A real one Madrid has found in Yan Diomande (Abidjan, 2006) the other “wild card” it was missing in the attack. It is curious. The first Leganés player, signed a year ago by RB Leipzig for 20 million eurosshares many characteristics with Vinicius.
Ivory, like the Brazilian, is not a winger who breaks play or connects. Diomande stands out vertical effect. He is sharp, sharp and possesses a devilish acceleration: at the World Cup he reached the maximum speed of 34.7 km/hstill missing well 37.6 km/h of Kylian Mbappé.
Dribbling ability is of course something he has in abundance. He finished successfully almost twice as many dribbles (118 of 213) which another player with the most games last season Bundesliga: Michael Olise (65 of 149). However, there is one characteristic that sets him apart Friend: his versatility. Diomande, right leg, can play just as well on each wing. However, last season, at RB Leipzig he played many more minutes as a right winger (1,591) but on left (478″).
More than enough sample to look at his”work practices” from both sides. At BRAND we are putting all the cards on the table so you can decide: where does diomande play better: left or right?
This is how Diomande stands on the right
Common characteristics remain. Just compare his success radars on “Dribbling” (see below). Logically. We are talking about the same player. On the right side he usually receives the ball at his feet, very wide, hugs the touchline and adopts a more cautious approach. He gets pulls in/keeps his markassesses the situation and, if he does not see it clearly, starts again.
The dominant behaviorwho plays on his natural side, is watching beat his man on the outside, reach the forward line and cut the ball back. In this case, whether stationary or on the gohe usually misses his mark more through physically(force/velocity change) but through urgent.
The diagonally towards the center is not as polished and naturally born left foot, as Olise. Logically too. In the case of Diomande, the left legdespite the fact that last season he had scored several goals by passing the ball to him on the wing at the last minute, is more of a resource than a “weapon”. He tends to rely on it though, in long sprints, to get past opponents at speed.
Such is the intimidation factor it generates that, even without perfecting the move inside, it has found “escape route” opposite defenses in depth that blocked his way out far and wide: draw opponents -he often attracts up to three signs- to attack the edge of the box or the weak side with a pass across the field.
This is how Diomande behaves on the left
“It’s paradoxical. The numbers show that Diomande, who works on the right, produces more volume in 90 minutes”. He rushes more (4.41 vs. 3.23)ends more crosses (0.91 vs. 0.67) and entry into the area (2.21 vs. 1.48)and also has a higher shooting range (1.7 vs. 1.48) and expected goals (0.21 vs. 0.16). He also records more turnover (2.21 vs. 1.48). ‘
However, the feeling is that the former Leganés player offers a more unrestrained version when he plays to the left. On the opposite leg. He still gets the ball out widebut not as much. The numbers back it up. He tracks down a higher number of touches in the box (7.8 vs. 6.51).
He no longer looks as overwhelmed from the outsidenor to defeat his opponent exclusively through force. His command of his right leg gives him way in whether to shoot or cross, and gives him certain security to play more straight, which means more confidence seeks to drive through skill.
There are two interesting facts in this regard. On left he improvesalways according to “Dribbling“, both his participation in xG (1.17 vs. 0.84) and in expected assists (0.43 vs. 0.21). In other words. On the right he collects more volume/production (he beats his man, crosses, repeats automation…) and on on the left he is more of a catalyst, an influencer, one who seeks to create chaos.
On the left, although he has accumulated fewer minutes, there is a pattern that repeats itself more often: the fact of offensive opportunities off the ball. Diomande, in this regard, has known how to create a virtue out of necessity. He usually has less options/space to receive – often he does it with his back to the goal or is stopped by a foul – and tries to counter it with put it down quickly to teammates (one-two) and attack the back line of the defense. There, at speed and with meters ahead of him, he is already unstoppable.
Diomande’s defensive behavior
Theirs defensive attitude/position doesn’t matter much if he plays on right or left. In press after losing the ballhe is special proactive and supportive. Not for nothing, he is the striker of the Bundesliga – among those who played at least 1,000 minutes – who recorded most ball recoveries (148). And that’s not all. He was another with most interceptions (16) and fourth which ended successfully most “tackles” (slide tackles)(19).
In static attackshowever, he tends to take on a more responsive role. He limits himself to covering his position. However, he has a great ability to “turn on” as soon as turnover occurs. In transitionhe generally plays a more central role and is especially dangerous with his ball bare, but above all when it comes to get free and attack the spaces behind the defense without the ball.
resource, that of transitionwidely used by Real Madrid in the first spell of Jose Mourinho. Now it might be Diomande who embodies the talent Cristiano Ronaldo and Di María had to run into space. The question is: will he do it left or right? And what do you prefer?