WHY is the defensive midfielder so important yet so underrated? | Axel Witsel

[@dwkickoff]

Is Axel Witsel the best #6 in the Bundesliga?! He's certainly got the best hair.

[@jjc1752]

DW Kick off! javi martinez better tbh

[@damnbruh6246]

Gullit gang

[@dwkickoff]

@@jjc1752 Even with Martinez playing about half as many minutes as Witsel?

[@NS-23]

Craigs Craig 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 better in what way he can’t even make the national team

[@jjc1752]

DW Kick off! im talking about all time he was important player for bayern when the won the champions league and he was the one who pocketed messi in the 7-0 mstch between barca and Bayern

[@rezkybima5987]

Only people who does not understand football under estimate this position

[@CamkhaCurro]

Sho

[@william_SMMA]

Do you think Casemiro is the good reason why Madrid aren't beaten so easily and countered against and outran in the midfield because of his strength and unbelievable speed And do you also think Busquets with his slow nature and weak tackling in the midfield at times is the reason barca are so easy to score against and have received 7-0 4-0 3-0 3-0 in the last 10 years?!?

[@javierlandaverde4108]

But if you are not good I HATE it, I been in games where midfielders dribble too much, turn the ball over many times, do not switch often and too much EGO to go score the goal rather than keeping it simple of just keeping the ball, spraying the ball, switching to offer more variety on the attack.

[@garrettmercado7074]

EarningNow With Williams there are ways to nullify or limit the player in that position - Ferguson used Park to man mark Pirlo and Heynckes’ Bayern followed Klopp’s style of pressing (their 4-2-3-1 matched Barça’s 4-3-3 in midfield), Ajax used pressing to win 2nd balls off the long ball in Madrid last season.

[@thiranosaurus]

​@@william_SMMA Dude, Busquets is the best out there. Pep knows that, Del Bosque knows that. Even Xavi said, "When the coach announced the team before a match, the first thing I always did was look for Busi, even if I wasn't starting if he was there I was calm, because I knew he guaranteed tactical intelligence." When Spain won world cup everybody chose Xavi or Iniesta as the MVP, but Spain team agreed Busquets is the real MVP.

[@tonytsang1330]

The story of Makelele shows how a galaxy team was punished when unloving a DMF.

[@lifeisagameofknowingyourro6327]

Yeah fair enough

[@ATS1031]

Casemirio helped zidane in the first and second ucl a lot

[@lucasnascimento7242]

Casemiro is the best six nowadays

[@brokennative1784]

Ndidi IS the best CDM in the world right now

[@rickyrick2330]

@@lucasnascimento7242 kante

[@rickyrick2330]

@@brokennative1784 kante lol

[@jehvanmontieth1292]

Casemiro is the best 6 in the world and has been for some time now

[@ToxicAfricanKing]

I see the 6ers as the most intelligent players on the pitch because you have to be able to sniff danger and deflect it even before realize. You have to win the ball and excecute transition.

[@patrickscottwalsh]

nice avatar

[@7kurisu]

Sankara FTW!

[@joaquimcoelho3371]

Viva Thomas Sankara, comrade!

[@thulasmash2195]

You also have to protect the back 2.

[@everythingisamindgame9666]

Spot on

[@saadmanalam7283]

He's 31 looks 22

[@dwkickoff]

Next time we'll ask him about his skin care secrets as well!

[@bereketgenetu9870]

Wth how is he 31

[@halimmimo2555]

he missed so many years making money in China

[@omaralkiswani5349]

Lmao literally thought he is 24

[@toastdog214]

@@halimmimo2555 The opposite of Fellaini, including the hair

[@pratikguha3362]

Witsel is definitely one of the best No. 6s. Considering his very unusual route to joining Dortmund. He has done very well and I only see him getting better as he ages up

[@vex_13]

I hate him so much at belgium squad. He keep taking shots but never on target! He should just pass the ball

[@pratikguha3362]

I mean they have still gone till Semis in the World Cup with him so, do not think Fellaini would have had the same effect

[@danielgarner3727]

hes 31

[@pratikguha3362]

Dani Gxrner Mhm he is only getting better with age is what I meant

[@ptrckioo]

This aged well😂😂

[@SudarshanRajbhandari]

How can you forget Casemiro? He's been one of the best CDM over the last 5 years. He's won trophies too: 4 UCl, 1 La Liga, 1 Copa America, 4 Club World Cups, 1 Copa del Rey,...

[@shyguy1845]

Correction he's won trophies with Madrid not he's won trophies.

[@mrchun4018]

He is the most important Madrid player

[@Moegz]

shy guy if he didn’t won a trophy with his team then what u want him to do?

[@shilpaprajapati4801]

@@mrchun4018 after CR7, Modrić & Ramos

[@blocburial]

i played football professionaly myself and i have to say. Position nr 6 is the hardest position to play at. i was left back btw but i saw what they had to do and what they had to see. I was basically facing whole pitch from left corner, they were the playmakers.

[@Shad_Jr7]

Absolutely love Witsel. The argument about which type of 6 is better between Regista's (Jorginho) and Destroters (Kante), doesn't matter to the likes of him and Fernandinho. They are exceptional at both, and the all rounded 6 is hard to find these days

[@rickyrick2330]

Jorginho type is better because they can play the ball and dont commit as many fouls. Dont need to be athletic if you know where to position yourself and no one can take the ball off you

[@Shad_Jr7]

@@rickyrick2330 depends on the team and league though. In his first season, his less robust frame and lack of athleticism was found out when teams counter attacked chelsea (Think it was the Son in the Spurs game that really gave him hell). That's why most teams in the Premier league prefer a Kante type of midfielder. But to get the most out of your offence, Jorginho esque players are first choice. And I agree with Witsel that more teams are moving towards holding midfielders who are technically gifted. But athleticism goes a long way in making them complete midfielders

[@6REN]

Ricky Rick even though Jorginho gets a card almost every game

[@everythingisamindgame9666]

@@Shad_Jr7 Really stupid anology I don't understand that u could say a 6 needs to be athletic what a joke busquets Pirlo r all God's of the dm position never raned like a headless chicken but knew the game in and out so I dont see your point.

[@kelvinsudirman4072]

@@everythingisamindgame9666 Pirlo was protected by Gattuso, then Vidal and Matuidi. Barcelona best term defensively was when Busquets or Xavi was protected by Yaya Toure or Mascherano. Both Pirlo and Busquets were great passers but were also big liabilities on defense if you need them to do it. Just like Jorginho if you put him alone in front of CBs (which was Shad's point). Barca signed Vidal and appointed Valverde and Setien due to their history of improving the defense of their previous clubs respectively, because Busquets just wasn't that good on being a destroyer type of 6.

[@HerveBoisde]

Keep an eye on Brazilian midfielder Bruno Guimaraes who just made a move to Lyon. He’s just got picked for U23 player of the tournament in the South American championship. He’s got the long passing ability of Pirlo and defensive awareness of Busquets

[@godbrand4649]

Ur right. Now he is in Newcastle

[@floran8913]

Great one

[@ayodejiawoyemi2556]

Spot on ❤

[@thrilla72]

Well done, great scouting

[@nottsoserious]

Players usually go to China when they think they're not good enough for Europe. This man came back to Europe and became one of the best in his role. Huge respect 💛🖤💛🖤

[@lc9245]

It all depends on what the team need. CDM are often employed to cover the flanks when you have great left and right backs. Sometime, the team needed a long passer, the CDM will take over distribution of the ball of the centre back can’t. The CDM has to fill a CM role or even a long shooter option when the team needed a goal desperately want to push high. Makelele was pivotal in his teams because in a talented attacking team like Real Madrid then and especially in the presence of Roberto Carlos, he had to cover a lot of ground to make sure the attacking players had time and space to play the ball. Pirlo are another type, whose defensive work rate is much less and spend more time as a playmaker to exploit the team strong counter attack potential or quick forward who needed empty spaces to play the ball. They are also very convenient in possessing game, serving to both block, recover and as an important chain in the short passing game. In a way, I feel like the way coaches employ their CDM determine the style of play, so they are not underrated at all.

[@abhijiththampi]

What you said is true, but Pirlo was exceptional case on the sense that he was protected by perhaps the greatest set of defenders ever for most of his career. Most other great DMs take a lot of defensive duties too. Kante and Casemiro are the typical examples. No team can have a purely creative lone CDM/CM like Pirlo. Even the current Madrid side, which is one of the only sides that can take the liberty of doing that (due to wealth of attacking talent), chooses to put Casemiro in a single CDM position instead of Fede Valverde despite the creative and technical superiority he provides, solely because of Casemiro's defensive ability.

[@everythingisamindgame9666]

@@abhijiththampi it doesn't matter even Pjanic is a great 6 so in all in all he needs cover and the 2 8s ahead of him need to have high work rate and attacking out put in a way the 6 determines how good a team's plays u can see Fabinho does for Liverpool its an underrated job.

[@hassarfn3557]

@@abhijiththampi pirlo had rhino to do the dirty work

[@kaustubhdatta8162]

We are blessed to have him in Dortmund. Beautiful presentation

[@dwkickoff]

do you think Dortmund would have finished second last term without him?

[@kaustubhdatta8162]

@@dwkickoff We had issue with the whole team dropping the points but yes his absence would have impacted us a lot

[@kaustubhdatta8162]

@kwstas kwsta yeah but not this season or coming season. They are gonna now pay what they sow

[@kaustubhdatta8162]

@kwstas kwsta yeah its inconsistent. And is dropping points

[@kaustubhdatta8162]

@kwstas kwsta duh . Aren't you seeing this year's league or saw last year?

[@nabil6433]

Fernandinho playing at CDM is truly underrated

[@garrettmercado7074]

He’s won a few PL titles in the 2010s, he’s not underrated anymore

[@rickyrick2330]

@@garrettmercado7074 winning titles has nothing to do with being under/overrated

[@garrettmercado7074]

Ricky Rick 🧐 If you’re a player that consistently helps a team to success people start recognizing how good you actually are

[@J0ED_]

CDM 🤢

[@one2325]

i prefer to use DMF than CDM

[@abnhamah]

That is why Arsenal looks like garbage without Torreira, and a proper team with Torreira.

[@upthereds4939]

Is this the same Torreira that Gary Neville and Carragher were ridiculing a few months ago? Im glad to see him proving them wrong

[@TheConcernedSum7]

@@upthereds4939 no he still looks bad but only because the rest of the team is disorganized and he has to switch often providing help defense. We've seen some evidence of organization under Arteta, however it's clear he needs more time to train the players during the stretch with no games i.e. the two weeks now. With that being said, Torreira is definitely one of our best players. He's a Champions League player and would fit nicely into most teams as a CDM.

[@upthereds4939]

TheConcernedSum7 yeah he seems to be the type to love breaking up play like Mascherano used to with us (Liverpool)

[@MrLunary]

But we still lack creativity.

[@t8506]

torreria is average, better at attacking than defending

[@nothinghere7694]

Usually I hate videos like this and I’m not a Dortmund fan but the editing and the interviewer make the video so engaging ❤️ and if you are a Barca fan you must’ve realize how important is Sergio I hate how people say he is old and suck at defending, his role is to keep the ball moving and he connects all the team, he plays as CDM where mistakes are fatal. Respect to all CDM players.

[@QazwerDave]

City without Fernandinho Liverpool before and after Fabinho Kante Casemiro Busquets ... Pirlo (and others like Jorginho) really playes a different role

[@otto_jk]

Yeah Seedorf and Gattuso shared the 6 role while Pirlo was the attack minded player.

[@bluntmarathon7073]

From a Chelsea fan. Dont rate Jorginho with the others, hes kind of shit.

[@マダ阿]

For two seasons a certain Sven Bender was untouchable...maybe the best pairing with Gundogan, that BVB team was just class

[@everythingisamindgame9666]

Bender also as a brother that's good I think both r at Bayer luverkusen now.

[@マダ阿]

@@everythingisamindgame9666 yea Lars his twin

[@abhilashbharali4387]

Why is this channel so underrated 💔

[@dwkickoff]

Seems like we're the #6 of football youtube channels!

[@abhilashbharali4387]

Watching your content I guess you should be at top 3☹️

[@mubasshirkhan8231]

They hate madrid that's y. Casemiro...ahem

[@evilestmanlp]

Just a quick observation. CDMs don’t score lots of goals, but the goals they score, they score them intelligently and effortlessly...

[@muhammadalifazmi8037]

They're the cake of a cake. The forwards (Ronaldo, Messi, ......), they're the icing on the top. Make sense?

[@rolqvist]

I would love to c DW explain every single position in football tactics.. from FW vs CF, GK, RWB, Sweeper, False 9, RM/LM vs RW/LW, AM, CM, etc

[@MagicalBikeRide]

and dont forget Regista or Mezzala

[@gabri3l860]

Devon Jackson people are just used to saying positions based on FIFA not the real names of actual positions

[@Anindyatejo]

GK is easy to explain. It's goalkeeper, pretty much self explanatory.

[@gabri3l860]

@@Anindyatejo There are normal goalkeepers and sweeper keepers.

[@denzelwenzel]

@@gabri3l860 Same postion, different skillset

[@pedropierre9594]

i played the position, i watched a lot of Xabi alonso games to learn from him, i was never the best going forward but i could pass a ball and thus i enjoyed this position a lot, it taught me to see the game from a more technical point of view and showed me that you dont have to be the best physically.

[@bradlloyd6261]

I want to see DW KICKOFF thrive: Subtitles in strong yellow or appropriate color depending on what is filmed is important. Or at least lower the volume of the music so we can hear the interviewed easier. Football players/interviewed fans are NOT commentators and they're voices cannot be heard sp easy over chaotic music or sounds. Otherwise incredible job as usual.

[@jackdaripper2573]

Kante can carry, pass, spray, dribble and shoot the ball only thing he finds difficult is heading the ball but he somehow makes up for that too. A legend through and through ⚡

[@everythingisamindgame9666]

Witsel is gotten wise ever since he moved to Dortmund from Chinese super legue where he was average but now his a nice footballer however Tiago is my fav 6.

[@Denfyrenbakibaren]

The most loved football player playing today is a cdm, called Kante

[@uknowntea3531]

Denfyrenutenvenner he ain’t been up to his normal standards past 2 seasons, I’d say Fabinho or Fernandinho

[@m2k16]

Not anymore he is becoming more like Matuidi a free 6..

[@somnangphin6777]

Denfyrenutenvenner and Fabinho

[@SK.305]

Um u mean mbappe??

[@Denfyrenbakibaren]

Jxjs Egg nah

[@dumfriesspearhead7398]

In "Inside Borussia Dortmund", Michael Zorc says that defenders often see what the team is lacking overall and are more grounded, but attacking players consider themselves to be artists. Then I remembered that Zorc was a defensive midfielder.

[@patrickscottwalsh]

are there any artistic defenders out there? VVD has many artistic qualities (maybe his talismanic nature make me think that).

[@Dkmo94]

@@patrickscottwalsh I believe a defender can be elegant and that great defense itself can be art, but I don't think it's possible to approach defending as an art. you're constantly busy preventing a bunch of things from happening in that exact instant, there's not enough time to react to something artfully (imo)

[@patrickscottwalsh]

@@Dkmo94 I agree for the most part, but some instances in the response are on a level beyond good defense. A reaction of pure creativity can occur.

[@vegasmona]

Pat Baresi is a prime example how great a defender could be, Maldini learn from the best, he has vision, a great game reader, he could overlap forward but still has the time to come back. Theo Hernandez who play for Milan now says it loudly that he could go forward but he need to level up his defending skill because he's a defender, his primary job is to defend his area, this is what todays full back is lacking, they're good offensively but become the most problem for the team, a prime example is Jordi Alba, man that guy is messed up he should just change his position to a winger. Maldini and Baresi played 196 games together and only conceded 23 goals, that's crazy. Just like what Alex Ferguson said attacking won you a game, but defending won you a title.

[@caineud29]

Kovacic is another great player that can make a big difference in that 6er position

[@SirKnobofCheese]

The best out and out defensive midfielder I've seen is claude makelele.

[@dwkickoff]

But did he get forward enough? The modern defensive midfielder gets a few goals like Axel no?

[@SirKnobofCheese]

@@dwkickoff Probably not. But that wasn't his Job. At Chelsea Lampard scored more than enough for both of them. Btw i'm not a Chelsea fan.

[@elmerwilber3308]

@@dwkickoff Sergio Busquets has only scored 6 goals in 224 La Liga appearances for Barcelona

[@elmerwilber3308]

@@dwkickoff Florentino Pérez after Real Madrid sold Makelele to Chelsea: 'We will not miss Makelele. His technique is average, he lacks the speed and skill to take the ball past opponents, and 90% of his distribution either goes backwards or sideways. He wasn't a header of the ball and he rarely passed the ball more than three meters. Younger players will cause Makelele to be forgotten.'

[@elmerwilber3308]

@@dwkickoff Mike Forde, Chelsea's then director of football operations, explained: "Most players are very active when they're aimed towards the opposition's goal, in terms of high-intensity activity. Very few players are very strong going the other way. If you look at Claude, 84% of the time he did high-intensity work, it was when the opposition had the ball, which was twice as much as anyone else on the team." This is why I think you're missing the point a bit. In the video, did you not say that defensive midfielders are underappreciated because they are not attackers?

[@paulsharma4807]

Trust me this position is very hard you don’t have that free role to run everywhere across the pitch . Just have to link up with the players and cover the defence all the time

[@elliotchinneryhinks8554]

Carrick, witsel, xhaka so many who are super underrated, every young footballer should watch these type of videos

[@Biomirth]

Such a good bridge video in between 'casual' fans understanding and real in depth football nuance. I love how thoughtfully you summarized the general idea of the defensive midfielder without making it too simple at all. Axel was a great subject too; As chill in the interview as he is on the ball. What a player.

[@duncancoetzee5792]

Played as a CB during my kid years, then turned into a midfielder because of my passing range and ruthlessness, made that midfield mine because I was and still is ruthless off the ball. One thing that helped me with my game was when I started incorporating dribbling and body feints into my arsenal. 1st breaking down play and then starting counter attacks. Tho Im a #6, my shirt number always 4.

[@norbert4571]

I started out as a Winger and as I developed my playmaking skills I became more central and deeper. Now I play either as a False 9/CAM (that comes back on defense) or as a CM that playmakes from the back. Something of a mix between Messi and Lucas Torreira's game styles.

[@iamwhatiam5091]

Denis Zakaria, Teun Koopmeiners, Luis Alberto, Sandro Tonali are the upcoming defensive midfielders to watch out for in the current era of football.

[@dwkickoff]

Do you think this crop has the potential to be as good as Witsel? Who's the best of that bunch?

[@iamwhatiam5091]

@@dwkickoff Sandro Tonali is said to be a mixture of Gattuso and Pirlo. Zakaria also has shown great potential by playing a big part in Borussia Monchengladbach's title challenge this season in the German Bundesliga. So yeah I think some of these names can be as good as Witsel if not better. Casemiro is another great defensive midfielder you forgot to mention in the video.

[@arnabmitra4348]

Axel is a fantastic player along side his defensive midfield patner in Belgium national team Rajda Nanngolan . Both are very underrated . And DW should mention Name of the legends Micheal Carrick , Roy Kean , Ronald Koeman they all are Master of defensive midfield💪🙏

[@ΒασίληςΑγγελόπουλος-ξ3δ]

Every position in football is important. When people say that the no 6 is the most crucial and stuff like that, they are just as wrong as the guys overpraising strikers, defenders etc. You never think of a specific body part as more important than the others. It's the body as a whole that you praise.

[@arupb9293]

0:24 " only the real people who know football will see the quality of a number six."- Alex Witsel

[@manusarma]

There are double Pivots but no two 6's in the game BTW. Also, I was surprised that Thiago wasn't discussed at all. It was a decent effort to explain the #6 position and really good to hear from a good player, playing in one of the top team's from one of the top league's in Europe.

[@arjitjere1559]

Interesting and insightful from witsel talking about DM Role.. His role has been more in mould. Of proper #6 at bvb, remember him going forward more at zenit in box to box role. Defensive midfielder is not glamorous but certainly very important the balance of the team

[@had2bg]

John Obi Mikel. Very underrated and often disrespected when talked about.

[@dwkickoff]

Mikel's a great call for underrated players. Was he the glue holding Chelsea together all those years?

[@MarkBustos2]

Great Video, I would consider Michael Carrick at end of his career and Roy Keane to the list of #6.

[@indrohari1908]

Its depend how you can interpret your role and football style or culture for example england will never produce midfielder like pirlo (will be judge as luxury player)

[@jeff2049]

indrohari 1908 true

[@tjkim1999]

indrohari 1908 those are differences in the style but not the job and the role. While pirlo wouldn't have as much physical defensive duties, his positioning was absolutely perfect, cutting off passing lanes and controlling the game even in defense by forcing passes. And he would obviously have the same role in possession. Being able to take pressure and create passing lanes out of tight situations is his job. Same as any other 6. Organize defense, control under pressure, and create space for players.

[@tusharpatil9400]

Are you kidding? Scholes,Gerrard...Harry winks :P

[@indrohari1908]

@@tusharpatil9400 scholes, gerrard not a regista mate Dont know about harry winks, never watch him play The way english football treat playmaker is different than italian football Scholes maybe have a great long pass but his playing style is more of direct typical british players If pirlo play in EPL maybe pundit and fans alike will call him side pass merchant Its take pirlo performance in his twilight year against England NT for english media and fans to rate him

[@indrohari1908]

@Djorn Barrett look man, regista playing style is not only to play long pass but control the game and dictate from deep and sometimes move to outside the box Pirlo movement is all over the pitch although passing and demand ball here and there Scholes is more direct and more simple and his passing especially vision Can scholes adapt to team with empashing to control and possesion football ?? Yes he can in theory, but reality is when EPL at direct style of play in prime MU source of creativity some from Wings play and scholes tend to be a more of box2box with keane After carrick coming to MU, and style of play is more of direct quick counter attack his long passing becoming more threatvto opponent But after all of that, scholes never control the tempo of the game as he want Because its not his style as simple as that

[@galuhrichata6148]

Still remember how crumbled Los Galacticos was when they lost Claude Makalele.

[@otineyskciderf]

Busquets carrying Barcelona to the Sextuple (La Liga Champion, Copa Del Rey Champion, Uefa Champions league trophy, Spanish Super Cup Champion, Uefa Super Cup Champion and Club World Cup Champion) , and Spain to the World Cup 2010 and Euro 2012 triumph already placed him as the Best Anchorman/CDM/Holding Midfielder/6er of all time.

[@Katkayz]

The defensive midfielder are the people that make champions. Redondo made Real winning two champions league titles ( 98 and 2000) Then makele took over Real won in 2002 and when left Real fail apart . Then casemiro took over than role . Other great defensive Midfielders are Roy Keane Patrick Veira Gatuso

[@everythingisamindgame9666]

Pirlo for sure

[@Mr2cool4yall]

Makelele best DMF ever. He changed the way this position should be played

[@inchyokk]

i like that witsel is highlighted. what about Marcelo Brozovic very underrated and is an embodiment to what is preached here

[@havethat3981]

Yes true CDM position is underrated and the most difficult position to balance the team cause mostly midfielders and full backs will go forward to support the attack

[@andreaninosajdak3475]

I remember always buying witsel on my careers in fifa 13 and making him reach 90 overall ahahaha. Great and interesting video

[@baronvonsauna]

Casimero and Kante are the best rn imo(and fifas lol), fab is very underrated. Love this channel. Need more of this smokeshow host😍!

[@1908augusto]

You should of mentioned Brozovic

[@papitata]

Witsel was my favourite nr 6 for Benfica of the last decade. Classy ball-snatcher, always up for scoring a goal, majestic dribbler, and excellent passer. He's a #6 with the spirit of a #10. All the best to him at Borussia!

[@shuraikh6491]

respect to axel for the amazing eye contact

[@swordis45]

Best position in football makes everybody else life easier on the field

[@wellhiddenradio647]

Really ehjoyed this.. Great work Gang ,a very informative refreshing look at the roll of a number 6

[@dwkickoff]

Thanks Aiden!

[@khobymike6755]

I loved the beat drop when they talked about pirlo

[@maxtuma7587]

Let's get this channel to 100k bois!

[@stanbeyani5089]

First day I stambled upon this channel I immediately subscribed..

[@thomasbuck303]

If you have a great CAM and CDM, you don't have to spend much elsewhere to build a great team. The CAM makes his strikers better, and the CDM makes the defenders better.

[@Zoro3-3]

Claude Mekelele redefined that number 6 role

[@ambigjo3900]

Fernandinho was man city's engin in 2017-18 season. People only talk about how amazing Debruyne was forgetting fernandinho...😥

[@joaoaugusto7082]

Great video, but in Brasil #6 it´s aways the left back(LB), the CDM is 5

[@muhammadabeerpakistanistockist]

GREAT ANALYSIS, loved this content. AXEL WITSEL is one of the best No.6 in the world of football. #EchteLeibeBvb09

[@Jack-jt2vc]

No just no he's but he isn't kante or fabinho

[@moistpeanut5986]

As a football fan which grew up watching late 90s football where 433 became dominant. I always enjoyed watching the 6 pivot.

[@Kobs.A]

The best cdm in the world right now is none other than, the undisputed, irreplaceable, hardworking, evergreen engine. The maestro, the combatant, the ultra precise movement, the hideous on the eyes, but aesthetically pleasing to the technical eye of a centrocampista, FABINHO

[@coopercook216]

My coach put me at this position a while back and him being from Sheffield and growing up loving the game I feel good about myself 👍👍👍🥴

[@peter-ut1eq]

Thanks for telling us. Definitely didn't know any of this before

[@jpm4753]

A solid dm is what man united need Fred and Mctominay are good Players but they are good going forward and defensively so I would say they are a box to box I would love if we signed ndidi

[@everythingisamindgame9666]

Both r crap Bruno and Pogba r miles ahead of them

[@thewolf-cp9pq]

the best cdm right now for me is casemiro. solid like rock and he score important goala for the team.

[@efanferdiantowibowo9610]

DM is all about transition. Their main job is not scoring goals nor saving shots. Their job is to help when the team build up play from the back and to cancel the opponents build up before they could reach defensive third. That job is not as sexy as other roles.

[@nokilhot3550]

People that don't know the game always underestimate defensive positions.

[@TheGkslzky]

just watch Leicester city with wilfred ndidi.You can see the difference when coach choose mendy or the other guy who has cool hairstyle instead of ndidi.

[@loremipsum4456]

Yeah ndidi is amazing

[@brokennative1784]

Currently best in the world

[@NYCfrankie]

Wish pep had remembered this against Chelsea during the Champions League final

[@ScarfaceFranckRibery]

Great player to interview

[@exiledskunk5046]

For me Fabinho was top 3 CDM in Europe last season, quite possibly the best.

[@adrianlim116]

A great number 6 will dramatically change and improve the entire squad of 11. Very underrated position. I am a Manchester United fan and one example i can give to you is Micheal Carrick. During his peak time in United he was not always in the spotlight, the attention always went to Ronaldo, Rooney or Scholes in midfield. But Carrick is one of the most important players in the United squad back then. I hope Scott Mctominay is able to carry the flag for United now.

[@davidzolcer4848]

One if the best defensive midfielders who played as N. 8 was Gennaro Gattuso. This guy was so crucial to AC Milan’s Golden Era when they reached the 2003, 05 and 07 Champions League Final

[@jjohnwords2873]

I played CDM twice as a makeshift due to injury.... I was blowing 😂 plus I'm not used to having so much of the pitch around me like that. That position is difficult

[@dwkickoff]

Maybe the best way to get people to appreciate the position is to make them play it for 90 minutes!

[@cski5142]

This channel is incredibly underrated🤧😖

[@yohanesstephen225]

this is clearly facts, after reading more books about football and coaching tactics, this position is really similar to quarterback in American football due to holding a role as the brain of the team (building attacking momentum and sniffing also maintaining their defense zone). They doesn't need to be fast and flair like a striker, also doesn't always require a strong physique from the get go since they can improve their physical prowess, but their fundamental skills is to read the game. I find a manga titled "Ao Ashi" to be a good example of how is this position is crucial in modern football (forget all the exaggration in the manga lol) but I agree that this position always filled with genius player that possibly have a bird-view angle when they scanning the field.

[@GreensBoys05]

That's also what I always think that seeing a match live isn't the same as watching it on tv. On tv the camera is always with the ball, in stadium, you can see what ever direction you want.

[@s149660]

what about Fernandinho in city ... I think he's among the best bunch too. Witsel is also amazing

[@dwkickoff]

Great call, Fernandinho's getting lots of mentions in the comments

[@fahrigonzo]

Axel, a brother with blue eyes

[@TheLateral18]

When is the video on the number 8 Coming? People now a days dont understand any of that. They think football is the 5-6 highlights of players scoring

[@learn-2-earnn]

Fabinho is exactly what u wud get if u could have someone who is gud at everything they discussed ...

[@skyforcereloaded6499]

I was born to play as a #5 or central defender. Watching Ronaldinho play influenced me into becoming a #6. I don't score a lot but when I do it's always special.

[@Masangtea_Pautu]

Roy Keane is the best...people only recognise his foul but his passing ability is very underratted, the way he read the game, tackle, interception is whole another level

[@Ben_PN]

"Holding Midfielder" for less messy spelling.

[@ebuzertahakanat]

Ok boomer.

[@m2k16]

Holding mids are CMs with a deep role

[@m2k16]

@Djorn Barrett no I hate the term holding midfielder. The DM position has more than one role the holding midfielder is the equivalent of playing Xhaka as a LB. We have tried to play many CMs in those DM roles only Song reached the top level last decade.

[@amirkazemi2504]

Greatest video on CDM on youtube, thanks!

[@dreykim]

The music that these guys use is really underrated

[@nigelc5264]

My lil brother wants to be a cdm but I keep trying to teach him and make him understand it’s more the defending easily one of the most difficult positions to play especially when it comes to positioning

[@hctan9925]

Maybe there could be global individual award for players in every position as prestigious as ballon d'or. I mean DM is so important that every club understand (okay I understand not everyone). Also human being emotional creature they associate more emotive experience with more importance. The euphoria of a goal scored for the supporter is not the same as an important tackle made and hence people always rate attacker more highly.

[@boxwatch3145]

You forgot Casemiro...🤔

[@dwkickoff]

He is a very decent player indeed. But doesn't he need to bring home the big trophies this season to join the likes of Pirlo, Kante etc?

[@ultraborisgaming7929]

DW Kick off! 3 champions league in row and you don’t think he has big trophies. Don’t forget he recently won the Copa America which Messi could not win. You sound like Real Madrid hater

[@marti21121]

@@dwkickoff this is a joke. he was so important for Zidane during the three-peat, and continues to be indispensable for him right now, barely getting any rest. he's also extremely important for the national team.

[@lesh4815]

@@dwkickoff He has four champions league titles, a league title, two Spanish Cups, 1 Copa del Rey, two Uefa super cups and won Copa America...😂 😂 I don't know what you want from him. "He's a decent player"👀😂

[@asquared5786]

DW Kick off! Wtf bid trophies? Have you been sleeping the past five years ? He did what none of these players didn’t They couldn’t even smell it

[@alwaysincentivestrumpethic6689]

Claude Makelele is the best holding midfielder ever !! I don't think Andrea Pirlo qualifies as a holding midfielder

[@dwkickoff]

Good shout! Harsh on Pirlo though...

[@ssmovie4036]

now I knew why am I keep answering Pirlo, Alonso is my favorite than saying kaka or Ronaldinho who obviously scores more goals.

[@pratikguha3362]

The CDM position is definitely a very underrated position. Specially also for a lot of the dirty work they have to do.

[@RedLorryYellowLorry_]

The Makelele role

[@iv0rysh0es39]

As a defensive player, it's always a shame to see how sensationalism only allows for goal scoring attackers to get attention. But the team's trust to hold it down in the back cannot be understated.

[@NomadSDA]

Actually i think they get the credit they deserve .De Rossi, Busquets, Pirlo in some part of his career, Lampard,Gerrard they all got the credit they deserved.Of course attackers will have more attention ,that is normal scoreing is the fruit of this game but if you are good at your position you always get your credit no matter which club or position you play.Today scouting system and analyse of the game is so progressed its almost impossible to miss out of somethings or someones importance.