article_snippet.sent: In this country we tend to focus a lot on what players can’t do rather than what players can.
article_snippet.sent: The best deep-lying midfielders of recent years have been passers, not pit bulls: Pirlo, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Sergio Busquets.
article_snippet.sent: All of them are cultured players who look after the ball.
article_snippet.sent: These may not have the best stats for goals or assists, but These are at the heart of it all.
article_snippet.sent: It’s the same with Andres Iniesta and Luka Modric
article_snippet.sent: Xavi and Nemanja Matic are two of the world's best deep-lying midfielders and Xavi and Nemanja Matic