Javier Macherano (right) has been doing a good job even though he is not a natural central defender
What happened to real defenders That, perhaps, is the most curious question in world football.
There was a time, as close as mid 2000 when defenders were played with the sole purpose of preventing the goalkeeper from working for his pay. Even those who played Fifa were scared to play against the Italians or even worse AC Milan whose backline had Cafu, Alessandro Nesta, Paolo Maldini and Jaap Stam at one time.
Defenders who demanded respect from opponents. Strong, brave and tough as nails. Players who read the game in advance so well that they hardly had to make the so-called Hollywood tackles because they were already in position to quell impending danger.
So where have they gone
A look at Europe’s elite shows how rare such defenders have become. Real Madrid’s pair of Sergio Ramos and Pepe were given a run around by Wolfsburg strikers during their midweek Champions League clash. Barcelona’s Pique, a pale shadow of his former self, is riding on his past reputation. His partner Javier Mascherano, though doing a commendable job, is no natural centre-back.
Manchester City, for all the extravagant sums paid for their central defenders, are as likely to ship in silly goals as Arsene Wenger is to claiming that he could have signed just about every top player anytime Vincent Kompany fails to make the team. Then there is PSG’s 50 million man David Luiz, capable of rudimentary errors as he is of the spectacular.
There are still a few throwbacks to the former generation like Thiago Silva, John Terry, ailing as he might be, and Giorgio Chiellini. But by and large, they are exceptions rather than the rule.
Alex Ferguson always built his side on the back of a strong central defensive pairing, the last of which was Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand. The same can be said about Jose Mourinho, whose defensive duo at Chelsea, Terry and Ricardo Carvalho, were a force to be reckoned with.
Italy were spoiled for choice in defence for years as they churned out one top man after another.
So has there been a decline in defensive side of the game or an increase in the sophistication of attacking tactics
Perhaps the truth lies somewhere in the middle.
The approach of starting the attack from the back may have given rise to the change in trend. Now the skill set of a centre-back starts with his ability to bring the ball out of defence and play as an auxiliary midfielder if needed.
When somebody gets it right, as in the case of Mascherano, it can be devastating. But when things go wrong, as in the case of England’s John Stones in recent times or Luiz from time to time, more often than not it’s punished. To dilly-dally on the ball when it should have been booted as far up-field as possible is a criminal offence.
But then again hindsight is 20/20. The role of the full-backs have hardly helped matters. The onus on attack has forced the full-backs to break forward relentlessly to provide width.
The rule changes, including stringent laws against tackling from behind, and increased protection for strikers have hardly helped their cause. Neither has the decline of Claude Makelele type defensive midfielders.
As the game move towards the more flamboyant and expressive style, where attack seems to be the best form of defence, it’s leaving behind a part of the game, perceived as boring by most, which was once the game changer.
Many laugh at how Chelsea were lucky to win the Champions League with their ultra defensive approach against Barcelona and Bayern Munich. But it takes grit, concentration and hard grind for the smaller guy to pack that punch. And pack it they did!
