VANCOUVER, BC – From the very beginning, Vancouver Whitecaps FC head coach Marc Dos Santos said that centre back is one of the toughest positions to play in his system.
Dos Santos requires his centre backs to push high up the field, which places more pressure on the opponent's forwards and helps thwart their attacks in positions that aren’t as dangerous – thereby allowing the team a greater opportunity to dictate the tempo of a game rather than playing on the back foot.
As a result of playing in such a manner, the centre backs must also be comfortable covering the space that is left in behind them, which explains how it can become a demanding and multi-faceted role.