Claude Makelele, one of football’s all-time great characters, went on to define arguably the most important position on the pitch that still resonates today. Real Madrid to prepare for Camp Nou, hotly anticipated El Clasico clash against Barcelona. Through Makelele, he underlines just how important his position is to winning a match. The 52-year-old elaborated on these ideas and more in a candid discussion with a handful of journalists from across the world.
Makelele’s influence on the game is undeniable. He had a huge influence at Real Madrid. There, he competed on the same pitch as legends such as Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Raul, and Ronaldo. He plays a pivotal position referred to as the “Makelele role.” Of course, his primary duty is to clog up the midfield and prevent easy possession for the competitions, namely Barcelona.
The Makelele Role and Aurelien Tchouameni
As he prepares for this imminent showdown, Makelele picks out Aurelien Tchouameni as the player most similar to him in terms of his style of play. His confidence in Tchouameni’s ability to deliver on his role is not misplaced. Despite his struggles, his performance is still at the heart of Real Madrid’s tactical game plan.
“He needs to understand his role in the team, and his role is security,” – Claude Makelele
Makelele discusses what he loves about Tchouameni’s challenges. He cautions that the most critical skill of all is an acute sense of when to play it safe and when to go into bomb-dropper mode. He issues a clarion call for Tchouameni to lead from the middle. That’s the kind of leadership that will make this young, talented team shine in tense tournament situations.
“To play in this position, you need to be a big leader,” – Claude Makelele
The former midfielder expressed confidence in Tchouameni’s ability to adapt and grow within the team, particularly with guidance from other experienced players like Xabi Alonso.
Importance of Midfield Control
Makelele’s perspective on the El Clasico reflects his belief that controlling the midfield is crucial for Real Madrid’s chances of winning. He’s adamant that if they can nullify Barcelona’s midfield control, they will significantly increase their chances of getting a win.
“If you delete the midfielder and make them run, I think Madrid will win because Paris [Saint-Germain] did the same thing [earlier this month],” – Claude Makelele
Commonly, though, he believes denying Barcelona entry to midfield is key to controlling the game’s tempo. He walks through, by pressuring their midfielders, how Real Madrid creates space for their attacking talent.
“The winger, the striker, the midfielder, the left back, the right back. You only have a few players covering, providing the security so his position is very important for Madrid,” – Claude Makelele
A Legacy of Influence
Claude Makelele’s legacy still resonates deeply within the realm of football. It was his unique talent to switch back and forth between the offensive and defensive end of the ice that made him stand out from others. In reflecting on his playing style, he noted:
“I had the capacity to play offensively or defensively. I chose to play defensive and tactically because offensively, I didn’t need to go there because I had my teammates that could do the offense,” – Claude Makelele
This approach points to the depth of his tactical acumen as well as set the depth of his commitment to team dynamics. As Real Madrid prepares for El Clasico, Makelele’s insights provide valuable lessons on leadership and strategy that could guide Tchouameni and the entire squad.
Leave a Reply