Marco Verratti
By: Kevin Kemboi
Press resistant midfielders are the most beautiful players to watch. The one quality essential in all truly press-resistant players (apart from technical excellence of course) is awareness. They’re aware of their surroundings before the ball touches their feet. Almost like a 6th sense.
Ball progression is key. These midfielders don’t need high G/A numbers to be called “elite”. The ball doesn’t magically teleport in the nets, you need passing, dribbling, the ability to carry the ball.
Their ability to hold on the ball and attract opposition players to surrender their defensive positions and close them down thereby unbalancing the opposition’s defensive structure usually proves to be invaluable.
Marco Verratti is arguably the best single pivot in the build up phase. Extremely technical in all facets of the game.
Thiago Alcântara, the La Masia graduate is one of the best CMs in the world. Press resistant monster, creator from deep, all round superstar.
Mateo Kovačić is a specialist in beating the press. He just glides doesn’t he?
Scanning is also an important tool which improves decision making. This is when a player temporarily directs their attention away from the ball to take in extra information
Arsene Wenger was a big believer in the importance of scanning. “What is interesting is that very good players scan six to eight times in 10 seconds before getting the ball and normal ones three to four times,” the Frenchman said in an interview in early 2019.
Sergio Busquets can break your ankles with a slow motion drag back.
Frenkie de Jong has the potential to become the pinnacle of this new press-resistant style of midfielder.
Ball retention is an art form. These players have mastered the shielding of the ball, getting the body between the ball and the opposition, whilst navigating tight spaces. An interesting sub section of ‘dribbling’ as a whole
Mousa Dembélé under Poch defined press-resistance. It became nearly impossible to win the ball from him. He had tremendous strength, you couldn’t shrug him off the ball. Always composed under pressure.
His combination of technique and physical attributes made him perhaps essentially impossible to press out of the game in his peak years.
Modric: Adept ball carrier and creator. Line breaker, press immune, “big game” player. Defensively sound and one of the most consistent.
Paul Pogba; Absolute jugador on the international stage. Uses his frame to an excellent degree to create different avenues to evade opponents.
Simply put, press resistance is the ability to maintain possession of the ball despite coming under pressure from the opposition. It’s not a gift every footballer is born with. It’s a form of artistry. Technically elegant players are a special breed
Sustaining pressure, technical excellence in Jorginho and Kovacic. Pressure or maintaining control and to create overloads or space in attacking transitions while shifting the opposition’s defensive structure.
Toni Kroos is the heartbeat that runs Real Madrid. Kroos doesn’t need to dribble necessarily, his first touch is exquisite which allows him to beat a press.
Data from last season. Toni Kroos is still dominating the beautiful game for over a decade. He has the potential to retire as one of the greatest CMs of all-time. Elite in every department
Sergej Milinkovic-Savic is the complete package. A box-to-box midfielder with every attribute you’d want. It’s insanely difficult to press him. The best midfielder in Serie A in my opinion.
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