bobbyowenquiff
Well-Known Member
He's not playing as a holding midfielder, he's playing as a #8, the same role Guardiola plays him here, and he'd play him in the same role if he managed Belgium too.
One of the ways we know that is because according to De Bruyne, Guardiola decided to play Kev there after seeing Martinez use him in that role for Belgium.
So why did he spend a significant period of last night screening his centrebacks? The number 8 role for City is essentially a second number 10 who spends most of their time in the forward channels. When we first started playing it KDB and Silva used to get in each other's way a lot but they have both now adapted to it.
KDB himself has said publically he plays too deep for Belgium and this has been a theme in the Belgian media. He got forward last night only because of the poor quality of the opposition. Martinez has set up the Belgian team like Everton with slow movement and overcautious passing.