Kevin Danso, Lens' 25-year-old Austrian centre back, places a spotlight on player stats that reveal a dual character to his game - one of immense strength, and another that calls for some improvement.
The eye-catching feature of Danso's play from the scout report is his exceptional on-the-ball qualities. In matches, he hardly surrenders possession, acing the ball retention rankings within the 85th percentile of Ligue 1 centre backs - a compelling attribute in an era favouring ball-playing defenders. His rankings for progressive carrying and progressive passing, sitting comfortably in the high 80s and upper 70s percentiles respectively, suggest a player confidently sculpting the game from behind. His 66th percentile pass accuracy and fairly good chance creation ratings further emphasise a style of play that relishes attacking dynamism.
Yet, Danso is no slouch in the defence department. His winning rate for aerial and ground duels puts him in the top 10 percent of players in his position, manifesting his physical dominance. He also ranks highly in recoveries, entrusting him with a crucial role in Lens' defensive strategy.
Making sense of his activity areas, he's predominantly active in the midfield and defensive thirds, with very little activity in the attacking third, which echoes his primary role as a bulwark in Lens' defense.
On the flip side, his low interception percentile (around the 7th percentile) reveals a potential shortfall in anticipation or positional awareness, a key area to be bolstered for a centre back. His tendency to commit fouls, placing him in the lower quartile, is also a concern that needs remedying.
All in all, Kevin Danso’s playing style and strengths make him a formidable force as a progressive defender while his weaknesses highlight important areas for improvement. An interesting balance of attributes for a centre back carving out a niche in today's evolving game.
Kevin Danso Key stats
Kevin Danso Career Trend
Kevin Danso Shot Maps
Kevin Danso Shot Summary
In the 2023-2024 season, Kevin Danso took 21 shots, scoring 1 goals. This output came from an Expected Goals (xG) of 1.72, averaging 0.08 xG per shot.
Right Foot: 0 goals from 7 shots. A 0.0% conversion rate. 0.09 xG per shot.
Left Foot: 0 goals from 2 shots. A 0.0% conversion rate. 0.06 xG per shot.
Headers: 1 goals from 12 headed attempts. A 8.33% conversion rate. 0.08 xG per shot.
