SOFYAN AMRABAT TACTICAL ANALYSIS
A detailed deep dive on the Moroccan Midfielder and why Erik ten Hag wants to bring him to Manchester
A detailed deep dive on the Moroccan Midfielder and why Erik ten Hag wants to bring him to Manchester
26 year old Sofyan Amrabat is a defensive minded midfielder from Morroco. Currently playing in Serie A for Fiorentina, the midfielder excels within a possession based side whilst also working very hard off the ball with a keen eye for spotting danger and nullifying the threat
Erik ten Hag is very keen to bring Amrabat to Old Trafford. The pair have already worked together during their time at FC Utrecht, this thread will break down why Ten Hag is so keen to be reunited with the Morrocan
Amrabat usually plays as a single pivot, he is excellent in possession in this role bringing calmness and composure. He passes at high volume with superb retention, keeping the ball ticking in a Fiorentina side that held the 2nd highest average possession in Serie A last year
Amrabat is very comfortable dropping in as a CB, he has an excellent long pass in his locker. Usually inviting pressure onto his side, getting the opponent to step up so he can go long in behind. He ranks in the 99th% for long passes attempted/completed. Incredible asset
Playing as the 6, I call him a recycler in attacking patterns. He sits outside the box, following the ball to be in good positions for stopping counter attacks but he makes himself available to recycle possession with switches out to the wings, sustaining pressure
Amrabat offers huge amounts of composure and rotations within the first phase. He can play anywhere across the back 3, as the lone 6 too. He thrives when dropping into CCB position, facing play, scanning the pitch in front of him before breaking lines with passes
He isn't just a safe retention based player but very progressive and attack minded. Comfortable playing as a defensive 6 but enjoys playing forwards, always wanting to receive on the half turn, scanning over each shoulder before pumping the ball forward with accuracy
I mentioned previously about the positions Amrabat takes up in attacking phases, he enjoys the odd shot from the edge of the box. He isn't in anyway a Rodri type 6 who will score 6/7 goals throughout the season but he does strike the ball well
So Amrabat is an upgrade in possession on Casemiro, is he an upgrade defensively? The short answer, no. Casemiro is one of the best defensive players in world football but Amrabat is no slouch. He is very strong defensively and that was broadcast most at the World Cup
Amrabat showed incredible ground coverage at the World Cup. His passion for defending his country was off the charts, hopefully we see this at United
Just because he isn’t an upgrade doesn’t mean he’s a top option. Defensively he’s excellent, I’ve already mentioned ground coverage, he uses this plus his perfect positioning to always cover the correct zones. Excellent player in defending transitions
Amrabat is a fantastic carrier of the ball. He has fantastic awareness, always scanning to view any incoming traffic. He’s able to drop a shoulder, show good footwork to evade pressure
With a rumoured price tag of around £25m Amrabat Is a very smart financial signing. He’s incredibly experienced, is a specialist in his role & knows the exact dynamic of what Erik ten Hag requires from his 6
Will he play often? Yeah I think he will because of his in possession capability. He also offers a level of flexibility as he can play as an 8 too, adding extra steel in central areas when we are playing away to the top 6 aides. Extra power without effecting possession
End of thread
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Thank you for reading. I hope you enjoyed the piece & if you did please comment below. All likes and retweets on the piece hugely appreciated. Follow for more content.
Thank you👏
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