Terry Gibson suggests that the art of defending is not what it once was

Does La Liga have a problem with defending? After 34 goals were scored in nine La Liga games over Saturday and Sunday, Terry Gibson discusses modern football's issue with defending in the latest La Liga Weekly Podcast...

The art of defending, the determination to keep clean sheets, the organisation and the coaching, should be systematic right throughout football at the moment.

We talk about so many clubs whose main onus is to score goals, and the amount of money we see change hands for half-decent defenders in recent seasons leads you to believe there are a lack of defenders around at present.

Changing a team's mentality or style of football is so straightforward. It's so easy for any coach to go into a club and set up a shape - a basic defensive, midfield or attacking shape - and be hard to beat. That's the easiest way to coach; being hard to beat and pragmatic.

To be a coach like Real Betis boss Quique Setien - changing style, encouraging players to flourish, to enjoy being in possession and to want to take possession - that's the art of coaching in my opinion.

Quique Setien is a balanced coach, according to Gibson

So I don't understand why all these elite coaches are struggling to coach the easiest part of defending, which is set pieces.

Making them concentrate, focus, making them aware how important it is not to give away free-kicks in dangerous positions. If you're a team that has a half-decent defensive set up, and a coach like Setien who can encourage players to flourish, then you've got a good chance of success. It's a balance.

It doesn't have to be hell-for-leather attacking football, pressing high up the pitch and then "seeing what happens" at the other end. There has to be a better balance.

Has there been a change in defending over the years? Are defenders different types of players now compared with the big solid stoppers of yesteryear?

Fran Escriba was sacked as Villarreal manager on Monday following a 4-0 defeat by Getafe

It used to be a rarity for defenders to bring the ball out of the back, they'd stand out like a sore thumb. Over the seasons we've also seen the increase in both full-backs pushing on at the same time. That didn't used to be allowed. If one full back went, the other stayed.

Now we're seeing both, and it's forgiven these days if someone is good going forward but not a great defender. But first and foremost, you need to be a defender.

It's an area of the pitch where teams like to make the most of in terms of attacking play, whether it's a full-back arriving late and making the most of space up the pitch, they have to be athletic, and at the end of it, despite paying £50m or £60m for them, it's a bonus if they can actually defend!

Coaches should be able to make players better, too. It's quite straightforward to improve the basic art of defending. But so many coaches are not at the moment.

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