Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to a showcase of football excellence. Today, we present to you the finest talents gracing the blue half of Manchester City in the exhilarating 2022/23 season. Prepare to witness the skills, passion, and unwavering commitment of the five players who have left an indelible mark on the beautiful game. From the thunderous strikes of Erling Haaland to the mesmerizing artistry of Kevin De Bruyne, these players have elevated the sport to new heights. Join us as we celebrate the brilliance of Rúben Dias, the masterful control of Rodri, and the midfield mastery of İlkay Gündoğan. Together, they form an unstoppable force, driving Manchester City towards glory. Brace yourselves for a thrilling journey as we unveil the best of the best, showcasing the essence of footballing greatness in the 2022/23 season. Let the excitement begin!
Erling Haaland
Erling Haaland, born on 21st July 2000, is a remarkable Norwegian striker who stands tall at 194 cm. With his left foot as his preferred side, he embodies a lethal combination of athleticism and goal-scoring prowess. Joining Manchester City in the summer of 2022, Haaland swiftly emerged as a vital player for the team.
In the Premier League, Haaland has played 35 matches, starting in 33 of them, and averaging around 79 minutes per game. His remarkable goal-scoring record speaks for itself, with an impressive tally of 36 goals. His Expected Goals (xG) of 28.66 demonstrates his ability to consistently find scoring opportunities.
Haaland has showcased his scoring ability with an impressive frequency of once every 77 minutes, leading to an impressive average of 1.0 goals per game. His shooting proficiency is evident, with an average of 3.5 shots per game, 1.7 of which find their way on target.
While Haaland has missed a few big chances, his goal conversion rate stands at 29%, a testament to his clinical finishing. The majority of his goals, 35 out of 115, have come from inside the box, while he has also showcased his long-range ability with one goal from outside the box. His aerial prowess is evident, as he has scored 7 headed goals.
In addition to his scoring exploits, Haaland has proven to be a well-rounded player. He has contributed with 8 assists and an Expected Assists (xA) value of 3.13. His involvement in the game is reflected in his average of 23.7 touches and 11 big chances created.
Despite his remarkable abilities, Haaland’s ground duels may be an area for improvement. However, his strengths in finishing, penalty taking, and positioning more than compensate for this slight weakness.
Kevin De Bruyne
Kevin De Bruyne, born on 28th June 1991, is a highly regarded Belgian midfielder, widely recognized as one of the best playmakers in the world. With exceptional vision, passing ability, and an innate sense of creativity, De Bruyne has proven to be a crucial figure in Manchester City’s success.
In the 2022/23 season, De Bruyne has played a total of 32 matches, starting in 28 of them, and averaging approximately 76 minutes per game. While his goal-scoring contributions may not be as frequent, he has netted 7 goals. His Expected Goals (xG) value of 5.62 demonstrates his ability to consistently create goal-scoring opportunities.
De Bruyne’s goal-scoring frequency stands at 346 minutes, resulting in an average of 0.2 goals per game. He takes an average of 2.0 shots per game, with 0.7 shots on target. Although he has missed a few big chances, his goal conversion rate remains at 11%.
When it comes to set-pieces, De Bruyne has been lethal with one goal from a free-kick out of seven attempts, showcasing a free-kick conversion rate of 14%. He has scored 3 goals from inside the box and displayed his long-range prowess with 4 goals from outside the box. However, he has not yet scored a headed goal in the given season.
Beyond his goal-scoring abilities, De Bruyne’s playmaking skills shine through. He has provided an impressive 16 assists, with an Expected Assists (xA) value of 14.13. His involvement in the game is evident, as he records an average of 61.2 touches and has created 31 big chances.
De Bruyne’s passing accuracy is notable, with an average of 34.3 accurate passes per game at an 81% success rate. He shows great precision in different areas of the pitch, including accurate passes in his own half (92%), opposition half (69%), long balls (69%), and chipped passes (55%). However, his accuracy in crosses is lower at 29%.
Defensively, De Bruyne contributes with interceptions, tackles, possession wins, and clearances per game. While he may be dribbled past occasionally, he compensates with successful dribbles, winning 63% of his attempts. In duels, he wins an average of 3.2 total duels per game, with 49% success in ground duels and 50% in aerial duels.
Rúben Dias
Rúben Dias, born on 14th May 1997, is a Portuguese centre-back who made a significant impact upon joining Manchester City in the 2020/21 season. Standing at 188 cm tall with his right foot as his preferred side, Dias swiftly solidified the team’s defense, showcasing exceptional game reading, strong tackling, and exemplary leadership qualities.
Throughout the 2022/23 season, Dias has played a total of 26 matches, starting in 22 of them, and averaging approximately 77 minutes per game. While his primary role is defensive, Dias has also shown a touch of creativity, with an Expected Assists (xA) value of 0.32.
Dias boasts an impressive average of 87.0 touches per game, reflecting his involvement in the team’s build-up play and ball distribution. While his key passes may be limited to 0.1 per game, he remains a reliable player in maintaining possession, with an average passing accuracy of 73.8 at an impressive 93% success rate.
Defensively, Dias has been a rock at the heart of Manchester City’s backline. He demonstrates great accuracy in passing from both his own half (95%) and the opposition half (89%). With his ability to read the game effectively, Dias has contributed 7 clean sheets, ensuring a solid defensive foundation for the team.
His defensive statistics are impressive, with an average of 0.7 interceptions and 0.8 tackles per game. While possession won may not be significant, his disciplined approach and strong defensive positioning contribute to the overall defensive stability of the team.
Dias exhibits strong aerial ability, winning 61% of his aerial duels, averaging 1.7 per game. In ground duels, he boasts a success rate of 55%, winning an average of 1.4 per game. He showcases his dribbling skills when needed, succeeding in 89% of his attempts.
With an average of 2.1 clearances per game, Dias ensures that he takes proactive measures to alleviate defensive pressure. He experiences limited instances of being dribbled past, only averaging 0.3 per game.
While Dias may encounter occasional instances of possession loss, his overall defensive contributions and ability to maintain defensive solidity remain exemplary.
Rodri
Rodri, born on 22nd June 1996, is a Spanish midfielder who joined Manchester City in the 2019/20 season. Operating as a defensive midfielder, Rodri’s ability to control the game’s tempo, intercept passes, and distribute the ball effectively have made him an integral part of Manchester City’s midfield.
Throughout the 2022/23 season, Rodri has played a total of 36 matches, starting in 34 of them, and averaging approximately 81 minutes per game. While his primary role is defensive, he has also showcased his goal-scoring ability, netting 2 goals. His Expected Goals (xG) value stands at 4.61, indicating his potential to score more goals.
Rodri’s goal-scoring frequency is around once every 1460 minutes, resulting in an average of 0.1 goals per game. He takes an average of 1.4 shots per game, with 0.4 shots on target. In addition to his goal contributions, he has provided 6 assists, with an Expected Assists (xA) value of 3.50.
As a deep-lying midfielder, Rodri is heavily involved in the game, averaging 93.4 touches per game. While his key passes may be limited to 0.9 per game, his accuracy in passing is noteworthy, with an average of 75.4 accurate passes per game at a 91% success rate. He displays precision in passing from both his own half (93%) and the opposition half (34.5%).
Defensively, Rodri demonstrates his ability to disrupt the opposition’s play. With an average of 0.9 interceptions and 1.9 tackles per game, he showcases his defensive awareness and tackling skills. He wins an average of 0.6 possessions per game, ensuring his team maintains control.
In duels, Rodri excels, winning an average of 5.1 total duels per game with a success rate of 59%. In ground duels, he wins 3.1 on average with a success rate of 54%. His aerial ability is evident, winning an average of 2.0 aerial duels per game at a strong 69% success rate.
While Rodri may occasionally be dribbled past, he compensates with his own successful dribbles, completing 76% of his attempts.
It is worth noting that despite his competitiveness, Rodri has managed to keep his disciplinary record relatively clean, receiving only 5 yellow cards throughout the season despite being one of the best at committing fouls.
İlkay Gündoğan
İlkay Gündoğan, born on 24th October 1990, is a German midfielder who has been a part of Manchester City since 2016. Gündoğan’s versatility, technical skills, and goal-scoring ability have made him a standout player. He consistently contributes to both the defensive and offensive aspects of the team’s performance.
Standing at 180 cm tall with his right foot as his preferred side, Gündoğan has played a total of 31 matches throughout the 2022/23 season, starting in 27 of them, and averaging approximately 77 minutes per game. His goal-scoring prowess is evident, with 8 goals to his name. His Expected Goals (xG) value stands at 7.53, indicating his potential for even more goals.
Gündoğan demonstrates a scoring frequency of around once every 297 minutes, resulting in an average of 0.3 goals per game. He takes an average of 1.7 shots per game, with 0.6 shots on target. While he has missed 9 big chances, his goal conversion rate stands at 15%.
With his ability to take penalties, Gündoğan has proven to be a reliable asset from the spot. He has scored 1 out of 5 free kicks, showcasing a 20% conversion rate. Additionally, he has scored 6 goals from inside the box out of a total of 31.
Gündoğan’s contributions extend beyond scoring goals. He has provided 4 assists, with an Expected Assists (xA) value of 4.39. In terms of involvement in the game, he averages 60.4 touches per game.
While his key passes are limited to 1.3 per game, Gündoğan’s passing accuracy is noteworthy, with an average of 43.8 accurate passes per game at an 88% success rate. He displays accuracy in passing from both his own half (94%) and the opposition half (84%).
Defensively, Gündoğan contributes with an average of 0.6 interceptions and 1.0 tackles per game. He wins an average of 0.6 possessions per game, demonstrating his ability to disrupt the opposition’s play.
In duels, Gündoğan exhibits a success rate of 47%, winning an average of 2.9 total duels per game. In ground duels, he wins 2.3 on average with a success rate of 44%. In aerial duels, he has a success rate of 63%, winning an average of 0.6 per game.
While Gündoğan may occasionally be dribbled past, he compensates with his successful dribbles, completing 46% of his attempts. He also contributes with 0.4 clearances per game.
In terms of possession, Gündoğan experiences an average of 9.1 possessions lost per game.