The most important role in a team:
The Defensive midfielder 🔥
(A Thread)
The Defensive midfielder 🔥
(A Thread)
This post is inspired by watching Spain against Norway. Norway lined up with big names like Haaland & Odegaard, and in general several other top players.
However, they had absolutely no chance against Spain. One particular reason: Rodri 🇪🇸
However, they had absolutely no chance against Spain. One particular reason: Rodri 🇪🇸
Rodri won the game for Spain. He had a nearly perfect display:
- 96% successful passes (106/110)
- 19 passes into the final third
- 17/17 long passes
- 8 recoveries
His availability + security in all phases of the play gave Spain full control.
- 96% successful passes (106/110)
- 19 passes into the final third
- 17/17 long passes
- 8 recoveries
His availability + security in all phases of the play gave Spain full control.
Norway had a good approach. Runners in midfield who focused on staying compact, with the purpose of preventing ball progression through the half space channels. However, they couldn’t stop Rodri for two reasons.
1. If they decided to block passing lanes to him, space opened up for teammates in better positions.
2. His unbelievable quality. When Norway tried to apply high pressure, Rodri’s extreme composure, spatial awareness & ball control got his team out of every situation.
2. His unbelievable quality. When Norway tried to apply high pressure, Rodri’s extreme composure, spatial awareness & ball control got his team out of every situation.
Rodri’s main strength is his ability to find the free man. No space in midfield? Go wide. Are the players out wide covered? Thread passes through the middle.
He can find the free man in all types of circumstances.
He can find the free man in all types of circumstances.
On the other side, Norway used Patrick Berg as the defensive midfielder. A solid player, but far from the level of Rodri. Norway couldn’t access the right areas, which neutralized players like Haaland and Odegaard for large parts of the game.
Playing as a CDM in a team who wants to keep the ball is the toughest job there is. Requires mental strength, calmness, awareness, technical abilities & understanding of the game.
When two good teams come up against each other, the team with a CDM who can move the ball into the correct zones, will always increase the chance of his team winning. He enables his teammates. Busquets -> Messi.
Barca got Frenkie de Jong for this exact purpose, but he has to be accompanied by another defensive midfielder who can give him freedom, and cover for him defensively. That player is Oriol Romeu.
Oriol Romeu does not have the abilities to play as a single pivot for Barca. That’s the next step for Barca. Finding a player with the ceiling of Rodri. It’s truly the ultimate game changer.
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