Controlling Midfielders (part 2)

Controlling midfielders are essential to execute a form of possession style with attacking intent in a disjointed team (no cohesion between the defence and attack) which struggles to control games and remain positive in play when the tempo drops, especially if a holding midfielder is not fielded. For balance, they can play in a tactical system with a 2-man midfield alongside holding midfielders or conventional defensive midfielders, however, you are more likely to have more control if you play them alongside a holding midfielder. An example is the Scholes (controlling midfielder) and Carrick (holding midfielder) partnership during Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign. In a tactical system with a 3-man midfield, they should be played alongside a conventional defensive midfielder or holding midfielder at the base for defensive cover and a midfielder with more attacking qualities needed to hurt the opposition as they control games in the middle third of the pitch. This midfielder could be an attacking box-to-box midfielder, a box-to-box midfielder, a central attacking midfielder or another controlling midfielder to achieve utmost control with a possession-based style like Barcelona do.

Some examples of top controlling midfielders are Xavi, Paul Scholes, Toni Kroos and Marco Verratti. Kevin De Bruyne has been given that role at Manchester City and Cesc Fàbregas was given the same role at Chelsea. Andrés Iniesta and Luka Modrić are also midfielders who evolved into this type of midfielders as they aged. Some are aggressive tacklers like Scholes was and Verratti is, however, ideally, they should be played alongside a more defensive minded player as they are not as defensively aware as some think. Some central attacking midfielders (CAMs) who also bring control in the attacking third can evolve and implement the controlling midfield role effectively as De Bruyne and Christian Eriksen have. Attacking box-to-box midfielders (ACMs) like Marek Hamšík and Andrés Iniesta can also evolve into controlling midfielders towards the end of their careers. Other examples of controlling midfielders are Ivan Rakitić, Arthur Melo, Miralem Pjanić, Thiago Alcântara, Koke, İlkay Gündoğan, Rúben Neves, Granit Xhaka, Jean Michaël Seri.

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