The Stereotypical South American Guile
Another thing that makes Medel so essential is his tactical knowledge. The clever Chilean is rarely seen out of position and he also seems to have a Spidey sense for when his teammates need help. With short, but scurrying steps, Medel is always in the right place both in the defensive and offensive phases of the game. A sombrero and a few inches shorter, and you couldn’t tell if was Speedy Gonzales.
If dogs are a man’s best friend, El Pitbull is a defence’s best friend. Sounds utterly tacky, but it’s utterly true. He thrives playing just ahead of the defensive line, often being an additional centre-back when needed. He is more than a defensive midfielder, though, and that’s why Mancini adored him before the fallout. He has a great football brain paired with an incredible instinct for the game, which is elusive for a player in his position.
Statistically speaking, Medel’s importance for Inter the season prior to last was very pronounced. He played 951 minutes in 11 of the team’s 12 matches, second only to Inter keeper Samir Handanovic in this category. As much as the Pitbull chomped at the bits destroying opponents’ plays by intercepting 22 passes per game (1st), he also was Inter’s number one playmaker with 685 completed passes and a success percentage of 90.4% (7th best in the Serie A).
The Man of the Masses
His tears as his nation crashed out of the World Cup in Brazil were seen across the globe; and then his ebullient elation on winning the Copa America, are signs of a man who probably has the likeness of his heart embroidered on his sleeves, quite apparently. That passion permeates to the club game too. While at Sevilla, if not playing, he would often watch the game in the stands with supporters. Cardiff fans took him to their hearts too, particularly early on in the campaign, the passion he showed for the Bluebirds, in a series of man of the match showings on the way, setting him apart, was a pleasure to witness.
There is one story of how, after Cardiff lost at Manchester City, Medel travelled back on the train, accompanying the supporters. Although, how they communicated is difficult to know as Medel is pretty much no-hablo-Ingles. But one thing is for certain, if Medel does find his calling at Juergen Klopp’s 100mph, Liverpool, fans can expect to find a new player to sing about in record time. A kind of player they have missed singing about more than Xabi Alonso, or Fernando Torres, – a player in the ilk of the unputdownable, Jaaaaa-vier Maaass-cheraaa-nooo. Quite aptly, in the tune of The White Stripes’ hit number, Seven Nation Army.
Inference
Medel may not be the most skilled player in the world. In fact, heck, he can rarely even claim to be the best player on the pitch in any given match – given the background processes he puts upon himself to execute. He’s just one of those players who plays every match like it could be his last. He knows his limits, he embraces them, and does all he can to overcome them with his grinta and cojones for the collective good. And that’s what makes this ticking time-bomb tick.
This article was originally written by Srijandeep Das.
