‘Spot On’ – Former Super Eagles star agrees with Marcelo Bielsa’s praise for most influential footballer

Bielsa became renowned for his distinctive 3–3–3–1 formation, a tactical setup that gained prominence during his coaching stints with the Argentina and Chile national teams

Former Super Eagles player, Sunday Oliseh, has echoed Marcelo Bielsa’s sentiments regarding the rarity of a particular type of player in football, Soccernet.ng reports.

The head coach of Uruguayan national team highlighted the uniqueness of a player who embodies the traits of a number 8, defending like a number 6 while attacking with the flair of a number 10 – a player difficult to come by in a team.

Former Borussia Dortmund player, Oliseh, drawing from his experience as a former football player, and a manager, supported Bielsa’s assertion, acknowledging the profound impact these players have on the pitch.

A tweet attributed to the Argentine coach likened these number 8 players to the exceptional qualities showcased by Croatian and Real Madrid midfielder, Luka Modric.

“The hardest player to find in football is the number 8. I named it ‘the Modric’, who defends like a 6 and attacks like a 10. He has the ability to defend, the skills to attack and understanding the game in both directions.” he said, as quoted by Football Tweet.

Responding to this sentiment, Oliseh endorsed the manager’s viewpoint, considering it an accurate description of modern football’s most influential player.

“Spot On,” he said “Modern football’s most influential player. Position in my opinion”

Spot On. Modern football’s most influential player
position in my opinion https://t.co/cnq3zaSv70

— Sunday Oliseh (@SundayOOliseh) December 5, 2023

Comparing this perspective to the Super Eagles squad, the potential resemblance of a number 8 role can be seen in Alex Iwobi’s recent adaptability in such roles, along with occasional displays by Wilfred Ndidi.