The midfielders rule. It’s always been said that the midfield battle is essential to winning. It’s considered the heart of the game. "The base," according to Luis Fernandez, a former PSG and French national team midfielder. A battle in which Paris starts with a clear disadvantage in terms of height and weight. This is what made some people fear a difficult evening against Arsenal last week at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. The Gunners were expected to impose their will based on superior athletic qualities, it was thought. It didn’t happen that way… Vitinha had warned everyone. "It’s not a problem. We won at Liverpool, who have a more athletic midfield," he said before the match. He was right. Paris won 1-0, and the trio of Portuguese players "Viti" (1.72 m) and Joao Neves (1.74 m) and Spaniard Fabian Ruiz (1.89 m) dominated the midfield. "It’s not a question of…"
This idea of the midfield being the engine room, the control center, the very foundation upon which success is built is not new. Footballing folklore is filled with tales of legendary midfield maestros who dictated the tempo, broke up opposition attacks, and orchestrated scoring opportunities with their vision, passing range, and unwavering determination. From Xavi and Iniesta at Barcelona to Gerrard and Lampard in the Premier League, the greats have always recognized and emphasized the crucial role of the men in the middle.
The perception that physical dominance, particularly in terms of height and weight, is a prerequisite for success in midfield has often been a topic of debate. The assumption is that larger, more imposing players can physically overwhelm their opponents, win aerial duels, and control the flow of the game through sheer force. This viewpoint, while not entirely unfounded, tends to overlook the other vital qualities that contribute to a successful midfield partnership.
The context of the recent Paris Saint-Germain victory over Arsenal serves as a compelling counter-narrative to the idea that size always matters. Before the match, there were concerns that PSG’s midfield, lacking in significant physical stature compared to Arsenal’s, would struggle to cope with the Gunners’ expected onslaught. The thought was that Arsenal’s physical prowess would be too much for the Parisian midfield to handle.
Vitinha’s pre-match statement, dismissing concerns about the physical disparity and citing their victory against Liverpool as evidence, proved to be remarkably prescient. The Portuguese midfielder and his teammates, Joao Neves and Fabian Ruiz, effectively controlled the midfield, silencing those who doubted their ability to compete against a more physically imposing opponent. They demonstrated that intelligence, tactical awareness, technique, and relentless work ethic can more than compensate for a perceived lack of physical size.
Their success was not based on outmuscling their opponents but rather on outsmarting them. Their quick passing, clever movement off the ball, and ability to anticipate Arsenal’s intentions allowed them to disrupt attacks, win possession, and dictate the tempo of the game. They leveraged their strengths to exploit Arsenal’s weaknesses and ultimately secured a vital victory for their team.
The victory against Liverpool, which Vitinha referenced, provides further evidence that a technically gifted and tactically astute midfield can overcome a more physically dominant one. Liverpool’s midfield, known for its high energy, relentless pressing, and physical presence, was unable to impose its will on the PSG midfield, highlighting the importance of qualities beyond raw physicality.
The modern game is increasingly emphasizing technical skill, tactical flexibility, and the ability to execute complex strategies. While physical attributes remain important, they are no longer the sole determinant of success. Midfielders who can read the game, make intelligent decisions under pressure, and execute precise passes are becoming increasingly valuable. The emphasis is shifting from brute force to finesse, from physical dominance to tactical intelligence.
The success of players like Vitinha and Joao Neves, who are not particularly tall or physically imposing, demonstrates that technical ability, tactical awareness, and work rate can be just as, if not more, important than physical size. These players are able to compensate for their lack of physical stature through their superior skills and understanding of the game.
Fabian Ruiz, with his greater height, adds a different dimension to the midfield, offering aerial presence and a physical presence that complements the other two. This blend of different skillsets and physical attributes is what makes the PSG midfield so effective. They are able to adapt to different opponents and game situations, using their individual strengths to create a cohesive and balanced unit.
The key takeaway from this analysis is that the midfield battle is multifaceted, and physical size is only one piece of the puzzle. While it’s undeniable that height and strength can be advantageous in certain situations, they are not the only factors that determine success. Technical skill, tactical awareness, work ethic, and intelligence are equally important, and in some cases, can even be more decisive. The ability to read the game, make intelligent decisions under pressure, and execute precise passes is crucial for controlling the midfield and dictating the flow of the game. It is the blend of these qualities that truly makes a midfield exceptional. It is this synthesis of skills that separates a good midfield from a truly great one.
The Paris Saint-Germain midfield, despite lacking the physical dominance that some observers deemed necessary, has proven to be highly effective, showcasing the importance of other attributes and demonstrating that winning the midfield battle is about more than just size and strength.
Ultimately, the law of the midfield is not dictated by physical dimensions but by the ability to control the game through a combination of skill, intelligence, and determination. This is the lesson that Paris has taught the footballing world.
