Foden, Rice, Rodri praised by Uefa.
Revealing Champions League technical review.
Revealing insight from Uefa technical reports into the Premier League’s four Champions League representatives last season. Uefa technical observers include Rafa Benitez, Frank de Boer, Claude Makelele, Roberto Martinez, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Gareth Southgate, Jaap Stam, Gio van Bronckhorst and Jack Wilshere. Analysis team led by Atle Rosseland, head of performance analysis at Uefa. Here you go (in alphabetical order)….
ARSENAL: Rice and Odegaard particularly caught the eye of Uefa’s technical observers. They picked out the impact of Rice in midfield “first in team for line-breaking passes into final third”. Rice’s influence out of possession was also noted with 54 balls recovered, 10 tackles won and 13 interceptions, ahead of centre-backs William Saliba (50/4/7) and Gabriel (46/7/3). They highlighted the “influence of Odegaard: off the ball led the press, on it provided composure and vision”.
They also praised Ben White for “supporting Saka on right wing with overlapping runs”, especially in the home game against Bayern Munich. They were impressed by the “flexibility and movement” of Arsenal players like Saka, Havertz and Trossard “finding space between the lines”.
Uefa mentioned Arsenal’s corner routines, including one to the far-post that “breached Sevilla’s zonal marking at the near-post” where “with the help of team-mates blocking their markers”, Kai Havertz had a free header. He misjudged his effort but the threat was clear. Uefa did voice surprise that Arsenal did not manage to score from any set-piece which “contrasted notably with their success from set-plays in the Premier League where they scored 22 set-piece goals”. Maybe Champions League defences are more savvy at dealing with blocking from the likes of White. Or referees more alert.
MANCHESTER CITY. Foden, Rodri, Ruben Dias and Haaland are amongst those lauded in Uefa’s technical review. In making Uefa’s Champions League Team of the Season (the one PL representative), Foden scored five times and “shone with precision and close control in tight areas”. Foden was City’s most creative player with three assists, and 12 key passes. His strike at the Bernabeu was voted fourth in the analysts’ ranking of best goals. “Foden takes one touch to get the ball out of his feet before finding the top corner with a sweet connection”. Federico Valverde’s volley in the same game was voted goal of the season.