Vitinha, the 26-year-old midfielder for Paris Saint-Germain and Portugal, isn’t particularly fast, physically strong, or tall (1.72m). But he has managed to establish himself at the highest level. In a Canal11 documentary, the player explained how he found the solution within the game.
“I had to anticipate, position myself differently, see before receiving the ball. I don’t necessarily seek contact, but I can’t be useless. There’s a natural evolution. Giraffes have long necks to reach the highest leaves. It was an evolution to get there.”
There’s often the idea that you absolutely need tall and “strong” players, especially in midfield. This has been repeated tirelessly about PSG in recent years. They ultimately won the Champions League with Fabian Ruiz (1.89m) as their only tall midfielder, and he’s far from being the most athletically gifted. Heading duels are by no means a specialty of his. This is certainly true of João Neves (1.74m).
This serves as a reminder that aerial play isn’t solely dependent on a player’s height; positioning, timing, and determination are also crucial. A player’s level and contribution to the team cannot be reduced to mere height or strength. These are characteristics to consider, but technical ability, vision, positional awareness, composure, and other factors cannot be ignored.
Vitinha has adapted to his strengths and weaknesses to maximize his contribution to the team, and he is among the best in the world. Neves is carving out his own place. And they are just the beginning of a very long list of midfielders (and other positions) who have reached the highest level without being particularly tall or physically powerful. It’s essential to adapt your game to your own profile and to the team as a whole. It is also the coach’s job to make sure that the elements “fit together” (like the “puzzle” so dear to Luis Campos).
