A double pivot is a withdrawn central-midfield or defensive-midfield pairing. They are positioned in front of the central defenders, inside the full-backs, and behind the attacking midfielders. The duo is most commonly used in a 4-2-3-1, operating behind a 10... 👥🧵
In the 1980s, Brazil played in a 4-2-2-2, with Falcão and Cerezo in front of the defence and behind Zico and Socrates. This evolved, into something resembling a 4-2-3-1. One of the centre-forwards dropped back, and the attacking midfielders moved wider to form a three... 👥🧵
The players in a double pivot must possess awareness and understanding of spaces and pressure, especially in central areas. These two players operate mostly underneath the attacking unit, so one has licence to support attacks with late forward runs... 👥🧵
The double pivot must provide protection for the centre-backs, so they need to communicate well and be disciplined and organised enough to help maintain a defensive block. Knowing when to leave their slot to press, or move out as cover for a wide player, is also key... 👥🧵
Under Nagelsmann, Bayern often employ a double pivot featuring Kimmich and Goretzka who provide good protection and defensive presence out of possession. Kimmich has experience at full-back, meaning he can defend effectively in one-on-one situations... 👥🧵
Soucek and Rice combine to create a formidable pairing for West Ham’s midfield under Moyes. They provide fantastic protection for the back four, with both exceptional in individual duels. They also press superbly, and work back to cover behind their centre-backs... 👥🧵
AC Milan tend to set up with a double pivot comprising two of Sandro Tonali, Franck Kessié or Ismaël Bennacer. One drops into the back line during build-up, creating a three-man first line with the centre-backs... 👥🧵
Which other teams have used a double pivot successfully?
• 2008/09 Liverpool under Rafa Benítez: Xabi Alonso and Javier Mascherano.
• 2014/15 Chelsea under José Mourinho: Cesc Fàbregas and Nemanja Matic.
• 2018 France under Didier Deschamps: N’Golo Kanté and Paul Pogba.
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Spain used a 4-3-3 structure and built play patiently from the back, despite Germany pressing aggressively from their 4-2-3-1. They moved the ball around the back line to isolate Thomas Müller, before a centre-back stepped out with the ball into midfield... 🧐🧵
Olmo continued to move inside and Asensio dropped deep, in the process pulling Süle out of his position in Germany’s back line. This helped Spain to build out from the back and get around Germany’s increasingly effective high press... 🧐🧵
Traditionally, full-backs are the widest players in a back four, and as a result they attack and defend mostly in the wide areas. However, full-backs who move inside into central spaces are known as ‘inverted full-backs’. This movement adds an extra presence centrally... ↩️🧐
Although Pep Guardiola is the coach most associated with the inverted full-back, Johan Cruyff used them with Barcelona many years before. Then, he often converted the 4-3-3 into a 3-4-3 diamond, with one full-back inverting into central midfield... ↩️🧐
Manchester United were set up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, but Fred pushed forward from the double pivot to become a number 8 and give them a stronger attacking presence in central midfield. Bruno Fernandes then adapted his positioning, moving into the left inside channel... 🧐🧵
The hosts eventually pushed both full-backs higher, primarily working around the outside of Tottenham’s wing-backs. United’s wingers then came inside, with the freedom to rotate with Fred and Fernandes, as long as both inside channels were always occupied... 🧐🧵
Barcelona were set up in a 4-3-3, against a Madrid 4-4-2 defensive block. Torres moved inside to support centre-forward Aubameyang. De Jong and Pedri widened to support through the inside channels, with Busquets left as the single pivot ahead of the two centre-backs... 🧐🧵
Busquets dropped into defence to draw one of Madrid’s central midfielders up, and Pedri drifted wider to drag the other out. This often left De Jong as the free man to receive in the inside channel when Barcelona’s back line could access him... 🧐🧵
4-4-2 is made up of three distinct lines. The back four including two centre-backs and two full-backs. Ahead of them, a midfield four features two players in the middle and one on each side. Then the front two in attack who provide both height and goalscoring threat... 4️⃣4️⃣2️⃣🧵
In the 1950s, Viktor Maslov developed another variation of the 4-2-4, in which the two wingers dropped back alongside the two central midfielders. So originated the 4-4-2, which worked to overload opposition midfields with traditionally fewer numbers... 4️⃣4️⃣2️⃣🧵