Sergio Ruiz Scout Report
Sergio Ruiz, operating from the heart of Granada's midfield, has had an impressive season. With his ball-recovery skills ranking among the best in La Liga, Ruiz proves to be a strong bulwark in the middle, adept at winning back possession and providing a steadying presence for his team. This combative player, despite his defensive strength, he doesn't shy away from contributing to attacking action, particularly with his excellent ball retention and progressive carrying, which put him comfortably in the upper echelons amongst his peers.
Displaying a commendable work ethic, Ruiz also gives his all in aerial challenges, winning a significant portion, and excels when it comes to one-on-one duels. This competitive edge to his game sees him recover possession frequently and though such doggedness does edge him towards the upper end of the 'fouls committed' and 'yellow cards received' stats, he doesn't commonly cross that line into recklessness.
Notwithstanding his defensive prowess, Ruiz could improve upon his offensive contributions. Despite a respectable assist rate, his goal threat - evident in his modest shots and goal efficiency metrics - is minimal, and he struggles to regularly convert chances into goals. This lack of goal-scoring acumen is perhaps a part of his game that needs attention.
In terms of possession, Ruiz is often at his most involved in the middle third of the pitch, where he pulls the strings and facilitates play for his team. While he does drop into his defensive third quite frequently, his relatively few ventures into the attacking third, combined with low engagement within both penalty areas, further underline his nature as a conventional central, or even defensive, midfielder rather than an advanced playmaker or a box-to-box dynamo. Despite the few glaring weaknesses, his ability to dictate play from the heart of the pitch makes him an indispensable asset for Granada.