Complete guide for the Defensive Midfield role

This is the complete presentation for the defensive midfielder position. In this article we're going to look at all of the details we need to know about playing this position.

Let's get started.

Main responsibilities:

Defending: Tackling, anticipation, disrupting, tactical fouls 

Support: Link with the defenders and other midfielders for simple short passes

Attack: Switch with the more offensive minded teammates if there's a opportunistic time to do that

Defense

When you read the defensive responsibilities you can notice that they're all connected to each other. 

For example, good tackle is being made after anticipating the situation correctly and having a good timing, which disrupts the opposition's team attack, and if needed, in a helpless situation, you can stop the opponents with a smart tactical foul, maybe getting a yellow card, but potentially saving a goal.

Defensive skills and tricks 

Shadowing 

Hiding between and scanning the situation, so you can cut(steal, interrupt) the pass or take the ball from an opponent that can't see you from his angle.

Double team

Recognising that the opponent that has the ball is in difficult situation, and then helping your teammate to win the ball faster.

Fouls 

This is more of a mental than a physical trick. By fouling the opponents, you're sending them message that it's going to be a war out there for 90 minutes. Also there are the tactical fouls, that stop a potential attack or counter attack.

Gamble runs 

In a middle of a melee, anticipating where the ball is going to end up, and intercepting the pass, the dribble or getting to the ball quicker if it deflects.

Support and attack 

This depends on the team tactics. Sometimes the CDM has very important role in the attack build up, and sometimes very limited with a duty to play simple passes to the player who's closest.

Running tendencies 

10.6 km average distance, in 90 minutes 

Constantly running, more than the other players (CDMs and other types of central midfielders usually run the most)

Less sprints, then wingers, full backs and forwards.

Types of CDMs and perfect characteristics for that position 

Top 12 skills, abilities 

First touch 

Passing 

Tackling 

Aggression 

Anticipation 

Bravery 

Concentration 

Decision making 

Determination 

Work rate 

Teamwork 

Strength 

Stamina 

Exercises 

Technique

Cone weaves, different directions 

Strength 

Speed

The full speed workout program will be released soon.

 

Stamina 

Learn from legendary players 

Match highlights, instructions, advice

Additionally, we will add more videos about great individual match performances here on this article. And we plan to do some educational performance review articles. Thank you for reading this presentation, stay tuned for more football content.

Anchor man role explained 

Sometimes referred to as the "water carrier" , the anchor man's main duty is to sit in the hole between the defence and the midfield, intercepting moves, winning the ball and laying off simple passes to his more creative teammates.

Since his key job is anchor the defence, he doesn't venture too far from his position.

 The place where the Anchor man is usually

 positioned on the pitch

Key attributes 

Strength, anticipation, composure, concentration, decisions, positioning, teamwork, marking, tackling 

Tendencies 

Taking fewer risks, dribbling and shooting less, little roaming, sticking to position 

Modern players from which you can study this role, by watching their performances on the football pitch

Rodri

Sergio Busquets 

Cristante 

De Roon

Nemanja Matić 

Fabinho