Aïssa Mandi Scout Report
Scout report highlights for Villarreal's center back, Aïssa Mandi, in the 2023-2024 La Liga season indicate that his performance puts him in a class of his own in certain aspects, yet exposes areas of potential improvement.
The Algerian stalwart's style of play commands admiration, especially in the art of ball retention where he is literally second to none in the league, attaining a perfect percentile ranking. His nifty feet and clear vision are manifested in his impressively high progressive passing and carrying rankings, garnished by a remarkable pass accuracy. This, coupled with an above-average performance in chance creation and goal efficiency, underscore his invaluable contributions to both defensive stability and forward progression.
However, the spotlight dims slightly when focusing on his tackling prowess. Mandi's dueling statistics, both aerially and on the ground, are relatively low. Likewise, his ball recoveries and interceptions are notably below par for players in his position, signaling a potential weakness in disrupting opponents' plays. His less-than-ideal foul percentile also implies a need for better discipline to avoid costly infractions.
In positional terms, Mandi's heat map is characterized by a defensive and midfield orientation, with limited forays into the attacking third. These deficiencies, despite his solid offensive stats, suggest a disciplined player sticking to his primary defensive roles with occasional key contributions to the attacking play.
In summary, Mandi is a vital piece in Villarreal's puzzle, adept at keeping hold of the ball and creating forward momentum, but could, however, elevate his game by sharpening his defensive instincts and ensuring discipline on the pitch.