When teams win games, strikers and managers get all the glory. Many times we tend to forget that for the goals to come there has to be a collective effort right from defense to attack. The defenders and midfielder got to do their job to give the team a chance of scoring and not conceding.
Today we want to look at a forgotten group of players that protect the defenders and the goalkeepers. They carry the ball from deep in their halves to the other side of the pitch. They do all the dirty work that include; tackles, interceptions, blocks among others.
Now let us look at top six defensive midfielders in the Premier League this season;
6. Cheikhou Kouyaté- West Ham
West Ham was phenomenal last season. They somehow managed to beat Manchester City, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal. This season is a complete opposite, they are in total disarray and something has to give soon. The Olympic Stadium is so far not a blessing to the Hammers.
The team would have conceded more goals this season but thanks to Cheikhou Kouyaté the bleeding is not as bad. He is doing a great job and hopefully they can bounce back as the season continues.
4. Francis Coquelin- Arsenal
Francis Coquelin has been a revelation at Emirates Stadium in the last couple of months. Eden Hazard embarrassed him in 3-1 defeat at Stamford Bridge but we all know everybody has a bad day in office.
His work rate in the middle of the park is the reason why Arsene Wenger side finished 2nd in the Premier League last season. He will surely challenge Matuidi for a place in France national team.
4. Eric Dier- Tottenham Hotspurs
Tottenham Hotspur boy Eric Dier is simply the real deal why lie. Manager Mauricio Pochettino was disappointed last season after missing out on the signing of Wanyama but the English youngster stepped up and did the job.
At only 21, the boy has established himself in the Spurs squad. Dier has a bright future you can take that to the bank. His biggest challenge right now will be to compete with manager favorite Victor Wanyama who is currently in a season of his own.
3. Fernadinho- Manchester City
I know many people might be asking why I chose Fernadinho instead of Yaya Toure but if you have been watching Manchester City games in the last few months, the Brazilian has been the wall in front of the back four. The former Shakhtar Donetsk star has thwarted many attacks this season. He is at what we can say the best time of his career for both club and country.
2. NG’olo Kante- Chelsea
Kante was excellent for Leicester last season. He faced all his competitors and dismantled all of them. He has been compared to Claude Makelele and deservedly so, I know the former Real Madrid and Chelsea midfielder will be proud to hear that. That explains the reason why the Blues paid all that money to bring him to Stamford Bridge and despite showing some signs of fatigue in a few matches, he has been great too this season so far. We can’t really go without mentioning that goal against Manchester United.
1. Victor Wanyama- Tottenham Hotspurs
Kenyan International Victor Wanyama is simply a wall. He does all the dirty work for Spurs at the back. Head Coach Mauricio Pochettino knew what he was doing when he went back to Southampton to bring the holding midfielder at White Hart Lane.
They are one of the most difficult teams to beat in the league. They are the only team in the top six that has comfortably beaten Chelsea since they started their current run of victories.
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