The defensive midfielder, known as the 6er in Germany, does the dirty work but gets little credit for it. Borussia Dortmund and Belgium’s Axel Witsel is one of the best in the business. But just think of stars like N’Golo Kante or the silky skills of Andrea Pirlo. Defensive midfield can be cool! In STARTELF (starting 11 in German), we examine one of the most underappreciated roles in football.
Report by Danya Barsalona
Camera: Manuel Vering
Editing: David Jacobi
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49 Comments
Is Axel Witsel the best #6 in the Bundesliga?! He's certainly got the best hair.
Players usually go to China when they think they're not good enough for Europe. This man came back to Europe and became one of the best in his role. Huge respect 💛🖤💛🖤
Carrick, witsel, xhaka so many who are super underrated, every young footballer should watch these type of videos
There are double Pivots but no two 6's in the game BTW. Also, I was surprised that Thiago wasn't discussed at all. It was a decent effort to explain the #6 position and really good to hear from a good player, playing in one of the top team's from one of the top league's in Europe.
I think The wingers r more underrated
1.Winger can adapt to play centre attacking midfield like Debryne or even second striker or deep 6 but I agree Wistel was a 10(cam) now his more of a deep 6,hey wake up people Debryne can do the same which he does well together in a double 6 with Wistel so the is no doubt wingers are god like to football and also Wingers have evolved to a full back or wingback role players like Ashely young and Victor Moses and can also Wingers also evolved into centre backs
Alaba Is one plays left wing for Austria but CB and also Devies latest evelotion of wingers Into defensive but his left back so u see Wingers=football no question every championship winning team has good wingers all over the pitch but good video and where was Fernandinho? he was a winger at shakter donestk(Russian football club) but player deep number 6 for mancity for 4 years straight and won a lot of trophies so u see what I'm saying.
The Makelele role
4:25 xD
Kimmich nd phillip Lahm flexible dmf
I'm asking myself the same whenever I play FM2020. DM rarely ever gets rating higher than 6 even if he had bunch of tackles, interceptions, won bunch of balls back and had a high pass completion rate.
is McTominay also 6 ?
im not really know deep about tactic of football, but when i see him play, with his big body and his long leg he can win the ball from opponent and stop their counterattack, at the same time he win his team possession and its build the attacking play, it happens a lot
*i only watch United (cause im United fans) and i love to follow youngster, i hope he can become better player later
in the past, i also hate Fellaini, its looks like he trying to hard and failed, but in the end of his United career, he start to playing good imo, he win the ball, not hold it for too long and quickly pass it to more attacking minded player, make the ball flow continue
I remember what he did to Wasilewski
For me, the defensive midfielder is the most important role on the football pitch.
All depends by the defensive midfielder, the entire team.
Greatest video on CDM on youtube, thanks!
If the first wave Galacticos Madrid kept Makelele as their CDM then they might've hogged the UCL against all odds
Comments saying Makelele, I say Matthaus then maybe Makelele
Fabinho was the final piece in Liverpool's defensive jigsaw. Allison and vvd get the credit they deserve but without fabinho the defense can be exposed at times.
In other words Claude was the first great all rounder 6.
Or winning 3 Back to back UCL Casemiro
Witsel not as good as he was when this video was made
Vitsel not witsel but it is written witsel
Yes true CDM position is underrated and the most difficult position to balance the team cause mostly midfielders and full backs will go forward to support the attack
Aside from having the defensive midfield on lockdown, let us recognize how strong that hair game is. Respect!
Fernandinho was man city's engin in 2017-18 season. People only talk about how amazing Debruyne was forgetting fernandinho…😥
Joke because CFC adores Kante. He is the DCF.
Great video, amazing content, lovely presenter:)
0:24 " only the real people who know football will see the quality of a number six."- Alex Witsel
John Mikel Obi
you forgot casemiro who was and still is the key to madrid success
What a sweet GUY
As a football fan which grew up watching late 90s football where 433 became dominant. I always enjoyed watching the 6 pivot.
Xavi is god of defensive midfield
Its not underrated just to mich peopel are Stupid and look only at strickers and how much goals and Assists you made and i play At the positios like Witsel and i hear often that i player Bad cause i dont Made Lot of goals and that fuck up.
witsel ur the best man can take a sure .
Gattuso anyone?????
She forgot to mention the pioneer that even created name of position himself, makelele
The music that these guys use is really underrated
who saw the one piece of glitter on Witsel's cheek?
Granit xhaka is the best defensive midfielder ever 😁
Sergio Busquets
what is the name of the girl???????????
Wish pep had remembered this against Chelsea during the Champions League final
The Team captain always put me on DCM because of my dangerous Passes and i am dominating the midfield!
Kante can carry, pass, spray, dribble and shoot the ball only thing he finds difficult is heading the ball but he somehow makes up for that too. A legend through and through ⚡
Should send this video to Ole😂
No 6 role definitely become one of the most important role in football nowadays… Look at MU, their lacking no6 that can defend the backline well same with Chelsea who lost Kante due to injury and become down day by day
this is clearly facts, after reading more books about football and coaching tactics, this position is really similar to quarterback in American football due to holding a role as the brain of the team (building attacking momentum and sniffing also maintaining their defense zone). They doesn't need to be fast and flair like a striker, also doesn't always require a strong physique from the get go since they can improve their physical prowess, but their fundamental skills is to read the game.
I find a manga titled "Ao Ashi" to be a good example of how is this position is crucial in modern football (forget all the exaggration in the manga lol) but I agree that this position always filled with genius player that possibly have a bird-view angle when they scanning the field.
One if the best defensive midfielders who played as N. 8 was Gennaro Gattuso. This guy was so crucial to AC Milan’s Golden Era when they reached the 2003, 05 and 07 Champions League Final
6,8,10: the positions where one MUST be an artist
I have learned so much Today