Page 85 – The Pulse of Football

Feb

2024

Premier League Review: Midweek Matchday 22

It is becoming the norm now, isn’t it? The Premier League just delivers goals and drama. There’s not much time to stew on what happened across matchday 22 with matchday 23 just around the corner, but here’s a look at some of the biggest talking points across the mid-week fixtures.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

The Gabriel Jesus show

Arsenal kept the pressure on both Manchester City and Liverpool with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Tuesday evening. The Gunners huffed and puffed in the first half but couldn’t find a way past former goalkeeper Matt Turner despite having 81% possession and nine shots.

The visitors ramped things up in the second half and scored two goals in the space of seven minutes just after the hour mark to essentially take the game away from the hosts. Gabriel Jesus scored the opener from a difficult angle, it was one of his six efforts on the night. He also assisted Bukayo Saka as Arsenal doubled their lead.

Jesus was at his brilliant best for Mikel Arteta’s side, creating two chances in total, having 14 touches in the opposition’s box and completing three of his five attempted dribbles. He also won seven of his 13 duels to round off an eye-catching display.

Taiwo Awoniyi made it an interesting final few minutes when he capitalised on a rare William Saliba error to halve the deficit but Arsenal held on for an important three points.

Luton run riot

Heading into their game against Luton, Brighton had been blowing hot and cold for weeks. A draw with Crystal Palace was followed up with a 4-2 win over Tottenham. They drew 0-0 with West Ham before trouncing Stoke City 4-2 in the FA Cup. They then put another draw, this time with Wolves, behind them to dismantle Sheffield United 5-2 in the FA Cup.

Roberto De Zerbi would’ve viewed a trip to Kenilworth Road as a chance to build momentum. If he did, he was proven emphatically wrong with Luton running out 4-0 winners in one of the shock results of the season.

The Hatters had a 2-0 lead within three minutes and the Seagulls just couldn’t recover. Elijah Adebayo finished the game with a hat-trick as the hosts peppered the Brighton goal, outshooting their opponents 18-9. Rob Edwards’ men racked up an Expected Goals total of over 3.2 while limiting Brighton to just 0.94.

They truly deserved all three points in what was one of the most dominant showings of the campaign. The win lifted Luton out of the relegation zone and into 17th. They are now a point ahead of Everton with a game in hand.

Fortress Villa Park falls

Aston Villa were on a 17-match unbeaten run at Villa Park. The Villans had the best home record in the Premier League this term having taken 28 points from 30 matches. They hosted an inconsistent Newcastle United side on Wednesday evening. Eddie Howe’s men haven’t travelled well at all this season yet they found themselves 2-0 up at the break courtesy of a Fabian Schär double.

Alex Moreno then scored an own goal just after half-time and though Ollie Watkins got one back for the hosts, they weren’t able to use that as a platform for what would’ve been a remarkable comeback.

This wasn’t a smash-and-grab, though the Magpies did rely on set pieces. The away side finished the game with a considerably higher Expected Goals total (2.63 to 1.46) and carved out more big chances (five to three).

Villa have now won just one of their last five in the Premier League. This form has seen them drop to fifth in the table. The win for Newcastle lifts them into eighth.

Rampant Reds

For the third successive Premier League match, Liverpool scored four goals. This time, in a 4-1 win over Chelsea. On another day, the Reds could’ve found the back of the net on six or seven occasions on Wednesday evening.

Darwin Núñez hit the woodwork on four occasions while Đorđe Petrović made a number of fine saves to keep the scoreline down. Jürgen Klopp’s men were under pressure following Arsenal’s win over Nottingham Forest yet they played as a team without fear, suffocating the away side with the highest of high presses.

Conor Bradley was once again the star of the show, assisting twice and scoring his first goal for the Merseyside club. Luis Díaz rounded off the rout but not before Christopher Nkunku, off the bench for Chelsea, finally got off the mark for the Blues.

Madness at Molineux

Bedlam. That is probably the best way to describe the game between Manchester United and Wolves on Thursday evening.

Marcus Rashford scored after just five minutes and Rasmus Højlund doubled the lead before we even had 30 minutes on the clock. A controversial penalty decision in the 70th minute allowed Pablo Sarabia to get back into the game only for the inevitable Scott McTominay to restore United’s two-goal advantage.

Wolves pushed on and skipper Max Kilman got them back into the game in the 85th minute before Pedro Neto grabbed an equaliser in the fourth minute of stoppage time. Wolves had done the unthinkable, only for United to steal it moments later. Kobbie Mainoo showed great composure to curl the ball past José Sá in the 97th minute.

United probably deserved the win if we’re being honest, but Wolves showed great resolve to get back into the game.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Premier League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Feb

2024

FC Barcelona and the to-do list awaiting Xavi replacement as head coach

If Barcelona fans were hoping Xavi Hernández might “do a Jürgen Klopp”, this probably wasn’t what they had in mind. While the Catalan boss led his team to the title in LaLiga a year ago, the 2023/24 campaign has been far less impressive and Xavi has now opted to mirror the Liverpool coach not by challenging for honours on multiple fronts, but by offering his resignation and announcing his intent to step down at season’s end.

By Karl Matchett

A full 8 points off the lead behind Girona domestically and facing a tough Champions League test against Napoli in the round of 16, Barca have a tricky last few months under Xavi ahead of them – meaning there will be much for the new manager, whoever it turns out to be, to sort out across the summer and beyond. Here we look at the biggest tasks on hand for one of the biggest jobs in Europe…

Fix an unstable defence

In 22/23, while far from a free-flowing juggernaut going forward, Barcelona conceded just 20 LaLiga goals all season long at the other end – their solidity was the basis for their championship charge. Barely past the halfway point this year, they’ve already conceded just shy of 50% more than that – 29 in 21 matches.

Individual performances have played a part in this, but so too has a regularly altered back line: No player has started more than a dozen league games for them at centre-back and one of their quartet, Iñigo Martínez, has picked up multiple hamstring injuries to lessen Xavi’s options.

Add in the errors which, even back in autumn, Xavi was lamenting as the weakest part of the team and it’s clear that Barcelona have issues at the back which are extremely problematic, but definitely solvable with coaching – or a change of personnel.

Robert Lewandowski’s future

At age 35 and with just eight league goals to his name this term, questions have been asked of Robert Lewandowski’s enduring ability to lead the line – as well as of his contract, which has at least one more year left to run.

Partly his inability to find the net more often can be attributed to what is a stodgy attacking plan at times, as well as a rotating cast of support members providing him with service and the team being inconsistent at best in speed of play.

But despite those flaws, there is still plenty to work with. Lewandowski has the highest individual xG tally in the league this term and it’s unusual that he has underperformed his expected goals at all, let alone by almost four.

Barcelona as a team have the league’s highest xG by a distance, they have the most shots on target per game, have won the most corners and have created the most big chances this season too – what’s missing is a clinical edge and consistency in approach play.

Lewandowski can likely still return to his best finishing level, so Barcelona should for now be more concerned over the quality of second line attackers around him, with Raphinha a good example of where perhaps mistakes have been made: he has the league’s highest xA per 90 and is third for xG+xA per 90, yet has started only eight LaLiga games.

Managing young talent

This must not be an immediate fix for the new boss, but instead a much longer-term approach by the entire coaching team and the wider club.

Gavi, Pedro, Lamine Yamal, Alex Balde: they are excellent, genuinely class operators, but Barcelona run them into the ground as soon as their senior careers get started and end up lumbering them with ongoing injury issues.

We’ve seen it before countless times, Ansu Fati being the best recent example.

It has to stop. These young players are match-winners and should be for another decade and more, but not if Barcelona’s overuse of them is allowed to continue.

Overspending

Finally, the new boss is simply going to have to accept that, barring a massive-money sale of one of those aforementioned young stars, Barcelona simply aren’t a superpower these days – at least, not in the transfer market.

The club’s business five months ago consisted of free transfers and loan deals – plus a €3m Oriol Romeu transfer – and largely the same is almost certain to be the case this summer.

João Félix’s loan has no permanent option so a replacement is needed there, while defence and perhaps midfield depth both need attention too.

It will require patience and problem-solving from the dugout, with Deco as sporting director not so far having shown capability of unearthing regular gems, bringing in low-cost, high-quality players or constructing a team in any method other than a band-aid approach.

One big sale could help out a lot, but firstly Barcelona’s new boss will be desperately hoping they finish top four this season – and that job, at least, remains Xavi’s to take care of.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every Barcelona match live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Feb

2024

Asian Cup Round of 16 Review: Tajikistan’s dream debut and the favourites find a way

After a group stage with a good few twists in turns, the knockout bracket of the Asian Cup was blown wide open. Some of the strongest sides collided as early as the Round of 16, while others who had never gotten this far before were presented with a great chance to continue making history.

By Neel Shelat

🇦🇺 Australia 4-0 Indonesia 🇮🇩

Indonesia should have felt a bit hard done by their Asian Cup knockout debut as they found themselves on the wrong end of a big scoreline against Australia. Their performance was not so bad at all, though, as they gave the Socceroos a decent run for their money.

Graham Arnold’s side did not look all that convincing at any point in the match. They took a two-goal lead into the half-time break having registered just one shot, as the opener came via a deflected own goal.

A couple of goals very close to the end beefed up the scoreline for Australia, but their overall performance left a lot to be desired. Against tougher opposition, they could well be made to pay for their slackness.

🇹🇯 Tajikistan 1-1 UAE 🇦🇪 (5-3 on pens)

The only debutantes at this Asian Cup, Tajikistan, continued their historic campaign with a memorable win over the United Arab Emirates.

It was a thoroughly deserved victory for Petar Šegrt’s men too, as they were clearly the better side over the course of the 90 minutes. Vahdat Hanonov’s header at the half-hour mark seemed to have steered them on the course for victory, but there was a lot more drama to come.

As the second half wore on, the UAE grew increasingly desperate for an equaliser and started to throw the kitchen sink at the game. That left them quite vulnerable at the back, allowing Tajikistan to create a number of big chances.

The Persian Lions squandered their chances, though, and their defensive resolve was broken in stoppage time. Nevertheless, they managed to hold on through extra time and then won the penalty shoot-out by converting each of their attempts.

With that, Tajikistan matched Australia’s 2007 debut season by reaching the last-eight stage. Given the grit and unity they are showing under Petar Šegrt, who is to say they can’t go even further?

🇮🇶 Iraq 2-3 Jordan 🇯🇴

The best Round of 16 tie for the neutrals was Jordan’s dramatic late win over Iraq in a five-goal thriller.

Although there were no goals in the first 45 minutes, the match was an enthralling end-to-end exhibition of attacking play from start to finish. Jordan were happier to let their opponents keep more of the ball but they too posed a serious counterattacking threat, demonstrating what they could do when Yazan Al-Naimat opened the scoring by pouncing on a loose pass just before half-time.

Iraq committed more bodies forward in the second half as they sought to turn the game around, and they were successful. Saad Natiq scored the equaliser, after which tournament top scorer Ayman Hussein established a lead for the 2007 champions.

However, he was controversially given a second yellow card for excessive celebration, leaving Iraq a man down at the end of the game. They seemed to do a decent job of holding on to their lead, for the most part, but then conceded twice in quick succession once the clock passed 90 minutes to lose the match!

🇶🇦 Qatar 2-1 Palestine 🇵🇸

Perhaps the biggest night in Palestinian football history saw them make their Asian Cup knockout debut against none other than hosts Qatar.

They put together an incredibly resolute defensive performance in the first half to frustrate the hosts, while Oday Dabbagh went up the other end and scored a solo goal with pinpoint accuracy to give Palestine a shock lead. They looked on course to protect it till half-time, but another well-worked corner routine from the home side saw Akram Afif’s ball find its way to Hassan Al Haidos, whose shot took a deflection on its way in.

Tintín Márquez recognised that something needed to change to spark his side into life in the second half, so he switched to a back four. Just moments into the period, Almoez Ali was brought down in the box after he ran onto Afif’s through ball, enabling the Al Sadd star to step up and put his side in front from the spot.

Qatar were able to hold on for the win relatively comfortably then, but Palestine did give it their all for a late equaliser. The players and staff should clearly leave Doha with their heads held as high as possible, as they have written their names into the history books at a time of immense hardship given the ongoing war on Gaza.

🇺🇿 Uzbekistan 2-1 Thailand 🇹🇭

Uzbekistan were widely considered the team to watch at this Asian Cup as their highly impressive young generation is beginning to make their presence felt in the senior squad.

21-year-old midfielder Diyor Kholmatov produced a pinpoint crossfield pass to set up Azizbek Turgunbaev for the opener. Thailand’s half-time changes brought them back into the game as substitute Supachok Sarachat scored a lovely equaliser by curling a shot into the bottom corner. The game could have gone either way from there, but 20-year-old Uzbek starlet Abbosbek Fayzullayev took matters into his own hands with an inch-perfect finish for what proved to be the winner.

Uzbekistan were just about the better team on the day against so this result must be called deserved, but Thailand should be proud of themselves as they put up a very good fight. This was the first time that the War Elephants made it to the Asian Cup knockouts in back-to-back editions, so they too seem to be heading in the right direction.

🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia 1-1 South Korea 🇰🇷 (2-4 on pens)

Two heavyweights collided as early as the Round of 16 as Saudi Arabia and South Korea squared off at the Education City Stadium.

After an unconvincing group campaign, Jürgen Klinsmann elected to switch to a back-three and come closer to matching Saudi Arabia as far as team formations were concerned.

That did not quite work out as planned. Neither side looked too strong in the first half, but half-time substitute Abdullah Hadi Radif made an instant impact to give Saudi Arabia the lead seconds into the second half. Needing to chase the game, South Korea reverted to a back-four and began to pile on the pressure.

The Falcons were very much holding on for dear life by the end as last-ditch blocks and saves preserved their lead going into stoppage time, but they were finally undone right at the death by substitute Cho Gue-sung’s header.

After a goalless extra time period, the match was then decided on penalties. Cho Hyun-woo’s saves won the day for the Taegeuk Warriors as their takers were faultless, taking them through to an eighth-consecutive Asian Cup quarter-final.

🇧🇭 Bahrain 1-3 Japan 🇯🇵

Pre-tournament favourites Japan did not have the best of group stages either, so they might have felt a touch lucky to come up against Bahrain in the Round of 16 rather than one of the stronger group winners.

They made the most of this opportunity with a pretty convincing win in a match they controlled from start to finish. Just after the half-hour mark, Ritsu Doan scored the opener by following up Seiya Maikuma’s strike which rattled the post. A defensive lapse allowed Takefusa Kubo to double his side’s lead early in the second half, placing them in a commanding position.

Young goalkeeper Zion Suzuki’s unconvincing tournament continued as he offered Bahrain a route back into the game through an own goal. So, the Samurai Blue needed to restore their cushion to comfortably see out the win, and Ayase Ueda did just that.

🇮🇷 Iran 1-1 Syria 🇸🇾 (5-3 on pens)

Syria’s Asian Cup knockout debut saw them come up against a significantly stronger Iran, for whom this was a do-or-die edition of the tournament.

It is now almost 50 years since Team Melli last lifted the trophy. As their competitors continue to get stronger and stronger, many believe that this Asian Cup is the last chance for their ageing golden generation to write their names in the history books.

Syria seemed intent on preventing that from happening as they set up in a staunch 4-4-2 block, but Mehdi Taremi found a way to unlock it just after half an hour by winning and converting a penalty. Iran might have hoped to comfortably see out the win thereafter, but Syria’s own star forward Omar Khribin had other ideas as he created the chance for and scored a spot-kick in the second half to equalise.

As the match seemed to be heading to extra time, things got worse for Iran as Taremi picked up a second yellow card. It then became their turn to dig deep and defend, which they did quite well and thus took the game to penalties. One misstep by The Eagles of Qasioun was clinically punished, as Iran just about kept themselves in the tournament.

Looking ahead: Quarter-finals

History is sure to be created when Tajikistan take on Jordan. Neither team has ever gotten as far as the semi-finals of the Asian Cup, with the Persian Lions are in their debut campaign while Jordan have lost two quarter-finals in the last 20 years.

Later that day, a titanic clash will take centre stage. Having overcome Saudi Arabia, South Korea will face Australia in a tie which will see another one of the favourites fall.

Another huge match-up the following day will see Iran take on Japan. Neither team has looked as good as expected in this tournament so far, but the Samurai Blue will hope to have the edge on pure quality. Whoever wins this match will have a very good chance of going on to win the whole thing.

Qatar have looked quite good so far, but they have not really been tested by the strongest opponents. Uzbekistan are arguably not quite at their level yet either, but the young talent in the team could give the hosts a real run for their money.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Asian Cup, with deep stats and players ratings, on FotMob. Download the free app here.

Jan

2024

Lamine Camara: Senegal’s breakout star at the AFCON

Midfielders like Lamine Camara are rare. It can be difficult to define precisely what he does well because he does everything well. Comparisons to N’Golo Kante and Paul Pogba feel lazy, but that isn’t to say there aren’t elements of Camara’s game that are similar. This is why the 20-year-old stood out more than any other Senegalese player at the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.

By Graham Ruthven

Senegal will look back at the tournament with disappointment. The Teranga Lions entered AFCON as defending champions and were the only team to get through the group stage with a 100% record. A penalty shootout defeat to hosts Ivory Coast in the Round of 16, however, stopped Aliou Cissé’s team from progressing any further.

In retrospect, though, the 2023 AFCON could still be remembered as a significant one for Senegal as it marked the breakthrough of Camara. The youngster had already caught the eye at the 2022 African Nations Championships (for domestic-based players only) and won Player of the Tournament at last year’s U20 AFCON, but he has reached new heights even since then.

The Man of the Match performance in Senegal’s opening 2023 AFCON fixture against the Gambia will live long in the memory. Indeed, Camara was the best player on a pitch that featured several proven stars, scoring twice including one stunning strike from outside the box that flashed into the top corner of the net.

While some central midfielders are content with keeping possession moving and maintaining their place in the team structure, Camara is always mindful of his next move. This is evident in the number of times he follows his pass to make a run into a pocket of space or in behind the opposition defence. It makes him extremely difficult to track.

Camara’s natural ability on the ball also makes him standout. While he is mobile and covers a lot of ground, there is a composure to his possession play. Not only that, Camara’s decision-making is sharper than is common for a player of his age. This was clear in the performances he produced at AFCON.

Defensively, Camara has plenty to offer too. He is in the 88th percentile for tackles made per 90 minutes and the 83rd percentile for passes blocked. Camara was a big part of the reason why Senegal only conceded one group stage goal at AFCON with the 20-year-old an effective barrier in front of the back four.

As an all-rounder, there aren’t many flaws in Camara’s game. He can dribble. He can pass over short and long distances. He can shoot from distance. He can tackle. He can read the game. He can even pose a threat from set pieces. All this explains why some consider him the most exciting Senegalese youngster in a generation.

“I have three role models: Kevin De Bruyne, Toni Kroos but, my biggest role model, it’s Idrissa Gueye,” said Camara in a recent interview, highlighting the different influences in his game. “Since I was little, I have drawn a lot of inspiration from him. And now that I’m with him in the national team, I watch what he does, during training, off the pitch…”

It’s unlikely Camara will remain at Metz beyond the end of the season. The midfielder only made the move to the French club last year, but most would agree he has already outgrown a team battling relegation near the bottom of Ligue 1. Camara’s performances at the 2023 AFCON only bolstered his reputation as one of the most talented young midfielders in the sport right now. There will be suitors.

The sight of Camara in tears after Senegal’s surprise elimination from the 2023 AFCON was a difficult one for fans of The Teranga Lions to digest, but the midfielder will have other opportunities to lift silverware. He is a key member of Senegal’s next generation which could be even more talented than the one that made AFCON history two years ago.

Like Sadio Mané, Camara came through the Generation Foot youth academy in his homeland. It’s clear in the way the 20-year-old plays and carries himself that he has had a good footballing education. “I hope I will do better than him,” Camara laughed when asked about his link to Mané. The way he’s going, the suggestion might not be a joke for much longer.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every AFCON or Ligue 1 game live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage including shot maps, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2024

5 big issues Liverpool need to solve after Jurgen Klopp’s bombshell exit news

The news that Jürgen Klopp will leave Liverpool at the end of the season has left owners Fenway Sports Group with a host of key issues to solve, in order to avoid a serious decline.

By Jack Lusby, ThisIsAnfield.com

With the dust settling after Jürgen Klopp’s shock announcement, Liverpool fans are left to ponder life without not only the legendary manager, but also his most influential supporting cast.

Joining Klopp through the exit door this summer will be assistants Peter Krawietz and Pepijn Lijnders, as well as elite development coach Vitor Matos. Sporting director Jörg Schmadtke has already departed on the close of the winter transfer window.

It leaves owners Fenway Sports Group will a mammoth task in not only replacing Liverpool’s most successful manager in living memory, but effectively overseeing a wholesale restructure of the club from the dugout to the boardroom.

Klopp will, at least, leave the squad in excellent shape, with a chance he rounds off his almost nine years on Merseyside with four more trophies come the season’s end. But there are major question marks over the continuity of Liverpool’s personnel on the pitch as a result of his departure, too.

Here are five huge issues FSG need to solve following the news that Klopp will leave Liverpool.

The next manager

The obvious starting point is who replaces Klopp, which is on one hand fairly straightforward but also a daunting task for whoever is ultimately appointed.

Xabi Alonso is considered the front-runner at this early stage, and it seems likely that contact will have already been made with a manager who is excelling in his first senior role at Bayer Leverkusen and has an established affinity with Liverpool as a club and a city.

Other names seen as in the frame are Brighton’s Roberto De Zerbi, Tottenham’s Ange Postecoglou, Brentford’s Thomas Frank, Sporting CP’s Ruben Amorim and Germany national team coach Julian Nagelsmann.

All fit the same brief: young, ambitious, proven to a degree and capable of fitting into Liverpool’s established structure on and off the pitch.

None possess the same pedigree and sheer presence that Klopp did when he arrived on the back of glory at Borussia Dortmund – nor, even, the alternative back in 2015, Carlo Ancelotti – but FSG’s data-driven approach to recruitment has paid off in the past.

A sporting director

It has already been suggested that FSG will look to replace Schmadtke before any final decision is made on Klopp’s successor, and it stands to reason that this would be the case.

While the club’s most recent sporting director effectively worked under Klopp, the idea has always been for the role to be in collaboration – or even above – the manager, in charge of all areas of recruitment.

Early contenders for the position include West Ham’s Tim Steidten – who held talks with Liverpool prior to Schmadtke’s arrival on a short-term role last summer – along with Bournemouth’s Richard Hughes and former Southampton, Tottenham, RB Leipzig and Monaco chief Paul Mitchell.

It is almost impossible to measure the calibre of a sporting director from an outside perspective, but a strong, driven character with an appreciation of data and a heavy contacts book is essential.

Key contracts: Van Dijk, Salah, Trent and more

Even before the news of Klopp’s imminent exit, there was a growing sense of it being a pivotal stage when it comes to the futures of three of the manager’s most important players.

Captain Virgil van Dijk, vice-captain Trent Alexander-Arnold and leading goalscorer Mohamed Salah are all into the final year-and-a-half of their deals, and uncertainty over the club’s future has led to any negotiations being stalled.

Regardless of who is brought in, as manager or sporting director, there is no chance Liverpool would look to part ways with any of those three players if they could avoid it.

But all three of Van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold and Salah will require assurances of the club’s direction before they commit any more of their careers to Anfield.

Transfer plans

Klopp’s decision to leave at this stage was partly informed by his belief that Liverpool are on an upward curve and in a healthy position for any successor to take over.

After a summer rebuild that saw Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo arrive and old heads such as Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Fabinho depart, there is a sense that the squad that Klopp dubbed ‘Liverpool 2.0’ are ahead of where they were expected to be.

Still, further change will be required in the summer ahead, both in terms of incomings and outgoings, and as it stands plans for the next transfer window will be fronted by FSG president Mike Gordon and director of research William Spearman.

Unless Liverpool opt for the hands-off, head coach model, any manager replacing Klopp will want the last say on any players coming in or going out, while a sporting director is needed for negotiations over signings, sales and contracts.

There are still months to go before the window opens, of course, but Liverpool would typically have their priority targets set by this point – that will, unfortunately, be impossible until key staff roles are filled.

What about the academy?

Klopp’s success at Liverpool will undoubtedly be measured in trophies won, but his lasting legacy should arguably be considered to be the progress made at academy level.

In his final season alone, the German has seen Jarell Quansah, Conor Bradley and Ben Doak emerge as genuine options for a first-team squad that includes Alexander-Arnold, Curtis Jones, Stefan Bajcetic and Caoimhin Kelleher as long-term staples.

Bobby Clark, Kaide Gordon, Luke Chambers, Calum Scanlon, Owen Beck and Trey Nyoni are among those who have also been involved and can be viewed as part of Liverpool’s future.

It has taken almost a decade, in tandem with academy director Alex Inglethorpe, but a devotion to giving lasting opportunities to youth is clearly paying off.

But that is all thrown into doubt with the departures of Klopp, Lijnders and perhaps most importantly,Matos, who served as the link between Liverpool’s academy and first team.

Inglethorpe will be key to assuring this continues, but the club’s hierarchy must ensure any appointment as manager or sporting director be aligned with this vision.

If not, FSG risks undoing the tireless work that stands to save them hundreds of millions in the transfer market going forward.

(Images from IMAGO)

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Jan

2024

AFCON Round of 16 Review: Contenders crash out, Ivory Coast accept a lifeline

The group stage of this AFCON was unpredictable enough, but the Round of 16 has surely cemented this edition of the tournament as the most dramatic ever. None of the quarter-finalists from 2021 have managed to reach that stage again, and none of Africa’s representatives at the 2022 World Cup remain standing either.

By Neel Shelat

🇦🇴 Angola 3-0 Namibia 🇳🇦

Angola turned on the style as they eased past knockout debutantes Namibia in an action-packed start to the Round of 16.

The drama began in the 17th minute, when Angolan goalkeeper Neblú saw red for rushing out of his box and stopping the ball with his hand in a one-on-one situation. One might have thought Namibia had a golden opportunity then, but that was not at all the case.

The Brave Warriors looked quite clueless when it came to creating chances against the 10 men of Angola, which should not have been too much of a surprise given the fact that they just scored once in their three group games. The Palancas Negras, on the other hand, maintained some threat through their lively attackers.

Gelson Dala opened the scoring in the 38th minute after being served on a plate by captain Fredy. He soon added a second from a set-piece, prior to which Namibia also had a player sent off for a second yellow card. Angola cruised home then, with Mabululu capping the result off with a cool finish in the second half.

🇳🇬 Nigeria 2-0 Cameroon 🇨🇲

The West African derby between Nigeria and Cameroon was one of the most hotly anticipated ties of this week, and it did not disappoint.

Viewers were treated to an incredibly open and end-to-end match as neither side managed to establish control in the midfield. In the final third, though, Nigeria looked far more threatening as Cameroon often made life tougher for themselves with some unforced errors. It was one such mistake that allowed Victor Osimhen to go through on goal in the 36th minute, but he elected to square the ball to Ademola Lookman who just about saw his shot squirm past the keeper.

The Indomitable Lions were quite disappointing in the second period, as they showed little cohesive attacking endeavour despite being the side that needed the equaliser. They ended up going down without even registering a shot on target, as Lookman added a second late on to seal the deal for the Super Eagles.

🇬🇶 Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Guinea 🇬🇳

Shock Group A winners Equatorial Guinea were rewarded for their efforts with a tie against their namesake Guinea, who had done well to progress from a group that included Senegal and Cameroon.

The match was not exactly a classic, but Equatorial Guinea just about seemed to have the upper hand as far as overall momentum was concerned. Juan Micha’s side looked to be playing quite cohesively both with and without the ball, but they could not really do much in the final third.

The complexion of the match totally changed when Federico Bikoro was sent off. In spite of that, Equatorial Guinea won a penalty after the hour, but tournament top-scorer Emilio Nsue could only hit the post.

For their part, Guinea created next to no meaningful chances despite their numerical advantage, so the match looked on course for extra time. Mohamed Bayo had other ideas, though, as he headed home a cross by Ibrahim Diakité in the very last minute of play to break Equatoguinean hearts.

🇪🇬 Egypt 1-1 DR Congo 🇨🇩 (7-8 on pens)

Egypt’s tie against DR Congo was a potentially historic occasion, as it was the first knockout tie in a major international tournament between two sides that had failed to win any of their prior matches – at least as far back as our archives go.

The Pharaohs also ended up setting an unwanted record on the day, registering their eight-consecutive draw at the AFCON proper. The match was a really drab affair between two sides that never seemed to click going forward, so no one deserved to win it in regular play.

Meschack Elia’s header was cancelled out by Mostafa Mohamed’s penalty in the first half itself, after which the game seemed destined for a penalty shoot-out. That took a while to resolve itself too, with the goalkeepers ultimately taking matters into their own hands – or more accurately their feet because neither of them made a single save. Gabaski grazed the crossbar with his attempt, allowing Lionel Mpasi-Nzau to win it for DR Congo.

🇨🇻 Cape Verde 1-0 Mauritania 🇲🇷

Cape Verde and Mauritania were never expected to be among the best teams at this tournament, but their clash highlighted that they were at least two of the most tactically polished contestants.

Cape Verde had shocked everyone by becoming the first team of the tournament to seal a knockout spot, so they went into this match as favourites. Mauritania were going to be no pushovers, though, as their solid 4-4-2 block caused their opponents some problems high up the pitch and also managed to keep things really tight in their own half.

The Blue Sharks’ structure enabled them to comfortably keep much more possession, but they failed to do much in the final third for the first hour or so. They then started to build up some sustained pressure, which eventually told late on when an errant backpass caused goalkeeper Babacar Niasse to concede a penalty.

Ryan Mendes stepped up, and he converted to help his side match their nation’s best-ever AFCON result from 2007 when they also reached the quarter-finals.

🇸🇳 Senegal 1-1 Ivory Coast 🇨🇮 (4-5 on pens)

For the first time since 2002, the defending champions faced the hosts at the AFCON.

The Ivory Coast were given an absolute lifeline as they progressed to the knockouts despite registering just three points with a negative goal difference in group A. Those performances caused Jean-Louis Gasset to lose his job, so Emerse Faé stepped up to take interim charge here.

They would have expected to be in for a very tough battle against a side that won all three of their group games quite convincingly. Things did not get off to an ideal start as Habib Mouhamadou Diallo thumped home Sadio Mané’s delivery in the fourth minute, putting Senegal in front with the game’s first attempt.

Fans would have feared that their side might collapse as they did in that final group game against Equatorial Guinea, but they showed great character to hang in there and slowly build up the pressure.

Still, they could not create much but were handed a golden opportunity when substitute Nicolas Pépé was brought down in the box by Édouard Mendy. Fresh off the bench, Franck Kessié stepped up to take the penalty and emphatically converted to keep the Elephants in the tournament.

After an entertaining extra time period where both sides did go for the win (to their credit), the match was to be decided by a penalty shoot-out. Senegal misstepped when Moussa Niakhaté hit the wrong side of the post, eventually allowing Kessié to return to the spot and win it for the Ivory Coast.

🇲🇱 Mali 2-1 Burkina Faso 🇧🇫

Mali caught Burkina Faso off-guard soon after kick-off in either half to establish a two-goal lead, which proved to be enough to see them through to the knockouts.

The Stallions never really got going in the first half so the 1-0 scoreline never looked threatened, but a half-time shake-up seemed to give them a better fighting chance. Bertrand Traoré’s spot-kick brought them back into the game, setting up an interesting finish.

Burkina Faso had some spells of pressure late on, but they did not do nearly enough to bag an equaliser. With that, Mali advanced to the quarter-finals for the first time in over a decade.

🇲🇦 Morocco 0-2 South Africa 🇿🇦

After their record-breaking World Cup semi-final run, Morocco were considered among the firm favourites for the AFCON crown. They convincingly topped their group while many of their fellow contenders stumbled elsewhere, so their chances only went up going into the knockouts.

In line with how this tournament has gone so far, they were unsurprisingly eliminated by South Africa. The Atlas Lions did not play poorly at all, but they did not exactly impose themselves on the game and didn’t create much. Their opponents, on the other hand, scored with their only shot inside the box.

Walid Regragui’s men were then sparked into life and began to consistently threaten in and around the box, but they failed to find the back of the net. A few minutes into stoppage time, Teboho Mokoena’s pinpoint free-kick sealed the deal for Bafana Bafana.

Looking ahead: Quarter-finals

The knockout bracket has become even more open after this set of results, so all eight remaining contestants must be in it to win it.

Nigeria are among the strongest sides standing, but they should expect a very tough test from Angola. The Palancas Negras have the attacking edge to threaten anyone, so they could spring a surprise here.

DR Congo vs Guinea should be an interesting tie between two sides who have not looked overly convincing so far but have reached this stage without too many hiccups. A loss now would be quite disappointing for either team.

Hosts Ivory Coast will be keen to make the most of the lifelines they have received so far in the tournament, both in the group stage and against Senegal. They will be the favourites against Mali, so it should be interesting to see how they cope with that level of expectation.

Cape Verde are arguably the most tactically well-coached team at this tournament, so they should back themselves to create history by reaching the semi-finals of the AFCON for the first time. South Africa have not gotten that far in a good while too as their last quarter-final victory was back in 2000.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every game from the Africa Cup of Nations, with deep stats and players ratings, on FotMob. Download the free app here.

Jan

2024

Premier League Preview: Matchday 22

The Premier League returns with Matchday 22, a repeat of the opening round of fixtures, being played throughout the mid-week. Here, we detail what matches we believe are going to provide the footballing world with the biggest talking points, that is until the next round of fixtures this weekend.

By Sam McGuire, Premier League expert

Jekyll and Hyde Arsenal

Believe it or not, Arsenal and Nottingham Forest both have two wins each in their last four matches against one another.

The Gunners have won both ties at the Emirates while Nottingham Forest claimed 1-0 victories in each of the two matches at the City Ground. Though Arsenal are clear favourites heading to Nottingham on Tuesday evening, they will no doubt be a little wary of that record.

Another interesting fact is that there hasn’t been a draw between these two sides across their last seven matches in all competitions. If we’re being honest, a draw doesn’t help either side this time around either. A point for Arsenal would leave them four points off the summit having played a game more while it would move Nuno Espírito Santo’s men five points clear of 18th-placed Luton but the Hatters would have two games in hand.

Arsenal’s freshness could play a part here. Their last outing was the 5-0 Premier League win over Crystal Palace on January 20th while Forest had an FA Cup tie against Bristol City over the weekend.

Fortress Villa Park

Aston Villa have taken 28 points from a possible 30 at home this season. Sheffield United are the only team to escape Villa Park with anything. On Tuesday evening, Unai Emery’s men take on an out-of-sorts but dangerous Newcastle United side.

The hosts are unbeaten in four following their shock 3-2 loss to Manchester United on Boxing Day. However, they haven’t scored a goal in their last two matches across all competitions, so they head into this game needing to find a spark in the final third. In fact, over the past five games in the Premier League, Villa are eighth in the form table and have a goal difference of just one.

Newcastle, by comparison, are 17th in the form table having picked up three points from five matches. They need a win. They might fancy their chances against Villa though, despite everything. The Magpies have found the back of the net on 12 occasions across their last four meetings with the Villans.

A win for Villa could see them move into second place in the Premier League. A win for Newcastle would lift them into eighth.

Can Toney provide another spark for Brentford?

An Ivan Toney-inspired Brentford ran out 3-2 winners over Nottingham Forest in their last Premier League outing to register their first win since early December. Thomas Frank will be hoping his main man can deliver a similarly dominant performance against Tottenham.

It’ll be a big ask with the Bees struggling for players right now. They have four away on international duty and five first-team players, including top scorer Bryan Mbeumo, are ruled out through injury. Furthermore, Brentford haven’t kept a clean sheet in 12 matches and are winless in five away games this season.

Spurs have the third best home record in the Premier League and though they lost last time out, 1-0 to Manchester City, they have impressed in front of their home fans this term. They too are without their top scorer, Heung-Min Son, who remains at the Asian Cup with South Korea, but they have added reinforcements during this transfer window and are currently averaging 2.1 goals per game.

Ange Postecoglou’s men should have enough but you just never know in the Premier League, do you?

The Klopp farewell tour continues

Another Liverpool match, another chance for Anfield to say goodbye to the departing Jürgen Klopp. This time around the Reds face Chelsea. A win for the Premier League leaders would see their lead at the summit return to five points, though that does depend on how other rivals fare. They could finish matchday 22 seven points clear if things go their way.

Klopp’s men are averaging the second-highest number of goals on a per 90 basis with 2.2, they have the second-best home record in the Premier League with 26 points from 30 and they have kept the joint-most clean sheets in the English top-flight with eight.

The Reds haven’t lost to Chelsea in any of their previous seven matches, though five of these have ended as draws.

If Chelsea do the unthinkable and gatecrash Klopp’s extended farewell party, they could move up to seventh in the Premier League. The Blues have been awarded the most penalties in the league this season (eight). Mauricio Pochettino’s side are also second in the form table over recent weeks so should not be taken lightly.

The Hammers and the Cherries

This has the potential to be one of the best games of matchday 22 with both teams heading into this game in form. In fact, West Ham are fourth in the form table while Bournemouth currently rank seventh.

David Moyes’ men will be confident of maximum points though. They are unbeaten in nine at home and have a fairly good record against the Cherries having won four of their last five. Bournemouth’s only success against West Ham during this period came in a friendly.

Yet the way in which Andoni Iraola’s team swept Swansea aside in the FA Cup, you have to feel they will be full of confidence, and with Dominic Solanke in attack, they will always be a genuine threat.

(Cover image from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the Premier League live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2024

The Rise of Thiago Motta’s young Dutch star: Joshua Zirkzee

The Netherlands has been historically associated with charismatic, classy strikers. Ruud van Nistelrooy, Marco van Basten, Robin van Persie to name a few. Assured in their finishing with expert technique, the Dutch have been treated to some of the world’s best poachers. Recently, however, there has been somewhat of a ‘striker crisis’ as no forward has been able to make the position his own.

By Dharnish Iqbal

Enter then Bologna’s rising star: Josh Zirkzee. As part of the Thiago Motta revolution at Bologna, Zirkzee is helping to spearhead a young attack. The average age of the strike force vs AC Milan this past weekend? 21.5 years old.

That is a heavy entrustment in youth, but Zirkzee is a player who seems a lot more mature than other attackers his age (22). When you think of youth attackers, you’re normally excited by their raw talent, and directness. They’re like a breath of fresh air because they do certain things that seasoned players don’t.

Zirkzee is beyond his years because of his link-up play and ability to play like a complete centre-forward. Normally with strikers Zirkzee’s age, they’ll have one or two good attributes but you’ll have to mould them into a striker that can play the modern game and be a part of a team’s build-up. But this is actually what Zirkzee is brilliant at.

Zirkzee’s strengths lie in how much he drags a centre-back out of position, receiving the ball deep with his back to goal. He often gets involved in the early stages of a move but also drifts out wide to support the winger to link-up and progress the move.

When Bologna have the ball in defence, they look to play it to Zirkzee as an outlet in his own half so he can hold the ball up, look to play it to the winger or attacking-midfielder and bring others into play.

Rather than just be part of the move as a striker who occupies the last defensive line, he is an important part of Bologna’s attacks at whatever stage as a creator connecting midfield and attack.

The goal he scored vs Milan had him starting on the wing as he latched onto a through ball over the top. Due to him making the correct decision and crossing the ball for other Bologna attackers when the ball eventually came back out to him after a scramble he cooly finished through Maignan’s legs.

Smart decision-making normally comes later when forwards are perfecting their skills. You can see how valuable his link-up, creation and connecting midfield and attack is for Bologna through his player traits.

Having 90% more touches than other strikers in the league and 87% more chances created than other forwards in Serie A. This is even more of an impressive stat when you think of some of the strikers the league has: Romelu Lukaku, Paulo Dybala, Victor Osimhen, Oliver Giroud, and Lautaro Martínez.

His abilities in build-up are highlighted by his passing stats, having 20 successful passes, 0.69 accurate long balls and 1.39 chances created per 90.

If he was to go to a bigger club, these attributes would be easily transferrable for him to fit into a possession-based team that patiently constructs attacks. He isn’t conjuring something out of nothing for a side relying on his abilities to produce goals and save games, so there’ll be less of an adjustment.

If you take a look at who he’s scoring and assisting against, it tends to be the bigger teams with better defenders. The goal against AC Milan adds to his tally of assisting or scoring vs Juventus, Inter, Lazio and Fiorentina.

Zirkzee joined Bayern’s academy from Feynoord’s youth setup and eventually rose to play for Bayern Munich II, making his senior debut in 2019-20. However, with Robert Lewandowski as the main man, chances to play first team football were few and far between.

After being loaned to Parma, Zirkzee suffered a serious injury during January 2021 but would find his feet at Anderlecht, in another loan spell later that summer. A year later he permanently signed for Bologna and is having a breakout season.

Remarkably his game is very similar to Harry Kane and as Arsenal, AC Milan and Manchester United lurk, Bayern have retained a buy-back clause giving them an advantage should they choose to re-sign the Dutchman.

His selfless abilities as a centre-forward have made him a target for the big clubs. After breaking out at Bologna, the Netherlands may have their next great Dutch striker.

(Images from IMAGO)

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Jan

2024

FA Cup Fourth Round Review

There really isn’t a competition quite like the FA Cup. The Fourth Round draw promised goals, drama and upsets. As a whole, it delivered. We had goals. We had drama and we had upsets. What more could you ask for? In our FA Cup review, we take a look at some of the biggest talking points from across the weekend.

By Sam McGuire

The Swans swept aside

Bournemouth blitzed Swansea City to kick off the Fourth Round of the FA Cup. Andoni Iraola’s side scored three goals inside the opening 14 minutes and added a further two before the half-time whistle. The second half wasn’t anywhere near as exciting for the home side but it didn’t need to be.

The hosts scored with every effort on target. Remarkably, though, the Cherries managed zero shots on target after the break while the away side didn’t manage a single effort in the second half.

It was a deserved victory for the Premier League outfit. The most impressive statistic from the match was that they managed 19 shots and not one arrived from outside of the penalty area. That is a sign of a well-drilled attacking unit capable of creating high-value chances.

City snatch a late winner

Tottenham Hotspur, in front of a home crowd, failed to live up to the billing against Manchester City. Spurs have a fairly decent record against the reigning Premier League champions when on home turf but Ange Postecoglou’s side severely struggled on Friday evening.

They had just a single shot across the 90 minutes and failed to limit Man City. The visitors carved out chances worth an Expected Goals value of 2.23 while also finishing the match with 18 shots to their name. For 87 minutes, it appeared as though Spurs might get away with a replay but Nathan Ake popped up with the winner with just two minutes of normal time remaining.

The win for Pep Guardiola’s men now makes it seven on the trot across all competitions. They seem to be hitting form just at the right time.

An upset at Portman Road

Ipswich Town are flying high in the Championship and would’ve felt confident of reaching the Fifth Round when drawn, at home, to National League South side Maidstone United.

Yet it was very much a smash-and-grab on Saturday afternoon as the non-league side stunned the team currently sitting in second place in England’s second tier.

Maidstone managed just two shots during the game but both efforts beat Christian Walton. The away side had just 22% of the ball at Portman Road and were under pressure throughout. The Tractor Boys had a total of 38 shots, six of which were classed as big chances, and amassed an Expected Goals haul of 3.66 They attempted almost 500 more passes than their visitors but weren’t able to make any of that dominance count, losing 2-1 in one of the surprise results of the weekend.

Luton leave it late

For the second time this season, Luton have beaten Everton at Goodison Park. On both occasions, the visitors claimed a 2-1 win. Whereas in the Premier League fixture between the two sides, Rob Edwards’ took a 2-0 lead and then had to hold on, this time around they left it late to claim victory to progress into the Fifth Round.

Vitaliy Mykolenko had given Luton the lead with an own goal in the first half before Jack Harrison levelled things up after the break. The Toffees were pressing for a winner late on but it was Luton who found one after a bit of a scramble in the penalty area in the 96th minute. Cauley Woodrow, off the bench, was the hero.

In truth, it was a deserved win for the visitors. They had more of the ball and better chances against a disappointing Everton team who should’ve had a point to prove in a competition that offered them their last chance of silverware this season.

Sheffield United implode at home

It was a strange game at Bramall Lane between Premier League duo Sheffield United and Brighton. The hosts took a 2-0 lead with Facundo Buonanotte scoring a spectacular effort from distance before João Pedro cooly rolled home a penalty into the bottom corner with just 30 minutes on the clock.

In the space of four minutes, just prior to the break, Sheffield United levelled things up and we had a proper cup game on our games.

However, just seven minutes into the second half, Brighton were awarded another penalty. Pedro fired home and the Brazilian completed his hat-trick in the 67th minute. Danny Welbeck added a fifth for the visitors in stoppage time to really add an exclamation point to the proceedings.

Jürgen Klopp’s farewell tour starts with a win

On Friday morning, Jürgen Klopp announced he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season. On Sunday afternoon, Anfield welcomed him and his players for the FA Cup tie against Norwich City. Emotion could’ve gotten the better of everyone and there was a chance of an upset. But the Reds looked locked in and focused, even after the away side scored an equaliser against the run of play not long after Curtis Jones had given the hosts the lead.

Liverpool youngster Conor Bradley caught the eye and finished with two assists as the Reds had five different players on the scoresheet in a 5-2 win over the Championship side.

The scoreline made it look more like a game than it was. Liverpool finished with an Expected Goals haul of 3.57 having carved out seven big chances. By comparison, Norwich finished with an xG total of just 0.12.

Newport County stun Manchester United

Manchester United, eventually, had enough to knock League Two side Newport County out of the FA Cup, but the Red Devils sure made hard work of it. Erik Ten Hag’s side raced into a 2-0 lead at Rodney Parade with Bruno Fernandes and Kobbie Manoo scoring. But Brynn Morris halved the deficit towards the end of the first half before Will Evans equalised just moments after the break.

It was end-to-end, with United finishing the game having taken just five more shots than their hosts. Antony put the Premier League side back into the lead and after some Newport near misses, Rasmus Højlund killed the tie off with a goal in stoppage time.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every match from the FA Cup live with FotMob — featuring deep stats coverage and player ratings. Download the free app here.

Jan

2024

Teddy Teuma: The Maltese maestro delivering for Reims

Teddy Teuma’s rise to becoming one of Ligue 1’s standout players has certainly been unconventional. After spending most of his career in the lower leagues of French football and at Belgian side Union Saint-Gilloise, Teuma returned to France last summer with Stade de Reims. And at the age of 30, the Malta international has undoubtedly been one of the breakout stars in his maiden Ligue 1 campaign.

By Luke Bissett

Born in France, Teuma started out his career with fourth division side Hyères, balancing football with working as a delivery driver for his father’s butcher’s shop. He then enjoyed successful spells at Boulogne-sur-Mer and Red Star before joining Union Saint-Gilloise in the Belgian second tier in January 2019.

Teuma quickly found his feet at USG, helping lead the club back to the top-flight for the first time in 48 years. The midfielder became a key figure in the Belgian capital, captaining the side to consecutive top three finishes in the Belgian Pro League. His final season in Brussels also saw Saint-Gilloise reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Europa League, with Teuma scoring 14 goals and providing 17 assists across all competitions in 2022-23.

This prompted Stade de Reims to sign the midfielder last summer, offering him the chance to play in the top tier of his birth country for the very first time. And it’s an opportunity that Tuema has grasped with both hands. The 30-year-old has been one of the revelations of the season – spearheading the Red and Whites to their best start to a Ligue 1 campaign for 49 years.

Teuma’s start to life in the Champagne region couldn’t have really gone any better, with the midfielder scoring once and providing two assists on his first start. He has slotted seamlessly into Reims’ midfield three, giving Will Still’s side a completely new dimension in and out of possession.

One of Teuma’s most impressive attributes is the fact that he is a persistent goal threat. Only five sides netted fewer goals in Ligue 1 than the Red and Whites last term (45), while 21 of those were scored by departed loanee Folarin Balogun. Therefore, the Reims hierarchy placed an almighty emphasis on adding more goals to the side during last summer’s transfer window, and it’s more than paid off.

No player has been directly involved in more Ligue 1 goals for Reims this season than Teuma (five goals & two assists). The midfielder’s perfectly timed runs have posed constant headaches for opposition defenders, with his delayed surges to the edge of the box often going unmarked.

The Malta international ranks inside the top 10 for both shots (30) and shots on target (10) among Ligue 1 midfielders, while he is already beginning to boast an enviable goal highlight reel. Teuma offers a huge presence in the final third – often from outside the penalty area, as he showed to lethal effect with a fine strike against Monaco in Reims’ most recent league victory.

Teuma is deployed on the left of midfield in Still’s fluid system and is afforded the license to roam up and down the pitch. This enables the 30-year-old to act as the creative hub in the side, repeatedly looking to break opposition lines with his penetrative passes.

By boasting more positional freedom, he often drifts in between the lines to help progress the ball from back-to-front. Teuma is extremely effective in these tight spaces and can operate as the side’s playmaker from these positions – no player has created more secondary chances than Teuma in Ligue 1 across 2023-24 (22).

Reims are a transition-based side under Still and constantly look to descend upon opponents at break-neck speed, with Teuma always at the heart of every attack. He floats into the half spaces, providing a forward option before turning and picking out one of the side’s ever-willing dynamic forwards.

The 30-year-old possesses a range of passing in his armoury, threading passes through to teammates over varying distances. Another string to his bow is the fact that he is a dead ball specialist. The midfielder has quickly adopted the role of Reims’ set-piece taker, with his accurate deliveries the type that forward players thrive on. He has also attempted the eighth most crosses in France’s top flight this season.

The Malta international is equally effective off-the-ball, aggressively harrying opponents with tenacious pressure to regain possession. The combative midfielder has won 27 tackles in Ligue 1 this season – the 10^thmost of any player, and explosively looks to transition defence into attack upon winning the ball. Teuma can then exploit the vast amounts of space left behind by opponents through his extremely powerful running or by playing an incisive pass to a teammate.

Reims currently sit in sixth place in Ligue 1, just five points behind the Champions League spots. Remarkably, this may even bring in to play the alleged €2million bonus in the deal with USG should Teuma win the Champions League with Reims!

Though the chances of that may be slim, few will disagree with the instant impact that the Malta international has made in the Champagne region. And it should come as no surprise to any that former courier Teddy Teuma is consistently delivering in France’s top division.

(Images from IMAGO)

You can follow every Ligue 1 game on FotMob – with deep stats, xG, and player ratings. Download the free app here.