The role of the modern central defender out of possession
Game | Positions | Noel Blake | 30.06.2021
Former England U19 coach, Noel Blake, discusses the role of the modern central defender when out of possession.
Learning:
• How to defend effectively when playing a high backline
• When and where a central defender can follow an attacker into midfield
• The technical, physical and psychological qualities need to defend 1v1 in wide areas
Pressing higher up the pitch and leaving space behind
With teams pressing higher up the pitch to try and win the ball back, central defenders now have to defend higher as well.
Central defenders have to learn how to win the ball in midfield and sometimes even step forward to win the ball in the opposition’s defensive third.
Playing with a high backline also means leaving a lot of space in behind, so the modern defender has to be an athlete in order to cover large distances at speed.
Follow into midfield if the distances between units are right and there is cover behind
When an attacker drops-off to receive the ball, central defenders can get caught between staying or going.
One central defender can go all the way in with the attacker if they know their full-backs and midfield players are compact with them.
