Midfield pivots in the women’s game – tactical analysis

In football, there are a variety of different tactics squads and managers can use to be successful. This variability is one of the most intriguing aspects of the sport. A specific area that is viewed in a thousand different lights all over the world is the set-up of a midfield. This is typically defined by the type of pivot, or base, it has. Once this is decided, it affects how the rest of the team shapes up.

Pep Guardiola insists on a single pivot, believing that the use of a double pivot limits his side’s attacking ability. Jose Mourinho, on the other hand, uses a double pivot as a staple in his 4-2-3-1 formation, using it for the defensive solidity it brings. Both have achieved success at the highest level using these different midfield structures.

In this tactical analysis, we will be looking at these types of midfield pivots in women’s football. We will discuss the positives and negatives each bring, and how they are used in a variety of different clubs and set-ups. The main side we will focus on in this piece is Manchester City Women. The club have normally used a single pivot with two more advanced midfielders, but in this campaign, they have switched to a double pivot in their midfield. This tactical change has brought an abundance of success along with it. In this analysis, we will look at what went wrong in City’s single pivot system, and how this switch positively affected their play.

The pivot role

Before going into the different variances of this part of the team in this analysis, we must first have a good understanding of the role of a pivot in any side. The player or players are an essential part of every team. When in possession, the pivot has the responsibility of progressing their side up the field from their initial build-up phase into the attack in the final third. Even when the midfield is bypassed when looking to attack, midfielders and specifically the pivot players are important in creating space for long passing lanes into the attacking players. However, primarily their duty is to move their sides up the pitch themselves using passing combinations or progressing forward themselves dribbling through presses.

Advantages of a single pivot

Using a single pivot in a three-player midfield, a side has one player at the base of the three with the other two occupying more advanced positions. In this structure, this position, known as the number 6, is arguably the most important in the side. They must have a great intelligence of the game and be able to see everything on the pitch to be aware of how to have their side ready to attack and defend.

There are a few main characteristics a number six must possess to be successful. In the attacking side of the team’s game, they must have a very good passing range. This allows them to look to act as the metronome for their side. This includes being able to make short combinations with teammates close to them but also have the awareness to play long, and switch play when it is necessary or possible. They must be able to evade markers. Acting as the base of the midfield, it is essential that they provide an option to their teammates whenever possible. If the pivot is marked out of a match, their side will struggle to effectively attack. The most important ability, however, is their positional sense. Being the lone holding midfielder, they must be able to effectively protect the back four when possession is lost, especially when their side are in an advanced position beforehand.

When a side has a player with these traits, it is possible to have success using this system. These come from having two players forwards in the central areas to get involved in the final phase of the attacking side of the team. Most people will associate a midfield like this with sides such as Guardiola’s whether it is Xavi and Iniesta or David Silva and Kevin de Bruyne, the Spaniard’s sides have always been know for their free number eight roles that are essential to the squad’s attacking productivity. We can see examples similar to this in the women’s game. A couple of teams that show similarities to that of Guardiola’s is Arsenal Women and Barcelona Femini.

For Joe Montemurro’s Arsenal side, their number six is Lia Walti when they play a 4-3-3 formation. The Swiss international is one of the top central pivot’s in the world and is essential in the way Arsenal play. Her passing range is top drawer, but what allows Arsenal Women to excel with her in the single pivot role is her positioning and ability to read the play. The full-backs in Montemurro’s like to get forward. This keeps the width for the side as wingers Danielle Van de Donk and Beth Mead like to move inside to find room in the half-space to link up with the numbers eights and Vivianne Miedema up top.

For Barcelona, French international Kheira Hamraoui occupies the single pivot in a 4-3-3 or 4-1-4-1 system. She excels in Barcelona’s system as she is one of the best in the world at identifying space and bypassing an opposition’s press. This allows her to be able to effectively operate in this position and keep her side constantly in possession.

In the image above, you can see the space Hamraoui has found to occupy in between the lines of the opponent’s press. Here, she presents an option for her teammate as she looks to switch play. When the pass comes into her, she is able to anticipate the press from the defender behind her and turns away from it.

Hamraoui is then able to play a pass to the right-back to complete the switch. Having a player that is capable of playing in this single pivot role is advantageous for a variety of reasons. The ability to play two midfielders higher up the field allows the side to be more dominant in the attacking third. They are better able to take advantage of the spaces in between the lines of a defensive block, and it is much more difficult to mark the forward players.