Former West Ham striker Leroy Rosenior has highlighted that holding midfielders are being deployed as emergency center backs by managers in the English Premier League.
Manchester City's Brazilian midfielder Fernandinho played many games as a central defender last season and in the ongoing campaign, Wilfred Ndidi and Fabinho have filled in at center back for Leicester City and Liverpool respectively.
Rosenior pointed out that strikers were asked to play in central defence back in the day because of their aerial ability.
"Back in the day it was always centre-forwards who were sent back to play at centre-half because they could head the ball, but that’s not something we’re seeing now," Rosenior said on Optus Sport's The Analysis Show.
"We’re seeing midfield players being asked to go and do that position at the heart of the defence.
"(Wilfred) Ndidi has done it for Leicester, (Cheikhou) Kouyate has done it for Crystal Palace, Fernandinho has done it very often for Manchester City.
"The key to that is that in possession they are so much better. (It is) really interesting."
"We’re seeing midfield players being asked to go and do that position at the heart of the defence.
"(Wilfred) Ndidi has done it for Leicester, (Cheikhou) Kouyate has done it for Crystal Palace, Fernandinho has done it very often for Manchester City.
"The key to that is that in possession they are so much better. (It is) really interesting."
Leicester City were faced with a defensive crisis ahead of their opening match with West Brom and to solve the problem, Ndidi was asked to lineup alongside Caglar Soyuncu in central defence.
Igho Kingsley
Photo Credit : lcfc.com
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