The Spark of a Mezzala

The role of a mezzala is actually quite simple. It refers to the two widest players of a midfield three who combine the role of a central midfielder and a winger. The term “mezzala” comes from “mezzo ala” which means half winger. 

Paul Pogba is high profile example of a mezzala. Picking up the ball from deep and driving through the midfield, he will often take the ball out wide. This then encourages the wide player in front to push further forward. A benefit of having a midfielder who pushes wide is that they’re in a great position to whip in crosses. 

The role is very fluid. A mezzala’s movement isn’t exclusive between the midfield and the wings. They also look to pick up space in-between the midfield and the forwards in the centre. It’s essentially the midfielder with the creative license. They have the least defined role of the midfield, but this really only works with more defensively minded players around the mezzala.

The 2018 French side is a perfetc example. Whilst playing a 4-2-3-1, Blaise Matuidi was an inside forward on the left, and N'Golo Kante played alongside Pogba in the middle. This meant Pogba could join in further up the pitch knowing he’s covered defensively.

Paul Pogba often plays with the freedom of a mezzala.DYNAMISM: Paul Pogba's athleticism allows him to play with the freedom of a mezzala.

The Modern Gegenpress

The gegenpress has become the most common way for managers to encourage their team to play. In simple terms, it’s getting multiple players to press the opposition when they have the ball, forcing them into an error. There is a risk to this as if four players press one opponent, there will be multiple unmarked players.

The theory is that by pressing the ball, that player won’t be able to pick out an accurate long ball and the pressing team will recover possession high up the pitch, or the ball will be launched back into their half. 

INSIGHT: Jurgen Klopp has turned Liverpool into Premier League champions with gegenpressing.

There are different ways of gegenpressing. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp gets his players to surround the man with the ball. Manchester City under Pep Guardiola tend to block the passing lanes between the player on the ball and the potential recipients of a pass. Both of these methods rely on speed and timing, to regain possession as quickly and as high up the pitch as possible.

Timing is key. It's not just about constantly pressurising every opponent. There's little point in sending four attackers to press a defender when there's clearly passing options available. The best time to press is when a defender receives the ball but has a poor touch.

The effects of the increased use of gegenpressing at the top level is clear, with the proportion of open-play goals scored on the counter-attack in the Champions League being almost halved in the last decade. It is used to target certain players who are less comfortable on the ball.

A reason why gegenpressing is so often the style of choice nowadays, is that players are fitter than they’ve ever been. They can keep the pressing intensity up for much longer.

The Romantic Trequartista

Unfortunately, the trequartista is a dying role in modern football.  It’s a number 10 who will pick up the ball and make fast advances into the opposition penalty area. They'll hit the striker and then run onto a layoff at pace, or simply dribble through the opposition defence. Francesco Totti at Roma is a great example. He would float around the attacking third, and suddenly burst into life. The word trequartista refers to the third quarter of the football pitch, because this is where the trequartista weaves their magic.

The reason it’s not a very common role in football these days is relevant to the increased use of gegenpressing. Managers want every member of the team to defend from the front, but a trequartista of old would not see this as part of their game.

They would be the main creative drive for a team, and would conserve their energy for attacking. Roberto Mancini actually described the trequartista as having: “Poor attitude to the defensive phase”.

IL CAPITANO: Francesco Totti played for Roma for a staggering 25 seasons.

The role is not completely dead in Italy however, with players such as Alejandro Gomez at Atalanta still playing with the fluidity and creativity of Zinedine Zidane or Roberto Baggio.

The Reassuring Libero

Libero takes its name from the Italian word for ‘free’. It’s a spare defender who sits behind the defensive line, and sweeps up danger and loose balls. It’s what the English call a sweeper.

In the very early days of sweepers, there was a sense that a side using a libero were weaker, and needed that stability to then rely on counter-attacks.

DER KAISER: Franz Beckenbauer is synonymous with the sweeper role.

Franz Beckenbauer is the first person many people think of when discussing a libero. He perfected the role for both Bayern Munich and West Germany in the late 80’s and early 90’s. They played a 4-3-3, but one of the two centre backs would often be placed directly behind the other.

Beckenbauer developed the role by occasionally moving into the midfield to create a 3-4-3 in transition. This is why many also viewed Beckenbauer as a midfielder.

The libero does still have a role in modern football. David Alaba at Bayern steps out of the defence and drives into the midfield, in order to break the first line of opposition press. This is becoming more common because of top-level centre-backs developing their passing skills.

With the ball

David Alaba

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The role is now common in a 3-5-2 system. Teams like Atalanta and Sheffield United let the two wider centre backs advance up the wings to start attacks, whilst the remaining centre back holds their position and sweeps up.

This is often now shared with goalkeepers like Manchester City’s Ederson or Manuel Neuer at Bayern, who position themselves on the edge of the box start building attacks.