So what do you actually need to do to turn that sinking ship around? Let me talk you through it.

Go Back to Basics

This might seem obvious to some, but it’s absolutely crucial to take things back to square one when you’re on a bad run. The panic sets in fast—you start clicking buttons you’ve never touched before, layering on tactical instructions in a frantic attempt to fix things. It’s human nature to feel like you’re at least doing something rather than watching your team fall apart. But often, the smartest move is to strip things right back. In Football Manager, it genuinely feels like the more instructions you add, the more your players get confused—especially if they’re a lower-quality side or a newly promoted underdog. Some good tactical building blocks to return to include a balanced mentality, shorter passing, lower tempo, and a more compact shape.

Of course, you probably have an idea of how you want your team to play—your tactical philosophy. But the time to experiment with high concepts and layered tactics is not when you’re in freefall. Save that for when your team’s confident and flying. In the meantime, simplifying everything and going back to basics has helped me get out of ruts more times than I can count.

Improve Morale, At Any Cost

I cannot overstate how important morale is in Football Manager. It’s the invisible stat that can swing matches. When morale’s high, everything feels smooth—you’re scoring for fun and clean sheets are just happening. When it’s low, every game feels like wading through treacle. And if you’re on a losing run, then obviously your squad’s morale is going to be in the gutter. So it’s absolutely vital to find ways to artificially boost it and stop the slide.

One of the easiest methods? Schedule a few friendlies against absolute minnows. I’m talking semi-professional or amateur-level teams. Smash them 10–0, 8–1, whatever. Morale starts ticking up, the squad regains confidence, and suddenly those narrow defeats start turning into gritty draws or scrappy wins. Morale is like a snowball—it can roll in either direction. You just want to get it moving the right way.

Team talks are another underrated tool. Praise your players after any win—and even after decent draws, especially against tough opposition. And for the love of Sir Alex, don’t throw a water bottle unless you’re absolutely sure it’ll land right. A poorly judged tantrum can tank morale even further.

Don’t Tinker Too Much

It’s incredibly tempting to rip up your tactics after every defeat. I get it—you feel like you’ve got to do something. But too much tinkering usually makes things worse. Instead of desperately searching for a magic fix, focus on making one or two targeted, logical tweaks based on what you’re actually seeing on the pitch.

Maybe it’s dropping the defensive line a bit. Maybe your full-backs need to stop overlapping. Maybe your best striker needs a partner. Whatever it is, make those changes and then stick with them for two or three matches before judging whether they’re working. Consistency breeds results.

And the same goes for your starting XI. Don’t go full chop-and-change every week. Make small, specific swaps—drop that underperforming winger or swap out the unhappy midfielder who’s clearly bringing vibes down. Bring in someone hungry, someone with a point to prove. Little tweaks can go a long way when everything else feels unstable.

Do a Detailed Analysis of What’s Going Wrong

Before you can fix a losing streak, you’ve got to properly understand what’s going wrong. That means stepping back and looking at your team with a clear head. Start with the Analysis tab after matches. Are you conceding a lot of late goals? Failing to register meaningful shots? Getting dominated in possession? Dig into the data—xG, interceptions, duels won, chances created. These numbers tell a story.

Then dig into the match engine. Watch extended highlights or even full matches. Is your team shape holding? Are your defenders getting pulled out of position? Is your midfield getting bypassed? Are your attackers stranded with no service? Check where you’re conceding from—set pieces, through balls, wide areas? It all matters. Also keep an eye on individual performances over time. You’ll often spot one or two players consistently underperforming, and removing them can change everything. Sometimes the problem is tactical. Sometimes it’s mental. Sometimes it’s just one bad apple. But until you do the detective work, you’re flying blind.

Try a one-off smash and grab

This one’s for when nothing else is working and you’re truly desperate. Maybe you’ve got one game left to save your job. Maybe you just need something to break the cycle. That’s when it’s time to throw the playbook out and go full smash-and-grab.

Set your team up to park the bus and hit on the counter. Think gritty, defensive shapes like a 4-1-4-1 or a 5-3-2. Dial the mentality down to cautious or defensive. Keep your lines tight, slow the tempo, and frustrate the opposition. You’re not trying to entertain anyone here—you’re just trying to sneak a 1-0 win off a corner or a breakaway. And when you do? The relief is unreal. That scrappy win might just be the spark that lights your season back up. Trust me—it feels like winning the Champions League.