In The Zone: Rafa Benítez on Paris' win at Arsenal
Wednesday, April 30, 2025
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UEFA Technical Observer Rafa Benítez explains how mobile midfielders and ever-changing positions helped Paris earn a UEFA Champions League semi-final first-leg win at Arsenal.
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"Paris Saint-Germain have the mobility of their midfielders. They change positions all the time with the midfielders and wingers or strikers." These words came from UEFA Technical Observer Rafa Benítez who, reflecting on the French side's UEFA Champions League semi-final first-leg win at Arsenal, identified their fluid movement in midfield as a pivotal factor.
In the following article, brought to you by FedEx, Benítez analyses that mobility and the part played by match winner Ousmane Dembélé in dropping deep in their 1-0 success on Tuesday night. He will also reflect on the attributes required to play this way – and the questions it asks of the opposition.
Echoes of Anfield strike
To begin with Dembélé's fourth-minute goal, it called to mind the same player's strike in the 1-0 victory at Liverpool in the round of 16. As Luis Enrique, the Paris coach, said: "If you look at the goal we scored at Anfield and you compare it with the first goal [here], they are so similar and I am very happy when my players try to play in that way."
What was similar was the movement in the lead-up, as is shown by the clip of the goal at the start of the video above. Mikel Arteta was generous in his praise for the way it was constructed – "credit to them because they get out from a situation that is completely closed," he said of Paris – and the Arsenal manager went on to cite the positioning of Dembélé, dropping deep into the middle of the pitch. "They bring the 'nine' very, very far from the reference of your central defenders," he said.
As the clip unfolds, the movement of other players is crucial also. First Vitinha is shown drawing Mikel Merino away from the middle to help open up space for Dembélé. Then, as the sequence progresses further, Fabián Ruiz drags Arsenal right-back Jurriën Timber infield, leaving the wing clear for Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Another example of Paris' fluid attacking approach is seen in the second clip. As they build play, right-back Achraf Hakimi is in a pocket of space in midfield, close to Dembélé, the false nine. "PSG play with three at the back and have Hakimi playing forward a bit inside," explained Benítez.
There is then a rotation between Kvaratskhelia and Ruiz on the left, the former moving inside to create space for his colleague to receive out wide.
"They can pass the ball, they can hold the ball, they can find the players between the lines," added Benítez of the Paris midfield, and there was particular praise for Vitinha, the Player of the Match. "You see Vitinha keeping balance, protecting the centre-backs, and when they regain the ball, he is always available, passing and giving support to everyone."
Rafa Benítez’s coaching reflections
How a mobile midfield challenges opponents
"With João Neves, Fabián Ruiz and Vitinha, if they move around, each of them can go right or left or more offensive or defensive and the other team have to follow. Therefore, when an opposition midfielder follows Fabián, for example, he can leave a gap and this raises the question of who controls that gap. And you also have Dembélé who can drop off and collect, so this mobility and interchanging of positions create doubts in the other team."
Teaching a fluid approach...
"You need to give the players the sense of controlling the space. For example, if Vitinha goes forward, João Neves has to be aware he has left that area. Therefore, your players need to understand the game. In all the spaces you have to have one of your players so that you can link with them. When teaching this to young players, they need to see where the space is – 'We need a player here so we can keep passing and moving the ball'. Awareness is one thing as problems can arise if you leave gaps, and you also need players with the quality to control and to pass the ball."
...and how to stop it
"In terms of defending, if you follow a 1v1 approach everywhere on the pitch, the cleverer or faster or stronger player will have the advantage. An alternative to following players is zonal marking and your team working as a unit. Another option would be a mix with some man-to-man marking for the opposition's best players. Every system has pros and cons. When working zonally, if a player goes from your zone another player will then follow him so you’re covering space everywhere. Yet interchanging opponents is more of a challenge closer to your penalty box as if you get it wrong there, the risk is greater."
Playing the Vitinha way
"The triangle between the centre-backs and holding midfielder is crucial to protect the central area and at Liverpool, I had holding midfielders like Xabi Alonso, Javier Mascherano and Lucas Leiva – they gave balance to the team and at same time protected the centre-backs. With Vitinha, when Paris didn't have the ball, he was aways available in front of the centre-backs; additionally, when they needed help, he was dropping to one side to receive the ball.
"The key thing in this position is to play always with your head up. You need to see behind you before you receive and make sure you're aware of what is going on around you. A player in that position also needs both feet – right foot, left foot – as they have to play one-touch often, or control it quickly and move the ball to the other side.
"On the training ground, I'd suggest you start with work in small spaces to be sure everyone knows what to do when under pressure, but also you need to work in bigger spaces to be sure they don’t always play short but can play long if necessary. In the case of Vitinha, he can play short but he can also play penetrating passes, with balls behind defenders. Ultimately, a player with the vision and awareness of space is key."
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