The men in the middle

Having witnessed some of the finest midfielders in the modern game play this week in the Champions League quarter-finals, it made me think about how the central midfield position has changed over the years.

Playing football as a kid, on through my apprenticeship when I went to England and into the early stages of my professional career, the only formation I played was the traditional 4-4-2.

It’s only in recent years that new systems have been tried in a bid to dominate the midfield battle that so often can be the difference between winning and losing matches.