Players who not only possess the physical attributes required to come out on top in the cut and thrust of elite-level football, but who can keep on running from first until last.
Not all goals need to be aesthetically pleasing
Think of Morgan Rogers or Jude Bellingham as two perfect examples of players who you'd pick out as being vital to their respective teams in the modern era.
Whilst it's true that the game has changed immeasurably over the past 15-20 years, essentially the outcome remains exactly the same.
Winning requires putting the ball in the back of the net.
It doesn't really matter how you do it, though some ways of scoring are a little more aesthetically pleasing than others.
Try telling Jose Mourinho and his Real Madrid squad when they're 3-1 down against Roma in the Champions League that they can only score in a certain manner, and the response wouldn't be repeatable.
Does 'before and after Pep' convey the difference in the modern game?
As it turned out, Los Blancos went back to basics and, with seven minutes left in their match at the Stadio Olimpico, scored from three set pieces to take the win (4-3).
The final moments of that match were typical Real Madrid. A team that never knows when they're beaten and will use every tool available to them in order to achieve their aims.
Not for them, the pretty passing carousels of their great rivals, Barcelona, nor a need to score a perfect goal each and every time.
Perhaps there's always something to be learned from what's gone before, even if it doesn't sit well with the purists in the context of today's way of playing.
The notion of 'before and after Pep' perhaps conveys the differences in eras and how football has changed most accurately.
Though it isn't just European football's most successful exponents who are using corners as a weapon in their attacking armoury.
Up to 19% of all EPL goals originate from corners
According to Opta data, approximately 18.7% to 19% of all Premier League goals originate from corners.
There's also the effectiveness of this particular type of set piece to consider, with teams like Manchester City or Arsenal converting between 10% and 19% of their corner attempts into goals, while others see their conversion rates as low as 2%.
The Gunners have been particularly successful with their set-piece routines, and even when an opponent takes into account what's coming next - in 2024/25, for example, 47 of the Gunners' first 50 corners in that season were inswinging - they're still unable to deal with the play if the ball in is accurate enough.
Some might also ridicule the idea of a set-piece coach, given the relatively nuanced view which they bring to the table in terms of tactical acumen; however, it can't be said that some don't earn their keep.
Immediate ball retention improvement at Liverpool from throw-ins
Even Liverpool's throw-in coach, Thomas Gronnemark, saw immediate results after being employed by Jurgen Klopp, despite those outside the club seeming to snigger at such an appointment.
Data points to the Reds going from 18th in the Premier League (45.4% retention under pressure in 2017/18) to 1st (68.4% retention) within his first season.
Gronnemark's 'long, fast, and clever' philosophy certainly helped Liverpool to maintain possession and create goal-scoring chances, and the importance of corner taking should really be along the same lines.
Sometimes football clubs do need to be a little more rudimentary in the way in which they play the game, and you certainly won't find any Real Madrid supporters complaining that those three late goals against Roma all came via a set-piece.
The game was there to be won in whatever way possible.
Check out our exclusive interview with Thomas Gronnemark
Decent set pieces are a skill too
Putting the recent grappling at corners to one side for the purpose of this discussion, Arsenal have also shown that they like to crowd the area close in on goal more than any other team.
Opta data suggests that an average of 3.8 players stay well inside the six-yard box at the Gunners' corners, which is the highest rate in the Premier League.
With the majority of their corners delivered into that area, too, immediately putting the opposition goalkeeper under as much pressure as possible, it's little wonder that it has become so successful for them.
Lest we forget that the North Londoners are still regarded as a great football-playing side despite their evident set-piece success.
If the Real Madrid comeback taught us anything, it's that going back to basics shouldn't be seen as a backward step.
There always has to be a place in the game for a well-worked set piece, and those teams that do so best deserve praise, not derision.
Jason Pettigrove has been the features writer for Flashscore since 2025, utilising Opta data to form the basis of his articles. He has previously worked for high-profile football clubs, news and media outlets, both in print and digital, and can usually be found watching FC Barcelona when time permits. You can read more of his pieces here.
