Philipp Lienhart Scout Report
Scout report: Philipp Lienhart, a commanding center-back from Austria, has been a revelation for SC Freiburg in the 2023-2024 Bundesliga season. Despite being just 27, his style of play communicates a maturity that's way beyond his years. Lienhart's progressive carrying ability is world-class, placing him in the top echelon of Bundesliga defenders, indeed, no one carries the ball out from the back with more authority and efficiency than him. This suggests a blend of assured bravery and technical finesse that's refreshing to see from a defender.
Another standout element to his game is Lienhart's exceptional threat during offensive set-pieces. He boasts an impressive goal threat percentile, making him a formidable force in the opposition box, not something frequently seen in a center back. His aerial prowess, a key strength, is further evidenced by a remarkable high percentile for winning aerial duels.
However, it's not all rosy in Lienhart's player stats. His ball retention skills leave much to be desired, ranking alarmingly low. This deficit exposes him to press scenarios and puts his side in danger of losing possession. Pass accuracy also remains an area to improve, which sometimes hampers his contribution to building the play from the back.
In defensive terms, Lienhart is often seen primarily operating within the defensive third and midfield third areas, where he showcases commendable recovery skills. Nevertheless, his interceptions stats raise some questions about his anticipatory skills. A sweet spot can be found in his xA per 90 figures, suggesting Lienhart's decent knack for initiating attacks despite his primary role being defensive.
In conclusion, Philipp Lienhart paints the portrait of a modern, dynamic defender, proficient in advancing play and threatening at set-pieces, however, he must improve his ball retention and anticipatory skills to make that leap to the absolute elite.