Control Midfield, Control the Game was no empty slogan, but the truth.
The defense had to tighten its shape as much as possible and stay compact, while the attack had to spread out as wide as possible to create space.
If one looked only at the literal meanings, tightening and spreading out seemed merely like two different formations. In reality, however, during a match, both required time during the transition between attack and defense, as well as relentless running.
As the team tightened and spread out, mistakes were inevitable. That was when a stable midfield was needed to control the whole game—to serve as a buffer, protect the defense behind them, and organize the buildup and distribution to supply ammunition for the attack up front.
That was the importance of the midfield.
From Cúper to Benitez, Double Defensive Midfielders had become widespread, ensuring defensive stability for the High Press.
During the Guardiola and Klopp eras, they changed the Double Defensive Midfielders system used by Cúper and Benitez, but the two teams adopted entirely different approaches. Dortmund's defensive midfielders had very flexible positions and covered a larger area. They were responsible for pressing when defending, then launching counterattacks at the fastest possible speed after winning the ball.
But Die Borussen still often used a Double Defensive Midfielders setup.
Guardiola's Barcelona, on the other hand, abandoned the Double Defensive Midfielders system. Based on Barcelona's traditional 4-3-3 Formation, a lone defensive midfielder stayed deepest, taking on the tasks of protecting the defense and organizing the distribution. This was also why Guardiola had abandoned Yaya Touré, who was stronger in both attack and defense, in favor of the more stable and hardworking Busquets.
Dortmund's style inevitably placed greater demands on the players' fitness and physical strength in challenges. Barcelona, meanwhile, combined its traditions with