Bravo (Goalkeeper) – With 16 clean sheets and 3.40 saves per goal, the GK champion of La Liga and Copa del Rey is a wall between the posts and our first line of defense. He's also our captain.
Alaba (Full Back) - Should supplement his defensive responsibilities with providing extra width on the midfield and looking to cross or put in a through ball when the opportunity for each arises.
Hummels (Limited Defender) – His main job is to stop the opposing attacker (65% duels won per game), win the ball without giving away a free kick (0.6 fouls committed per game) and get it cleared safely up field in a no-nonsense manner. He’ll have a stopper duty, meaning that he’ll push ahead of the defensive line and close down players before they get to the area (83% successful take-ons per game). Plays on the left side providing backup to Alaba’s forward approach.
Dijk (Sweeper) – Drops behind the defensive line, aiming to sweep up through balls (7.79 clearances per game), pick up extra attackers (73% successful take-ons per game) and make goal saving tackles as well as blocks, covering for defensive errors and taking possession of loose balls from a deep position (2.82 interceptions per game). Plays on the right side since Aurier doesn’t venture much forward.
Aurier (Full Back) - Same role as Alaba's. Both won't venture much forward than the midfield. (2.95 tackles won, 3.43 interceptions and clearances, per game)
Kanté – On offense, he plays the role of Anchor Man, his main duty is to sit in the hole between the defense and the midfield and prevent counter-attacks by intercepting moves (4.22 per game), winning the ball (3.38 tackles won per game) and laying off simple passes to his more creative teammates. On defense, (Defensive Midfielder) he has the job to protect the defensive line from breaking attackers by closing down quickly, hold his ground and recycle possession from a deep position.
Tolisso - On offense, (Box-to-Box Midfielder) he’ll push up to support the forwards, often surging late into the box to get on the end of crosses and pull backs as well as providing a threat from distance (1.15 chances created and 0.97 key passes, per game). On defense, (Ball-winning Midfielder) his role shifts, with the main function of closing down the opposition and winning the ball (50% successful take-ons and 50% total duels, per game), while also helping keep possession and quickly lay it off to a more creative player (84% pass completion per game).
Parejo – On offense, (Attacking Midfielder) his role is to fashion chances for himself (11 goals), craft out chances for his forwards (1.27 chances created and 1.12 key passes, per game), alongside being a presence in the box to supplement the attack. On defense, (Box-to-Box Midfielder) he’ll help in the protection of the defensive line while harrying attacking midfielders (60% successful take-ons and 1 foul committed, per game).
Lamela – Being technically proficient as well as quick, on offense (Winger) Lamela aims to beat his man on the outside, ready to surge into space. When going forward, he’ll try and run at the defense in the final third, causing panic and indecision prior to shooting (12 goals) or attempting to make a through ball/cross to a teammate (9 assists). On defense, (Defensive Winger) he aims to press the opposing full backs (1.94 fouls committed and 1.59 tackles won, per game), win the ball high up the pitch (57% successful take-ons per game) and either hold it up for the rest of the team, drive to the byline or get in a quick cross or put in a through ball.
Eriksen – On offense, (Wide Playmaker) he’ll act as the team’s primary source of creativity, drifting inside to find space from which to play the killer ball and creating chances (2.89 key passes, 3.26 chances created, per game, and 14 assists). On defense, (Defensive Winger) he has the same role as Lamela. (1.17 tackles won, 1 interception, 53% successful take-ons, per game).
Griezmann – He possesses all the technical attributes of a Deep-Lying Forward, the goal scoring ability of a Poacher and the strength and power of a Target Man. He’s equally adept at playing with others, fashioning chances for himself and getting on the end of team’s moves. We feel that such player should simply be allowed to do his own thing and for that reason, he’ll be our Complete Forward, offensively. On defense, he’ll shift to Advanced Forward as it brings more contribution from him defensively.
Subs:
Ricardo Pereira – Our backup full back is able to play on both sides of the wing, focusing the most of his abilities on his defensive responsibilities (2.96 interceptions, 3.62 clearances and 3.12 tackles won, per game).
Calhanoglu – One of the most versatile players out there, he’s able to operate in a variety of positions and interpret all kinds of roles, from midfielder to attacking midfielder as well as forward, making him our trump card of the bench. The change of pace he can bring into the game, and the ability to craft out goal scoring opportunities like no other, either from crosses, cuts inside or shots from distance, are an essential part of our game (2.42 key passes, 2.58 chances created, per game, and 12 goals, 6 assists).
Giroud – Our second striker was chosen not only to differ from the previous one but to complement him as well. He has the strength, aggression, jumping reach and aerial presence (52% aerial duels won, per game, and 11 headed goals) that make him a great Target Man to play alongside Jonas. His finishing (54% shot accuracy, per game, and 31 goals) first touch, passing ability (8 assists) and defensive contribution that make him a great Advanced Forward when playing alone.
Jonas - Our first striker pick has made a lot of success this past season putting up unbelievable numbers that got him a spot between the 5 top scorers of Europe. Playing as Poacher and using the best of his abilities, Jonas sits on the shoulder of the last defender looking to break the defensive line and run onto through balls, with the main focus of scoring goals and sniffing out opportunities in and around the box. It was with this approach that he successfully scored 37 goals while also assisting 20 times, being 3rd and tied with Ronaldo in the race for Europe’s Golden Shoe.
