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    • Milanmania: Juraj Kucka and the Art of the Enforcer

    Milanmania: Juraj Kucka and the Art of the Enforcer

    At first glance, the hate is properly directed. A player whose role is to be as aggressive of a defensive presence as possible, to the point of getting themselves deliberately cautioned or even potentially injuring a player, after all, can’t possibly be liked by most fans. If they are, it stands to reason that the enforcer in question isn’t performing their duties at a suitably high level.

    Players like Roy Keane, Stuart Pearce, and Milan’s own Gennaro “Rino” Gattuso have all seen out their careers in the role of an enforcer, receiving more than their fair share of hate.

    For several years before his departure in the past winter to MLS side LA Galaxy, Nigel De Jong filled the niche of enforcer at Milan that sat unoccupied following Gattuso’s retirement. The Dutchman’s knack for the position has made him one of contemporary football’s most loathed players, with hundreds of articles and thousands of social media posts made regarding his combative and dangerous nature.

    Despite the constant stream of negativity, De Jong has remained firm in keeping his “brutal” approach to the defensive midfield position. In an interview with LA Galaxy podcast Corner of the Galaxy, De Jong spoke about his playing style after hacking down Darlington Nagbe in a match against the Portland Timbers this season.

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