The importance of defensive midfielders

When your job is to disrupt a team’s passing rhythm and sometimes even the flow of the game, it can be hard to get love from the casual fan of the game.

But the role of the defensive midfielder - a.k.a. the holding midfielder, anchor man, water carrier, lock or destroyer - has been made more glamorous in recent years thanks to their growing value within a team’s set up.

Having someone who can break up attacks has always been key, even, or perhaps particularly, in the most attack-minded sides.

Think of Clodaldo in Brazil’s 1970 World Cup team, sitting behind Jairzinho, Tostao, Rivelino and Pele; or Dunga 24 years later, allowing Bebeto and Romario to flourish.

Claude Makelele was so vital to Real Madrid, Chelsea and France that he had the role named for him - but others like Patrick Vieira, Sergio Busquets and N’Golo Kante have all excelled doing unglamorous work.

Pep Guardiola, himself one of the best holding players of the 1990s, knows the value of the role - after Fernandinho left, he spent a lot of money on first Rodri and then Kalvin Phillips to bolster his Manchester City team.

Meanwhile, their rivals Manchester United improved after bringing in Casemiro - they conceded just two goals from open play in his first 10 starts, compared to seven in their first three games of the season without him.

And England’s Women’s Euros triumph was in no small part due to Keira Walsh’s deep-lying role, one she now plays in for Barcelona.

In the increasingly fast-paced, pass-and-move nature of the game today, the need for employing players with the ability to block, press and intercept the ball is obvious.

"Think of Clodaldo in Brazil’s team of 1970, behind Jairzinho, Rivelino and Pele..."

Those who sniff out danger minimise the opponents’ time in possession, reducing the number of scoring chances they will have during a game.

Players who work tirelessly to win the ball for their team by intercepting passes shouldn’t be thought of as having lesser technical ability, either.

It requires huge footballing intelligence to read where the opposition is looking to play the ball, while high levels of energy and speed are needed to make blocks.

On top of that, players like Casemiro are renowned for their physical edge and their ability to ‘bully’ opponents off the ball, as well as force in the tackle.

Any player able to cut out passes and through balls can play a vital tactical role for the team, and if they can get to grips with the attacking midfielders behind the striker, then the forward can become isolated.

If you starve a lone forward of the ball, you’ll go a long way towards a shut-out.