Dembele was a really good example to bring up. He was elite at progressing the ball up the pitch. But that progression wasn't during the build up phase, it was after that when we had the ball on the half way line and beyond.
When he had the ball in the build up phase he was mostly playing it sideways and backwards as you're supposed to do. You usually progress the ball in that phase by playing down the line. That's not to say he didn't beat the press in that first phase. Of course he did at times but that doesn't happen a lot in a game. He showed how brilliant he was after that phase when we reached the opposition half. That's what he was able to do consistently and what made him a great player.
Silva and Rodri retain possession well in build up but Silva's quality shines through higher up the pitch. Rodri plays deeper because he's really good off the ball but he also chips in with goals and assists, as does Silva.
