Defenders need to ensure they make no mistakes.
Bayern Munich’s Eric Dier has been rightly praised for his cool, calm, collected performances this season, working his way into head coach Vincent Kompany’s plans. Even last season, he was notably a source of calm for the fans and the players around him. What does he do that differentiates him so from other defenders?
Sitting down with club magazine Säbener51, as captured by @iMiaSanMia, Dier explains how to function as a center-back:
“There are many different styles. You can be a very good defender in different ways. For me, controlled aggression is crucial. Our coach often says that, and I like that description. Being aggressive but with a cool head. The way I see it is that a centre-back must always think negatively first and foremost, always anticipate the worst-case scenario. Only then are you prepared to prevent it.”
The tidbit about Kompany is quite interesting. It is nice to see that even an older player such as Dier can learn certain things from the coach. Anything the former Tottenham Hotspur player learns to add to his already impressive skill set will just see him grow that much better.
