A bold defensive tactic in the Premier League is turning heads this season. Some of the league’s fastest and most skilled defenders are leaving huge spaces behind them, a move that even legends like Gary Neville admit would terrify them.
Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero have been central to this daring strategy, playing far from their own goal and challenging attackers to exploit the space.
Neville, the former Manchester United star, explained during The Overlap: “You play so high it’s untrue. Do you not feel like ‘all that space behind me!’ We never played that high, we always gave ourselves more space.”
The tactic, widely used by managers who favor aggressive pressing, compresses play higher up the pitch but comes with serious risks. Defenders need speed, awareness, and confidence to make it work.
Van de Ven, known as the fastest player ever in Premier League history, remains unshaken. “For me, I know if the ball goes into the space, I have the speed to recover. But I don’t know how it is for the other players,” he said. “Some players who don’t like to play with big spaces then maybe it is difficult to play a high line.”
At the heart of the defense, Van de Ven and Romero have been the main pillars. Even Romero, known for his aggression, occasionally requests adjustments. Van de Ven recalled: “He has come to me and said ‘Micky we need to drop a bit.’”
This approach shows that while the tactic is brave, it’s not without challenges. Not all defenders are comfortable leaving so much space behind them.
Results suggest the high line is a double-edged sword. The team has only won two of their last nine Premier League games. Both victories included clean sheets, but other matches have seen them concede heavily.
Recently, Arsenal scored four goals against them, highlighting vulnerabilities. Nottingham Forest also secured a 3-0 victory, exploiting the space left by the defensive line.
Former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, now a manager in Italy, commented on high defensive lines: “It is brave and you need to trust your players a lot. But for me you are not under control because you are basically reacting. You are reacting to their movements, you are reacting to whatever the striker wants to do.”
Neville’s reaction shows the fear factor that such tactics create. While some modern defenders embrace it, many would prefer a safer system.
High lines can catch opponents off guard and help teams press higher on the field. But when it fails, it leaves defenses exposed and goals conceded.
Van de Ven’s pace gives some protection, but without fast defenders, the strategy could collapse against speedy attackers.
This tactic has sparked debates among former players, managers, and pundits. Some praise it for modernity and boldness, while others criticize its high-risk nature.
Fans are divided as well. Exciting, attacking football can thrill spectators, but losing games due to defensive errors is frustrating.
As the Premier League season continues, all eyes are on these defenders. Can they maintain this fearless high line, or will results force a tactical rethink?
Neville’s comments, combined with Van de Ven’s confidence, provide a fascinating insight into modern defensive strategies. It shows how football tactics have evolved, but also how riskier approaches can test even the fastest and most skilled players.
The balance between bravery and caution is delicate. High-risk football demands top-level skill, trust among players, and nerves of steel.
For now, Van de Ven seems fearless. But Neville’s warning resonates: not every defender would survive the stress of leaving so much space behind them.
The Premier League continues to push tactical boundaries, and this daring high line is at the center of discussion, showing the evolution of defensive strategy in modern football.
