PannickAtTheDisco
Well-Known Member
No but there is a minium pace a player has to have to be a defensive mid in the PL and that is the pace of Fernandinho.
athleticism and energy are key, no surprise the top 2 in that kind of role are Kante and Dinho and Chelsea have struggled when using Bakayoko, and the Rags have been less effective with Matic and Arsenal with Xhaka, Chelsea were also far more effective back in the day with Makelele. It can work well in Spain (see Busquets), but over here it tends to be the smaller, more energetic type who is more effective.