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The midfield is the spine of any football team. You can have great players in defence and the best marksmen patrolling the final third and it will all amount to nothing if the midfield isn't strong enough.
Having some great playmakers in the side is a big bonus. However, sometimes a team has to rest one of theirt creative minds for the sake of establishing order in midfield. That's why a team's midfield needs to be balanced.
Teams have to win midfield battles and that means they have to come first in duels, make interceptions and also be able to recycle possession efficiently. So a well-balanced midfield will have ball-winners and playmakers.
Most football teams choose to work with three players in their midfield. It lends the right amount of stability to the team in the center of the park.
Without further ado, let's take a look at five of the best midfield trios in Europe right now.
#5 Chelsea
Chelsea have some extremely talented midfielders on their payroll. They have an assortment of world-class midfielders from across Europe. The Blues arguably have the most depth in defensive midfield among all the European giants. They currently have Jorginho, Mateo Kovacic, N'Golo Kante and Saul Niguez.
They also have plenty of central midfielders in their squad. Thomas Tuchel usually deploys a 3-4-2-1 formation. Jorginho is a mainstay in Chelsea's midfield while the others alternate. Jorginho and Kante make for an excellent double pivot in midfield.
While Jorginho won the UEFA Footballer of the Year Award, N'Golo Kante was named the Midfielder of the Year.
Kovacic has also been in exceptional form this term and he brings something different as opposed to Kante. The Croatia international is excellent with the ball at his feet and makes driving runs from midfield. His slick passing, vision and work ethic make him one of the most dynamic midfielders in Europe.
The final member of Chelsea's midfield trio is usually Mason Mount, who plays as one of the two attacking midfielders.
Mount has a very high work rate and helps out during defensive transitions as well. Jorginho keeps things ticking in midfield and is able to turn over possession thanks to his wonderful game-reading ability.
The Blues have cruised to the knockout stages of the Champions League and are currently third in the Premier League table. They have their midfield to thank for that.
#4 Liverpool
Liverpool midfielders are primarily tasked with adopting aggressive measures to win the ball back in the center of the pitch or in the attacking half. Jordan Henderson, Fabinho and Thiago Alcantara make for a wonderful midfield trio.
Henderson is one of the most industrious central midfielders in the Premier League. The Englishman is excellent at closing down opponents and at cutting passing lanes. Henderson has also shown that he is capable of pulling off some lovely through balls and also chipping in with some spectacular goals.
Fabinho is a no-nonsense defensive midfielder who makes tackles and wins aerial duels quite efficiently. He is also a very good forward passer of the ball and the Brazilian is important to kickstarting attacking transitions.
Thiago has looked much more like the player Liverpool believed they were signing in the summer of 2020. The Spaniard has looked sharp in recent weeks and on his day, it is hard to find a midfielder who's more technically gifted than him.
#3 Real Madrid
Real Madrid are at the top of the La Liga table and are eight points ahead of second-placed Sevilla. Carlo Ancelotti has been able to bring out the best in some of these Real Madrid superstars and they've been reaping the benefits of hard work.
Los Blancos' iconic midfield trio of Casemiro, Toni Kroos and Luka Modric continue to wreak havoc in Europe. Kroos and Modric are two of the most technically proficient midfielders on the planet. Both have exemplary passing range and are two of the tidiest customers in midfield with the ball at their feet.
Modric is more of a ball carrier than Kroos. The German international makes up for his lack of pace with his tactical intelligence. However, it is important to note that Modric is now 36 and Kroos is 31. Real Madrid have an aging core at the end of the day but this midfield works without hitches because of one more man.
Brazilian international Casemiro sits behind Kroos and Modric and provides cover for his defence. He is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world and is a belligerent presence in the center of the park. Casemiro doesn't shy away from tackles and is Real Madrid's most important player when their opposition breaks on the counter.
The 29-year-old can also score some worldies from range. The iconic Real Madrid trio have won three successive Champions League titles and are still going strong.
#2 Bayern Munich
Bayern Munich have one of the most stable midfield trios in the game right now. Joshua Kimmich, Leon Goretzka and Thomas Muller are three of the very best at what they do.
Kimmich is a deep-lying playmaker who is also an excellent destroyer of attacks in midfield. He is an extremely intelligent player who is also technically adept. Kimmich helps win the ball back in midfield, his distribution is exemplary and he is arguably the best deep-lying playmaker in the world right now.
Leon Goretzka is one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the Bundesliga. He bombs up and down the pitch and is a physically dominant presence in midfield. Goretzka is also a threat from set-pieces thanks to his aerial ability. His game is also quite well-rounded and he is the perfect foil for Kimmich.
Thomas Muller operates ahead of Goretzka and Kimmich and the veteran attacking midfielder continues to be outstanding at his job. Muller's movement in and around the final third, coupled with his deft touches and slick passing, make him a nightmare for opposition defenders.
#1 Manchester City
Having been a great technical midfielder himself, Pep Guardiola knows exactly what kind of players he wants in the center of the park. His teams are usually populated with players who are extremely good with the ball at their feet. The same goes for his midfielders.
Manchester City have had to play most of the 2021-22 season so far without their main man Kevin De Bruyne. While most teams would miss a player of De Bruyne's caliber quite dearly, Manchester City seem to be doing just fine without him.
Rodri can be phenomenal at the base of midfield on his day. With Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva offering an adequate amount of support, Rodri cleans things up in midfield with ease. His distribution is also top notch and it helps Manchester City get on the front foot immediately after they've won possession.
Ilkay Gundogan's passing and movement tied with his experience make him a great asset. The German international is also renowned for his ability to attack the box and chip in with crucial goals.
Bernardo Silva has been playing some of the best football of his career this season. He has never looked as confident on the ball and it is now fair to say that he is a worthy successor to Manchester City legend David Silva.
