08/12/2025
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“They play with two defensive midfielders, that means they are essentially blocking themselves” – Johan Cruyff
Cruyff was mainly using formations with single pivot (3-4-3, 4-3-3), the single pivot, often a deep-lying playmaker, is responsible for dictating the tempo of the game and initiating attacks from deep.
This role suits a player with excellent passing range and vision, which contributes to a possession-based style that Cruyff preferred.
In a single pivot system, there are two advanced midfielders who can participate more in attacking plays, providing more options going forward and creating numerical superiority in the final third.
The single pivot offers a more fluid and dynamic structure, allowing for frequent positional interchanges, a key aspect of Cruyff's Total Football philosophy.
Cruyff believed in taking the initiative and dominating games. The use of a double pivot often indicates a more defensive approach, with two holding midfielders primarily focused on protecting the backline. In the single pivot system, the midfield three can cover a larger area of the pitch, controlling spaces more effectively. The two advanced midfielders can press high, force turnovers, or drop deep to receive the ball, depending on the game's flow.
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