Defensive Midfielders: Unsung Heroes Of The Game

  If there are unspoken rules hidden in the universal laws of the beautiful game, one of them would probably be something like this: If you want your club to compete at the highest level, you have to have a defensive midfielder of the highest caliber. Whether by protecting the back four, or by shifting the ball from defense to offense, the CDM role is definitely one of extraordinary magnitude.

When you think of figures that influenced their teams like no other, the likes of Claude Makélélé and Patrick Vieira come to mind as two of the most dominant defensive midfielders to ever grace a football field, reinforcing their significance with the ultimate measure of success: lots of silverware.

In our modern era of football, FC Barcelona have mastered the art of pressure and positioning in their pursuit of retrieving the ball as soon as they lose it. The man who sits behind this success is none other than Sergio Busquets. His tactical awareness and ability to read the game on and off the ball is incredible. The balance he provides and the commitment he brings to his role show why so many cite him as the best holding midfielder in the world.

To dig deeper, we can reflect on a couple of exciting projects we witnessed in recent years such as Jürgen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund and Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid. Dortmund managed to lift two Bundesliga titles, after Jürgen effectively applied his famous Gegenpressing philosophy. No surprise when you have a tireless German machine like Sven Bender on the field. Simeone continues to showcase a style of a similar aggressive approach when it comes to team pressing and recovering the ball. The Gabi-Tiago partnership was indispensable in Atletico's successful 2013/2014 La Liga challenge.

Today, it is no coincidence Leicester City sit high at the top of the Premier League table. The brilliant Kanté-Drinkwater partnership has been rock solid. Just last month, Kanté was the first to reach 100 interceptions in the premier league this season. It is worth mentioning, that Esteban Cambiasso, the 2010 Treble winner with Inter Milan, turned down a new deal offered by the Foxes last summer.

Real Madrid also showed weakness in midfield which came to light particularly in the big games this season. Playing Toni Kroos as a defensive midfielder alongside Luka Modrić has proven to be ineffective in transition which cost the Blancos on the receiving end. The upcoming Clásico should be a good test as the Whites are hoping to solve this dilemma by introducing Casemiro as a regular starter.

A final, recent example that helps analyze this role is the catastrophic season for Chelsea FC. Nemanja Matić, a monster in midfield who was pivotal to the consistency Chelsea delivered throughout the last season, appeared in poor and declining form this season.

Of the many exciting aspects of football, the role of the holding midfielder is certainly one that exhibits a side beyond goal scoring. The equilibrium, the system, the engine.

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Zidane: a gamble worth the risk?

 Zinedine Zidane, arguably one of the best footballers in history, has been appointed to replace Rafael Benítez as Real Madrid's new manager. Zidane's legacy is eternal both as a French national team legend as well as a Real Madrid icon. Now he is embarking on a new challenge that doesn't always end well for previous players, in this case, a legend of the game.

Not so often will you hear the names Pelé and Maradona without the mentioning of Zidane's. That being said, we have already witnessed the managerial failure of Diego Maradona's campaign as he tried to lead a star-filled Argentina squad to World Cup glory in 2010. If anything it shows that being a genius on the field is one thing, and coaching a team of high caliber is another.

Many are questioning the readiness of Zinedine to take over as head coach of Real Madrid. Which is quite understandable, given the little coaching experience he has. "Zizou"has been in charge of Real Madrid Castilla ever since "La Décima" was lifted in Lisbon, back when Zinedine himself was Ancelotti's assistant. 

However Zidane's time alongside the Italian tactician Carlo Ancelotti proved the Frenchman's positive impact in the dressing room. His charisma and winning attitude were major additions that contributed to one of Real Madrid's most successful seasons in the last decade, as Real Madrid won the double.

The 1998 World Champion's job will be difficult this season since Rafa Benitez left him a team already disqualified from the Copa del Rey competition, as well as trailing behind Atletico Madrid and Barcelona in La Liga's title race.

One thing we have learned about the current Real Madrid president Florentino Perez, is that no manager is granted immunity from facing the axe if they fail to meet the very high standards set at Real Madrid. Even a club icon such as Zinedine Zidane could end up being sacked if he doesn't bring home silverware. Patience is not a word in Florentino's dictionary. 

This is also becoming the case in other prestigious European clubs, When a new manager is introduced, instant success is demanded. The question is can the three time FIFA World Player of the Year bring it?

Perhaps this mid season managerial swap can save the season for Real Madrid and maybe even lead to a UEFA Champions League triumph, similar to Chelsea's 2012 campaign when when Roberto Di Matteo replaced André Villas-Boas.

A gamble worth the risk? 

Only time can tell.