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LEARN TO LOVE THE BALL _The centre-back’s role has changed_ “My positon’s most important evolution has been in the sense of being more than a defender. A big part of my game is to bring the
ball out from the back. Defenders do this more than ever before. It’s all about arriving at perfection. I spend as much time in training and matches working on starting attacks as I do
stopping them.” PLAY ONE-TOUCH PASSES _Start the attack quickly_ “There’s no better way to play. Our coach [Ernesto Valverde] always wants us to play on the front foot. I’m usually quite
calm in possession, so this helps initiate quicker, more fluid attacks from the back. I also like playing long crossfield passes to change the position of an attack and give us another
option. Variety is important.” LEARN TO INTERCEPT _Don’t rely on the tackle, predict the opposition’s attacks_ “This is fundamental. It does, of course, depend on each attack, but if you can
break up the play cleanly, then you can start an attack much quicker. A slide tackle is almost an admission that you’re out of position. It’s a means to an end, but it’s your last resort.”
CHERISH A CLEAN SHEET _This is your job, as a defender_ “I feel so proud when I’m part of a defence that hasn’t been breached. It proves you’ve done the right things in the game and means
any victory tastes all the sweeter. If we win 2-1 I’m still happy, but after a clean sheet you can double that feeling.” TAKE SOMETHING AWAY FROM EVERY GAME _Measure your performance_ “I
notice myself improving all the time. Day-by-day, after every training session, I feel better and understand more about this position, despite being only 20. Being a defender is about
concentration, especially at the top level. That’s what I’ve noticed most about this season in the Champions League. I’m loving every minute.” DO YOUR RESEARCH _Know what to expect from your
opponent_ “Marcelo Bielsa gave me my debut I owe him an awful lot. Yes, he is as crazy as they say, but first and foremost he’s very intelligent and is a guy who knows an incredible amount
about football. He used to give us homework! Videos before and after every game. We’d all have specific videos on our direct rival in the upcoming game, which we’d have to study
forensically. Now, under Valverde, he looks after that more and explains to us what we should do. He’s also a great coach.” BE READY FOR A FIGHT _Being a defender is about the battle_ “You
need to be powerful to survive. Modern forwards are now as strong as old-style defenders used to be, so you have to be up for the fight. Concentrate, be strong and choose when to intercept:
those are the three keys to modern defending.” RECOMMENDED FOR YOU: Franco Baresi: How to defend like a master Chris Smalling: How to be the complete defender Nemanja Vidic: Tackle any
threat Rio: The thinking man's guide to defending Ashley Cole: How to handle every opponent The best features, fun and footballing quizzes, straight to your inbox every week. You may
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