{"id":1234345,"date":"2021-11-30T10:37:39","date_gmt":"2021-11-30T10:37:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1234345"},"modified":"2021-11-30T10:37:39","modified_gmt":"2021-11-30T10:37:39","slug":"football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a wide centre-back? Best players, roles and tactics explained using Football Manager"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Whether you\u2019re an Atalanta enthusiast, Chris Wilder in disguise, or just love a tactical innovation or two,<\/strong><strong> the chances are you\u2019re pretty excited about the new wide centre-back role on Football Manager 2022.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>But, like any new function, with it comes new dilemmas: how to use the role? What are the best formations, tactics and players? In this article (and by clicking on the video at the top of the screen) we provide a definitive guide to the wide centre-back role, using real-life data to paint a more transparent picture of its use in the modern game.<\/p>\n<p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"FM22 Wonderkids | The best young players you&#039;ve (probably) never heard of | Football Manager 2022\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/OSjU-rXPaB0?start=125&#038;feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>The origin of the wide centre-back is not entirely traceable to a moment in football\u2019s long and storied timeline. Like many of the game\u2019s innovations, changes occur gradually, even naturally, developing over time rather than radically over night.<\/p>\n<p>For the Premier League, Chris Wilder arguably blazed a trail in 2019\/20 when his Sheffield United side stunned the division and finished ninth while using wide centre-backs. But, it can be argued that managers before him were experimenting with variations of the function.<\/p>\n<p>Antonio Conte&#8217;s Chelsea for example. Pep Guardiola even tried the system a few times during the early stages of his Man City tenure &#8212; a certain 5-0 win over Liverpool in September 2017 being a prime example.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1234351 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110044\/1234345_1234345_PA-32720659-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1627\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110044\/1234345_1234345_PA-32720659-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110044\/1234345_1234345_PA-32720659-300x191.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110044\/1234345_1234345_PA-32720659-1024x651.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110044\/1234345_1234345_PA-32720659-768x488.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110044\/1234345_1234345_PA-32720659-110x70.jpg 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110044\/1234345_1234345_PA-32720659-66x42.jpg 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110044\/1234345_1234345_PA-32720659-80x51.jpg 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110044\/1234345_1234345_PA-32720659-180x114.jpg 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110044\/1234345_1234345_PA-32720659-378x240.jpg 378w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110044\/1234345_1234345_PA-32720659-944x600.jpg 944w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110044\/1234345_1234345_PA-32720659-240x153.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110044\/1234345_1234345_PA-32720659-1100x699.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110044\/1234345_1234345_PA-32720659-85x54.jpg 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110044\/1234345_1234345_PA-32720659-31x20.jpg 31w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110044\/1234345_1234345_PA-32720659-330x210.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>With the role so influential in Italy during Conte\u2019s Juventus reign, there are, of course, other advocates. Gian Piero Gasperini\u2019s Atalanta being the most prominent example. Julian Nagelsmann\u2019s RB Leipzig also used wide centre-backs before he ventured to Bayer Munich; Marseille have switched to a back-three under Jorge Sampaoli; and even Brentford have caught the eye this season.<\/p>\n<p>Looking more closely at the key examples listed, we&#8217;ve tried to break down how each system is used and why the role is so effective.<\/p>\n<h2>Atalanta<\/h2>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1234356 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110519\/1234345_1234345_PA-63840678-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110519\/1234345_1234345_PA-63840678-scaled.jpg 2560w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110519\/1234345_1234345_PA-63840678-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110519\/1234345_1234345_PA-63840678-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110519\/1234345_1234345_PA-63840678-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110519\/1234345_1234345_PA-63840678-110x73.jpg 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110519\/1234345_1234345_PA-63840678-105x70.jpg 105w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110519\/1234345_1234345_PA-63840678-66x44.jpg 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110519\/1234345_1234345_PA-63840678-80x53.jpg 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110519\/1234345_1234345_PA-63840678-180x120.jpg 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110519\/1234345_1234345_PA-63840678-360x240.jpg 360w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110519\/1234345_1234345_PA-63840678-900x600.jpg 900w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110519\/1234345_1234345_PA-63840678-240x160.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110519\/1234345_1234345_PA-63840678-1100x733.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110519\/1234345_1234345_PA-63840678-85x57.jpg 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110519\/1234345_1234345_PA-63840678-30x20.jpg 30w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22110519\/1234345_1234345_PA-63840678-330x220.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>There is arguably no greater proponent of a wide centre-back system at the minute than Atalanta, who have transformed from perennial mid-table finishers in Serie A to regulars on the Champions League circuit under Gasperini.<\/p>\n<p>The Italian&#8217;s hyper-fluid, ultra-offensive 3-4-3 has taken the continent by storm, and it all starts at the back. If we take last season as an example, he largely set up in a 3-4-2-1, with a back three of Cristian Romero, Berat Djimsiti and Rafael Toloi forming the basis of his system.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1234359 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021-66x65.jpg 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021-240x240.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021-999x999.jpg 999w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021-85x85.jpg 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021-20x20.jpg 20w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22111900\/1234345_1234345_Atalanta-202021-330x330.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Djimsiti and Toloi flanked the more robust, hard-hitting Romero, and were tasked with making vertical runs when in possession. From their average positions map last season (visual above), you can see the two centre-backs touching the halfway line, essentially functioning as central midfielders when Atalanta had the ball.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Toloi in particular resembled a full-back at times, underlapping and, often more prominently, overlapping right wing-back Hans Hateboer. His Serie A heat map from 2020\/21 almost has the appearance of an attacking No.2, and certainly not that of a traditional centre-back.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1234362 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map-66x65.jpg 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map-240x240.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map-999x999.jpg 999w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map-85x85.jpg 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map-20x20.jpg 20w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22112547\/1234345_1234345_Rafael-Tolo%CC%81i-Heat-Map-330x330.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If we compare that to Leonardo Bonucci of Juventus for example (visual below), sticking with the Italian theme, you can see how a traditional centre-back\u2019s heat map should look. Toloi, by contrast, rarely spent any time centrally&#8230; or, by the looks of things, in defence for that matter.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1234367 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map-66x65.jpg 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map-240x240.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map-999x999.jpg 999w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map-85x85.jpg 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map-20x20.jpg 20w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22113846\/1234345_1234345_Leonardo-Bonucci-Heat-Map-330x330.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>If we want to compare to another right-sided centre-back in a three-man defence (and not a back four in <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bonucci&#8217;s case)<\/span>, Patric of Simone Inzaghi\u2019s Lazio showed a more static defender, tasked with holding his position in a fixed area of the pitch.<\/p>\n<p>Toloi meanwhile was given free rein to abandon his defensive position and surge up the pitch. His most frequented area was in the opposition half (as highlighted by the prominent white marking in Toloi&#8217;s heat map above). Remember this is a central defender, <em>not<\/em> Dani Alves!<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1234369 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map-66x65.jpg 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map-240x240.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map-999x999.jpg 999w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map-85x85.jpg 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map-20x20.jpg 20w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22114444\/1234345_1234345_Patric-Heat-Map-330x330.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You can also see Lazio\u2019s centre-backs playing much further back compared to Atalanta by their average positions map (visual below). This is a common theme with Inter Milan this season, of whom Inzaghi now takes charge after succeeding Antonio Conte. Right centre-back Milan Skriniar and left centre-back Alessandro Bastoni occupy similar positions to Patric and Stefan Radu from Inzaghi&#8217;s Lazio last season, and not the pseudo-midfield positions of Gasperini&#8217;s high-press No. 5s.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1234378 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions-66x65.jpg 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions-240x240.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions-999x999.jpg 999w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions-85x85.jpg 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions-20x20.jpg 20w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22120710\/1234345_1234345_Lazio-Avg-Positions-330x330.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We can also compare this to versions of a three-man defence seen in the Premier League recently. Looking at Thomas Tuchel\u2019s Chelsea this season and Nuno Espirito Santo\u2019s Wolves from 2019\/20, you can see just how close to the goalkeeper their centre-backs are in contrast to Atalanta.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1234379 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up-66x65.jpg 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up-240x240.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up-999x999.jpg 999w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up-85x85.jpg 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up-20x20.jpg 20w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22121217\/1234345_1234345_Chelsea-line-up-330x330.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>With the emphasis on Tuchel&#8217;s wing-backs pushing high up the pitch, shown by Reece James being almost in line with Romelu Lukaku, there isn&#8217;t as great an emphasis on Chelsea&#8217;s wide centre-backs marauding up the field in true Atalanta style. &#8220;<span>I would not call them defenders. They have to defend in some moments like defenders, but they are more free to attack the opponents\u2019 box than they are in the role as a full-back,&#8221; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/chelsea-wing-back-tactics-positions-reece-james-ben-chilwell\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Tuchel recently said of his wing-backs<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Gasperini wants his players to express themselves with a full-throttle approach, overwhelming opponents with a high press, high intensity brand. Nuno and Tuchel often prefer a more pragmatic approach, never compromising defensive structure for the sake of an entertaining, attacking style. Gasperini is the opposite.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1234384 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions-66x65.jpg 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions-240x240.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions-999x999.jpg 999w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions-85x85.jpg 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions-20x20.jpg 20w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123141\/1234345_1234345_wolves-avg-positions-330x330.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2>Sheffield United<\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Of course, it wouldn\u2019t be a wide centre-back analysis without covering Wilder\u2019s Sheffield United. The Blades were not completely gung-ho like Atalanta during that iconic 2019\/20 season, that would have been suicide for a newly-promoted team, but the wide centre-back system was put to good use by Wilder, and it left plenty of experienced managers in the Premier League rattled and tactically perturbed.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1234385 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions-66x65.jpg 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions-240x240.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions-999x999.jpg 999w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions-85x85.jpg 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions-20x20.jpg 20w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123402\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Avg-positions-330x330.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Chris Basham and Jack O&#8217;Connell were the two players tasked with surging up the turf under Wilder as wide centre-backs, with John Egan holding the fort further back. Despite playing with three central midfielders (John Lundstram, John Fleck and Oliver Norwood), the majority of Sheffield United\u2019s attacks occurred down the flanks, emphasised by Basham and O&#8217;Connell\u2019s heat maps.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1234386 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map-66x65.jpg 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map-240x240.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map-999x999.jpg 999w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map-85x85.jpg 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map-20x20.jpg 20w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22123733\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Flank-Attack-Map-330x330.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Again, like Toloi and Djimsiti for Atalanta, the Blades\u2019 own attacking No. 5s spent the majority of their time hugging the touchline. It is no wonder then that Basham finished the 2019\/20 Premier League season as the only centre-back to complete over 20 take-ons (24). O&#8217;Connell, meanwhile, created the most Big Chances of any centre-back that season (six) \u2014 and this, in a division containing Guardiola\u2019s City and Klopp\u2019s Liverpool.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-1234388 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22124959\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Heat-Maps.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22124959\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Heat-Maps.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22124959\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Heat-Maps-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22124959\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Heat-Maps-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22124959\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Heat-Maps-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22124959\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Heat-Maps-110x62.jpg 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22124959\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Heat-Maps-124x70.jpg 124w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22124959\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Heat-Maps-66x37.jpg 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22124959\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Heat-Maps-80x45.jpg 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22124959\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Heat-Maps-180x101.jpg 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22124959\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Heat-Maps-380x214.jpg 380w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22124959\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Heat-Maps-1067x600.jpg 1067w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22124959\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Heat-Maps-240x135.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22124959\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Heat-Maps-1100x619.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22124959\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Heat-Maps-85x48.jpg 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22124959\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Heat-Maps-36x20.jpg 36w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22124959\/1234345_1234345_Sheff-Utd-Heat-Maps-330x186.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>O&#8217;Connell also attempted the most final third passes of any centre-back (<span>427)<\/span>, ahead of Virgil van Dijk (<span>374)<\/span> and completed the most crosses (<span>11)<\/span>, as one of only two centre-backs to complete crosses with a double-digit finish. He, alongside Basham, also attempted the most (both on <span>51)<\/span>.<\/p>\n<h2>RB Leipzig<\/h2>\n<p>One final example we can look at is Julian Nagelsmann\u2019s RB Leipzig from the Bundesliga last season. The now Bayern Munich coach, who has previously worked under Thomas Tuchel at Augsburg, used a system almost identical to Chelsea\u2019s current wing-back approach.<\/p>\n<p>The 3-4-2-1 deployed by Nagelsmann catered for just one traditional centre-back in Dayot Upamecano, with Marcel Halstenberg (a left-back by trade) and Lukas Klostermann (a right-back by trade) occupying the space beside him.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1234389 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1080\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions.jpg 1080w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions-300x300.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions-1024x1024.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions-768x768.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions-110x110.jpg 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions-70x70.jpg 70w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions-50x50.jpg 50w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions-66x65.jpg 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions-100x100.jpg 100w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions-80x80.jpg 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions-180x180.jpg 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions-240x240.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions-600x600.jpg 600w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions-999x999.jpg 999w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions-85x85.jpg 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions-20x20.jpg 20w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22125502\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Avg-positions-330x330.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1080px) 100vw, 1080px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>The versatile Germans were required to progress up the turf and double up on the flanks with Angelino on the left, and Nordi Mukiele on the right. Overloads were created to stretch the play and draw defenders out of position, allowing the likes of Dani Olmo and Emil Forsberg to tuck in and exploit the half space. By doing this, numerical advantages were created in the most vulnerable parts of the field and opposition defences were stretched.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-1234391 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22130203\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Heat-Maps.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1080\" srcset=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22130203\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Heat-Maps.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22130203\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Heat-Maps-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22130203\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Heat-Maps-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22130203\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Heat-Maps-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22130203\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Heat-Maps-110x62.jpg 110w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22130203\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Heat-Maps-124x70.jpg 124w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22130203\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Heat-Maps-66x37.jpg 66w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22130203\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Heat-Maps-80x45.jpg 80w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22130203\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Heat-Maps-180x101.jpg 180w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22130203\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Heat-Maps-380x214.jpg 380w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22130203\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Heat-Maps-1067x600.jpg 1067w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22130203\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Heat-Maps-240x135.jpg 240w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22130203\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Heat-Maps-1100x619.jpg 1100w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22130203\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Heat-Maps-85x48.jpg 85w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22130203\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Heat-Maps-36x20.jpg 36w, https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/22130203\/1234345_1234345_RB-Leipzig-Heat-Maps-330x186.jpg 330w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Once again, Klostermann\u2019s heat map shows that his predominant position was in the opposition half, underpinning just how high he pushed up the field despite being a centre-back on the team-sheet. It will come as no surprise therefore that Halstenberg created the second-most chances of any Bundesliga centre-back last season (<span>27)<\/span> finishing just one below David Alaba (28) of Bayern Munich.<\/p>\n<p>The Leipzig man also finished with the second-most completed passes in the final third (<span>254)<\/span>, again only below Alaba (<span>359)<\/span>, and this despite playing just 24 matches to the Austrian\u2019s 32, while he also completed the third-most crosses (<span>15, 10 more than Alaba&#8217;s five)<\/span>. For what it\u2019s worth, Halstenberg finished ahead of Alaba with the highest completed passes in the final third per 90 minutes of any centre-back last season (<span>13.84 to 12.07)<\/span>.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>READ MORE:<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/football-manager-2021-libero-role-best-players\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football Manager: Libero role explained and the best options<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/football-manager-2020-niche-player-roles-explained\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Football Manager: Niche player roles explained and how to use them correctly<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/football-manager-2022-wonderkids\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>Football Manager 2022 wonderkids: The best young players you\u2019ve (probably) never heard of<\/strong><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Whether you\u2019re an Atalanta enthusiast, Chris Wilder in disguise, or just love a tactical innovation or two, the chances are you\u2019re pretty excited about the new wide centre-back role on Football Manager 2022. But, like any new function, with it comes new dilemmas: how to use the role? What are the best formations, tactics and&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":32,"featured_media":1235575,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_focuskw":"","_yoast_wpseo_title":"What is a wide centre-back? Best players and tactics explained using Football Manager | FM22","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"Squawka\u2019s complete lowdown on some of Football Manager\u2019s more niche roles will have you utilising wide centre-backs with confidence in no time.","footnotes":""},"tags":[],"features-category":[],"squawka-category":[],"class_list":["post-1234345","features","type-features","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":{"external_featured_image_url":"","hide_featured_image_pattern":false},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.1 (Yoast SEO v27.1.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>What is a wide centre-back? Best players and tactics explained using Football Manager | FM22<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Squawka\u2019s complete lowdown on some of Football Manager\u2019s more niche roles will have you utilising wide centre-backs with confidence in no time.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"What is a wide centre-back? Best players, roles and tactics explained using Football Manager\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Squawka\u2019s complete lowdown on some of Football Manager\u2019s more niche roles will have you utilising wide centre-backs with confidence in no time.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Squawka | EN\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SquawkaFootballNews\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/30101538\/1234345_1234345_FM-22-Wide-centre-backs.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1920\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1080\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@squawka\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"NewsArticle\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Ben Green\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/7b33a00558813314a222ac17c7bd478c\"},\"headline\":\"What is a wide centre-back? Best players, roles and tactics explained using Football Manager\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-11-30T10:37:39+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/\"},\"wordCount\":1464,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/30101538\/1234345_1234345_FM-22-Wide-centre-backs.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Features\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/\",\"name\":\"What is a wide centre-back? Best players and tactics explained using Football Manager | FM22\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/30101538\/1234345_1234345_FM-22-Wide-centre-backs.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-11-30T10:37:39+00:00\",\"description\":\"Squawka\u2019s complete lowdown on some of Football Manager\u2019s more niche roles will have you utilising wide centre-backs with confidence in no time.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/30101538\/1234345_1234345_FM-22-Wide-centre-backs.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/30101538\/1234345_1234345_FM-22-Wide-centre-backs.jpg\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1080},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Squawka\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Features\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":3,\"name\":\"What is a wide centre-back? Best players, roles and tactics explained using Football Manager\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/\",\"name\":\"Squawka | EN\",\"description\":\"Football News, Stats, and More...\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/7b33a00558813314a222ac17c7bd478c\",\"name\":\"Ben Green\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/98dc1e5d7313d7da49235400e72d7850602b3c1426a58492e3bbb70f9af27975?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/98dc1e5d7313d7da49235400e72d7850602b3c1426a58492e3bbb70f9af27975?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Ben Green\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\/\/x.com\/BenMGreen95\"],\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/ben-green\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"What is a wide centre-back? Best players and tactics explained using Football Manager | FM22","description":"Squawka\u2019s complete lowdown on some of Football Manager\u2019s more niche roles will have you utilising wide centre-backs with confidence in no time.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"What is a wide centre-back? Best players, roles and tactics explained using Football Manager","og_description":"Squawka\u2019s complete lowdown on some of Football Manager\u2019s more niche roles will have you utilising wide centre-backs with confidence in no time.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/","og_site_name":"Squawka | EN","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/SquawkaFootballNews\/","og_image":[{"width":1920,"height":1080,"url":"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/30101538\/1234345_1234345_FM-22-Wide-centre-backs.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_site":"@squawka","twitter_misc":{"Estimated reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/"},"author":{"name":"Ben Green","@id":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/7b33a00558813314a222ac17c7bd478c"},"headline":"What is a wide centre-back? Best players, roles and tactics explained using Football Manager","datePublished":"2021-11-30T10:37:39+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/"},"wordCount":1464,"commentCount":0,"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/30101538\/1234345_1234345_FM-22-Wide-centre-backs.jpg","articleSection":["Features"],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/","url":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/","name":"What is a wide centre-back? Best players and tactics explained using Football Manager | FM22","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/30101538\/1234345_1234345_FM-22-Wide-centre-backs.jpg","datePublished":"2021-11-30T10:37:39+00:00","description":"Squawka\u2019s complete lowdown on some of Football Manager\u2019s more niche roles will have you utilising wide centre-backs with confidence in no time.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/30101538\/1234345_1234345_FM-22-Wide-centre-backs.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/media.squawka.com\/images\/en\/2021\/11\/30101538\/1234345_1234345_FM-22-Wide-centre-backs.jpg","width":1920,"height":1080},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/football-manager-2022-wide-centre-back-role-best-players-tactics-explained\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Squawka","item":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Features","item":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"name":"What is a wide centre-back? Best players, roles and tactics explained using Football Manager"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/","name":"Squawka | EN","description":"Football News, Stats, and More...","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/7b33a00558813314a222ac17c7bd478c","name":"Ben Green","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/98dc1e5d7313d7da49235400e72d7850602b3c1426a58492e3bbb70f9af27975?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/98dc1e5d7313d7da49235400e72d7850602b3c1426a58492e3bbb70f9af27975?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Ben Green"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/x.com\/BenMGreen95"],"url":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/author\/ben-green\/"}]}},"yoast_title":"What is a wide centre-back? Best players and tactics explained using Football Manager | FM22","yoast_description":"Squawka\u2019s complete lowdown on some of Football Manager\u2019s more niche roles will have you utilising wide centre-backs with confidence in no time.","yoast_keyword":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/features\/1234345","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/features"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/features"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/32"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/features\/1234345\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1235575"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1234345"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1234345"},{"taxonomy":"features-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/features-category?post=1234345"},{"taxonomy":"squawka-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/squawka-category?post=1234345"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}