Vitaly Janelt interview: An in-depth tactical analysis of the midfielder's role in Thomas Frank's side | OneFootball

Manchester City midfielder Rodri winning the 2024 men's Ballon d'Or was a watershed moment in highlighting the role that central midfielders do for their teams. It was perhaps the start of helping the underrated become rated.

Vitaly Janelt is a player who sits in that category - but he is keen to shut down any direct equivalence to the Spaniard: “I’m not comparing myself to any of those big, big players!”

But there are some resemblances between the two, mainly in their dependability and consistency, which are traits that head coach Thomas Frank clearly values, with Janelt playing all but one Premier League game over the last two seasons.

The midfielder says: “Thomas knows what he gets from me: I’m reliable, I’ll play my game, I’ll always be a six or seven out of 10, and then you have other players who can do the difficult part in attack to find solutions!

“Of course, I still want to be able to be more creative and make those key passes and goal contributions, but to perform at a consistent level for over 130 Premier League games - which I’m confident to say I’ve done - is not easy.

“Some people might look at someone like Rodri, for example, and think, ‘What he does is so easy.'

“But to always be in the right place at the right time and to always play the right pass is not easy at all.

“And I think that’s what the staff like about me: they know what they’re going to get.”

One vital attribute when playing in the role Janelt does is intelligence, being able to read the flow of play, anticipate what will happen next, making smart decisions quickly, and positioning himself effectively even without the ball.

It’s about knowing when to pass, where to move, how to support team-mates, and how to adapt to different situations on the pitch.

And his football brain is put to use to comprehensively describe his current tactical role in the Bees side, as well as how the coaching staff want the team to play.

“We’ve mainly played in a 4-4-2 this season,” Janelt explains.

“It’s been good for me and Christian [Nørgaard] - he’s good at arriving in the box and I stay in at the 6 [a deeper midfield role]; then it works the other way round, I’ll support on the left or join in the box, he’ll stay in the 6. It’s a good connection for us.

“In other seasons, there would be a clear 8 [a more attacking midfield role], but we don’t really have that now - both of us can go and the other one can stay, which is easier for us.

“We’ve been confident and strong in our 4-4-2 shape this year, everyone likes it, and then we can adapt that slightly in games with different opponents: we’ll look at small things like who the opponents’ good 1v1 players are, who we should close down more, which players will be in our box from crosses, how much possession we will have.

“But we try to keep the majority of what we do the same and just focus on our game.”

Janelt adds: “What Thomas wants is clear: he wants me to drop towards the left-back area, between the left centre-back and Keane [Lewis-Potter], so he can go high. It’s then up to me how I want to play or what I want to do.”

Brentford’s philosophy has been an interesting talking point over the last few seasons, with the coaching staff going into detail in previous interviews about the “pragmatism” required after winning promotion and now “adding layers” to the style of play - which is a phrase that constantly crops up in conversations with Frank - particularly this season.

This is echoed by Janelt: “It’s definitely changed a lot across the five years I’ve been here.

“Step by step, you can see our development: we’re still aggressive against the ball, we still have the solutions long, but we now want to make the pitch big and play from the goalkeeper.

“It’s more attractive and more fun for us players than not being in the game for 10 minutes and just going to win a 50/50 duel!

“It’s a good balance now: we’re good on the ball, we’re stable against the ball, and we still have that long solution.

“As a midfielder, I want more situations on the ball rather than off the ball, even if it’s a small bounce [pass back to the goalkeeper or centre-back], a little turn, a combination on the side, a ball in behind, a one-two - these opportunities you get more when you play, rather than going long.”

Part of Frank looking to “add layers” this season - which Janelt states was initially the plan last term, before the barrage of injuries interrupted that - is the players being more comfortable on the ball.

Janelt's numbers show that he is more than happy in possession, with his clean passing technique a real asset to the Brentford midfield.

His pass completion is 82.5 per cent this season, whilst his touches in the Bees' penalty area (4.72) and defensive third (16.68) illustrate his ability to receive balls in those zones and either recycle or progress the ball from there.

Janelt’s role in the first phase of build-up

The first step a team takes to move the ball forward from near their own goal as they aim to start an attack

Janelt will typically drop in to play a deep 6 role, receiving off the centre-backs and drawing opponents forward, with Brentford aiming, eventually, to exploit space in behind.

This is highlighted by the fact that only Manchester United and Southampton have had more ball touches in their own defensive third.

Janelt also plays a crucial role in making sure possession is not lost in this phase, with the opponents drawn on to him, so that Brentford can leap, exploit and capitalise on the space left by those forwards.

The midfielder discusses that in more detail: “I always want to phase the game forward as much as I can. But I also don’t want to take too many risks, because a lot of teams wait for us to make mistakes by forcing us to play through the middle, to turn, and not find a solution or have a heavy touch and lose the ball.

“But my main target is to open up, find a solution before I receive the ball, or at least have an idea of my next step.

“It’s not always easy to find a pass forward, I might just be a bounce and set it back to the centre-back, and he then finds a solution. Or sometimes I’ll just be a magnet between the two strikers to close them down and open the space behind.

“These are all things I’m thinking about during the game and it’s an instinct about making the right decision and getting the best solution.”

Scanning - a term used to describe how players constantly assess their surroundings during a match, used to quickly understand where team-mates, opponents, and open spaces are - is also an important part of a central midfielder’s game.

Janelt explains: “When you’re facing your own goal, especially in build-up phase one, especially in goal kicks, I scan a lot, mainly to see how the opposition is pressing me.

“I will always try to get that solution before I receive the ball: I’ll see if I can play it forward first time, if I can play it in behind first time, do I need to take another touch? These are the things that are going through my head when I receive it in my own half.

“When it’s at the halfway line or in their third, when you have the pitch in front of you, I’m trying to find my team-mates in the best way.

“The way we play, it’s always a balance. When we win the ball and we go for a transition [the moment when a team aims to attack quickly after winning the ball] - we do that a lot and it’s what the fans want to see - but if we’ve got two in attack against their four defenders, is it necessary to force it and lose it again?

“So I try and find that balance when we’re in transition, thinking, ‘Should we keep it now, should we play, should we play in behind?’ This is the difficult part for us in midfield.

“I probably should scan a bit more, to see what’s around, especially high up, but I’d like to think I’m quite good at it and it’s rare that I’ve been in situations where I’ve stupidly lost the ball because I didn’t scan.”

Janelt's role in the second phase of build-up

The stage where a team progresses the ball from defence into midfield, aiming to advance play towards the opponent’s goal

Janelt's main responsibility is keeping possession moving, often shifting the ball sideways, with Brentford aiming to create a lot of chances through wide progression, attacking space open in the channels, with the Bees attacking centrally more often than other Premier League sides.

“When it comes to what I do with the ball, our gameplan means we have those clear solutions on the ball - I know the players and I know the game, which makes it so much easier,” he says.

“For example, when I play with [Yoane] Wissa, Kev [Schade] and Bryan [Mbeumo], I know they’re the last man, I know I can play them in.

“For me, on the left side with my left foot, I can build up those small things working with Kev - when I get the ball, I can always go around the corner, because I know he’ll always be quicker than the defender.

“It’s important not to make it too complicated; for example, with Kevin, he can come to feet, but does that benefit him? Okay, he can get it to feet, keep it and play it back.

“But if the opponent is playing a high line, just playing it behind, with his speed… we would try to do that.

“Luckily, we have a squad that has known each other for a long time and we’re getting to know each other better and better, year on year, which is just helping us.”

He adds: “The layer I can add to my game is probably to play more risky passes or to play more key passes; not only a key pass that leads to a goal or an assist, but a key pass to know what the player I give it to can do in the next situation.

“When you’re not on the pitch, these things might look easy! But, when you’re on the pitch, and you have the feeling and you’re trying to balance what you do with the ball, it’s difficult.”

Janelt’s role in the final third

Janelt will usually have a few options when the ball begins to progress into the final third, as he mentioned earlier: “It’s then up to me how I want to play or what I want to do.”

At times, he will shift out to a wide-left role, where he can provide crosses from the corner of the box, with Lewis-Potter looking to come inside, which allows Janelt to hold the width.

His crossing is a strong part of his game - the technique he possesses has created plenty of chances for his team-mates - which has seen him wrap passes around a defence, into space between the goalkeeper and the back line.

Another option he has is to arrive late at the edge of the box or into the penalty area. Bees fans will remember his neat footwork when in the latter position at West Ham, when his quick feet almost got an assist for Yoane Wissa, before the goal was ruled out by VAR.

Asked how he decides which choice he will take, he explains: “It’s about instinct but also the overload.

“Sometimes the coaches want me between Keane and the left centre-back, which will push Keane up as a proper winger. I’m then in a position where I can either a) overload or, if we lose the ball, b) as a 6/left-back to defend, which means Keane can push high on the wing, move Kev into the box, with Christian also joining late in the box.”

Pressing

The art of quickly trying to win the ball back from the opposing team by putting them under pressure. Brentford play with a man-to-man press, which means each player is responsible for closely marking and pressuring a specific opponent to limit their time and space with the ball

Janelt will jump up to mark the opposition midfielders but, at times, will also shift backwards to cover the defensive midfield more zonally - it becomes a mix of man-to-man marking and filling gaps, which is a complex role.

But the numbers would suggest he’s been doing it very well, blocking 0.96 passes and making 1.08 interceptions per 90, ranking him in the top half of Premier League central midfielders for these metrics.

“We play man-man pretty much every game,” Janelt says. “I just try to do my job: press and then come back for the second balls. It’s just about closing down your man as quickly as possible.

“The difficult part is about whether you stay halfway and wait because not everyone is in shape, or whether you should go on your own to close him down so he plays it back.

“For example, Aston Villa are so good at the one-twos, they can turn, they can switch, so we had to find the balance between pressing them all the time and being man-man, or being compact and waiting for everyone to be ready.

“You may have to play man-to-man-ish, knowing where your man is, but also closing the pockets, giving them as few options as possible.

“It’s about instinct and just knowing if you should go; sometimes it’s 50/50 and you have to decide - there’s been times where I’ve got it wrong, I’m in trouble, and I need to sprint back 80 yards! That’s why we watch games back, knowing what you’ve done, and adapting.

“It’s always easy to go to someone and press rather than following him around; if I know someone is quicker than me, I wouldn’t stay too tight to him because he’d only have to take one step and he’s gone.”

Counter pressing

When a team immediately tries to win the ball back after losing it, applying quick pressure high up the pitch to disrupt the opponent’s counter attack and regain control

Janelt's role in the counter press is to pick up players between the lines, jumping from the base of midfield to immediate pass receivers.

At times the opposition will beat the counter-press and Janelt details his mindset when trying to stop that attack: “If we’re counter-pressing in their half, closing them down, if we lose it, I think we should make more tactical fouls to stop the counter; when you do it quick and in their half, it’s not always a yellow card.

“When there is a transition against us, we need to find the balance in the midfield of fouling or letting him go because, if you do pull his shirt, for example, that’s an obvious yellow, but sometimes you might have to take it.

“If there’s danger, maybe a 3v2, and it’s not going to be a red, I’ll usually take the yellow. But what we should focus on is the quicker fouls in their half if there’s not a clear opportunity to win it again.”

When sitting in a more defensive shape, Janelt’s role is to then protect the defensive line. He has the licence to jump out and track players but, generally, he will keep a small distance between him and the defence, filling gaps between the centre-backs and full-backs.

As Brentford’s style of play develops, Janelt is aware that he has to adapt and do the same: “I still want to keep utilising the attributes I have and just adding layers to them.

“I will have moments where I put a good ball in behind or have a good strike from outside the box; my assist for Wissa against Bournemouth or my goal against Fulham, for example.

“But, most importantly, I want to be fit and healthy, and continue to be available all the time.”

Whilst silkily dribbling past four players or firing a bicycle kick into the top corner might be more eye-catching, those things don’t win games if it isn’t for players like Vitaly Janelt.