The Technician: Midfield masterclass

Midfield masterclass

In the latest edition of UEFA’s Technician magazine, world-class midfielders Rodri, Kevin De Bruyne and Aitana Bonmatí provide a unique insight into the technical, tactical, physical and psychological skills needed to excel in midfield positions at the highest levels of the game.

Rodri

Spain and Manchester City's Ballon d'Or winner Rodri explains how positioning and speed of movement is more important than physicality, the importance of controlling the tempo of the game and studying where second-balls will land.

"Often people think that you win the ball back by pressing the player with the ball, but nowadays most of the players are really skillful," he explains. "They read the different situations really well and it’s more common to win the ball back by predicting where that second ball is going to be played rather than by intercepting it from the person who has the ball. It’s important to read where those second balls are going to be played, the rebounds. You need to study where and when these situations and half-clearances tend to happen."

Kevin De Bruyne

For Belgium and City midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, a willingness to cover big distances in order to meet the demands of the role at the highest level of the game shouldn’t be underestimated. "I think people know what I can do with the ball passing wise and creativity wise, but I think in my mindset I've always been, if I have a bad game, I will still be one of the guys who run the most, who still presses the other team and I think that sets an example for everybody else."

Aitana Bonmatí

Spain and Barcelona attacking midfielder Aitana Bonmatí, another Ballon d'Or winner, explains why size doesn’t stop her from being physical, the importance of teamwork and communication, and why mentality sets out the best from the rest. "Even though I'm small, that doesn't mean that I'm not physical," she explains. "Sometimes we have the stereotype that to be physical, you’ve got to be big, but I think that being physical is much more than that. So I always try to bring my worth in defence as well as in the attacking phase."