Cesar Azpilicueta

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While today most people are used to full-backs being failed wingers – as Jamie Carragher once said, “nobody grows up wanting to be Gary Neville”. However, Cesar Azpilicueta has single-handedly helped to refute the notion that full-backs make poor defenders. For years, with Osasuna, Marseille and then Chelsea, he’s been one of the most consistently impressive defenders in the European game.

 

He’s a very strong, stout defender with a clear eye for precision in tackling, positioning and marking. While he’s a very impressive offensive player, too, his main qualities come from being reliable at the back and filling in when needed. Indeed, in his later years at Chelsea he’s often filled in at the right-hand side of a back three. His versatility, consistency and professionalism is only matched by his will to win and determination to always improve. Even when playing in new environments and out of position, he’s often handled himself and has been one of the consistent figures at Chelsea in a decade-long turnover for the Blues.

 

The Pamplona-born star plays like the famous sport from the city in which he hails from; he’s like a raging bull at times. While he could be better at crossing, he’s a very crisp passer of the ball, and is an excellent, aggressive tackler. Smart in the tackle and rarely caught out of position or using excessive force.

 

Like many modern defenders, he does much of his defending without touching the ball. A great shepherd of the opposition, he can force wide players and forwards into blind alleys while making sure they are unable to force him out of position.

 

A very clear reader of the game and a deeply consistent player, Azpilicueta is a reference point for modern full-backs who wish to change the negative perception of their position.

 

 

Player Profile: Edinson Cavani

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Player Profile: Edinson Cavani Speak to the wrong person, and you could be forgiven for thinking that Edinson Cavani isn’t a top-level forward. With an unfair reputation as someone who misses chances in big games and is only a flat-truck bully, Cavani holds a distinction of being among the finest players in the world.

 

A goal scorer of extreme repute and with tremendous variability to his finishing, Cavani is a player who seems to be discarded for simply never having played in the English top flight. An outstanding link man and a fine foil for Luis Suarez at international level, the big Uruguayan has always been among the best performers in Italy and France since he broke through.

 

He made his name in Italy with Palermo, where he was known as an erratic but effective forward. After three years in Sicily, he made the move to a growing Napoli side and in three years established himself as among the finest players in the clubs history.

 

A stunning record of 104 goals in 138 games for the Naples side seen him make a massive move to Paris Saint-Germain. At PSG, he’s a club legend. A winner of three league titles (soon to be four) and also a tremendous goal scorer, scoring 49 in 50 games in 2016-17, he’s the clubs all-time top goal scorer breaking the record set by ex-teammate Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

 

With over 300 goals in his career so far, the Uruguayan has established himself in the pantheon of the elite forwards of the modern game. With an incredible attitude and hunger mixed with incredible technical excellence, Cavani stands among the very best forwards of the 21st Century.

 

Eric Dier

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While a pedant might argue that Eric Dier is a midfielder, not a defender, he’s played much of his time in the 2017-18 in a back-three system. A very impressive and tactically astute player, the 6ft 2 Engilshman is among the most versatile and consistent players in his position in the European game. At just 24, he has many years of development to come – and could become a major player for Tottenham and England in years to come.

 

Part of what makes him so impresie is that he grew up in Portugal. He came through the ranks of Sporting Clube de Portugal, and played a series of games for the club before moving back to England. A fruitless loan spell at Everton in 2011 done little for the Cheltenham-born players prospects, but he moved to Spurs for just £4m.

 

For that fee, Spurs have received one of the most versatile and reliable players around. Having played over 125 games for the club so far, he’s become a stalwart in his position and has now become a regular for England, too.

 

While some might argue he’s not clear enough in the mind to play midfield as a shield for the defence, or in a defensive trio, he’s proving these calls wrong time and time again. A very astute passer of the ball for one in his position, he’s very accurate when playing out from the back. Often good at finding the rapid wide men of Spurs with long-range passes, he’s a player who, with more experience, could grow into one of the best defensive hybrids in the European game.

 

Powerful, dedicated, capable of playing multiple positions and very consistent – only extra experience has held back Dier back. In time, that shortfall should be relatively easy to correct and improve upon.