'Riquelme just played to his own pace!' | Manuel Pellegrini on classic number 10s in modern football

A tactical evolution in football has seen the usage of the false nine increase, and midfielders being asked to do more going both ways. With current formations and systems the way they are, is there still room for the classic number 10, like Francesco Totti, Michel Platini and a man whom Manuel Pellegrini had the pleasure to coach, Juan Roman Riquelme?
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[@thomaswatson5818]

Riquelme is one of my favourite players of all time. It's so great to see him discussed with a man who coached him. This channel and you Graham deserve a lot more traction but just know I love the content that you put out.

[@Shades-of-76]

Great shout, mine too. I’ve been fortunate to see most of modern greats appear in Euro competition matches at Celtic Park, e.g. Messi, Xavi, Iniesta, Pirlo, Modric, C Ronaldo, Mbappe, Neymar, Ronaldinho, Del Piero, but the single best individual performance I’ve seen was Riquelme for Villarreal (under Pelligrini) in 2004. A joy to watch. The second best was Prosinecki for Zagreb. Another genius.

[@alexandrepaulo4098]

I don't know why Manuel Pellegrini doesn't like Juan Román Riquelme... that missed penalty against Arsenal in the second match of the 2005/2006 Champions League was the end for this incredible Villarreal player. I would really like to have seen Juan Román Riquelme play for my Spanish team, Atlético de Madrid. Imagine that Atlético de Madrid of 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 with Diego Forlán, Sergio Kun Agüero and Juan Román Riquelme... three incredible players!

[@gondazbandaz4540]

One of the best players in history is Juan Roman Riquelme. He carried Villarreal, Boca Juniors and Argentina on his shoulders, the last true number 10. Very technical and intelligent footballer, the closest player to Roman is Zidane. But Riquelme, Ronaldinho, R9 and Zidane were the best players in the world in the 2000s.

[@goyaame4517]

Zidane was better than Riquelme. But just a tad bit. My favorite players of all time