Pep said in 2018, "It’s so important to have a left-footed central defender.”

Here is why many of the best teams now want a left central defender with their left foot.

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Make the field as big as possible.

With a left-footed central defender, you create angles that contribute to more passing options. This allows you to play wider as a team. This pass from Laporte to Sane, for example, would have been impossible for a right footed player.

Move the ball from side to side as quickly as possible.

The body position of a left central defender with the left foot is more natural when moving the ball from side to side. Especially when the ball is going out to the left. Streamlines the use of time in the play-up phase.

More teams are pressing and/or defending outside-in.

The purpose of the pressure on many teams is to get the ball out on the sides. Often with two attacking players in front like N'castle here. Easier for one with a left foot to take the ball around like Laporte here.

Easier to defend in a ground duel on the outside.

You get to use the strongest tackle foot. As in this situation with Maguire, who now plays left central defender for Manchester United. Unnatural to tackle with the right foot for Maguire here.

I will post some exciting left footed central defenders later today, or tomorrow. Stay tuned!