Charles De Ketelaere was AC Milan’s big signing of the summer and while he has not yet co scored his first goal for the club, the statistics are still promising.
MilanNews writes that De Ketelaere is contributing in ways that are perhaps not obvious to the eye or just the numbers column, because he first in Serie A for key passes for 90 minutes (with just under 3) and for xA (expected assists, or the probability that a pass becomes an assist) per 90 minutes with 0.4.
To date he has been the most effective player in the Italian league at producing chances, and the feeling is that the Belgian gave his team-mates some excellent service that was not always taken advantage of.
Stefano Pioli revealed after the game against Napoli that he is happy with De Ketelaere’s adaptation so far, giving a glowing report of the 21-year-old.
“Charles had the best performance tonight since he has been here. He was a point of reference. From a player with so much potential we must also expect some goals, but I’m sure those will come too,” he began.
“Today I am really very positive for the continuity with which he played with the team and the quality he has given to the team. If we then expect that a boy who comes from a totally different context and league will make us winning the game on your own right away is a wrong reasoning, but I’m sure it will give us a great contribution.”
Pioli is a demanding coach because of the complex system and mechanisms that he wishes to impose on the squad, but he also recognises talent and when a young player is on the cusp of becoming something special. A goal must come, but everyone at Milan believes it is not far away.
Maybe like KDB who doesn’t have many goals but lotsa assists
The fact that there has been criticismn of him lately is ridiiculous in my view as he could have had around 5 assists now had his team mates not missed fairly open chances created by him.
Sure they doesnt count when not scored but he made some splendid passes that should have brought us goals and had his team mates finished what he started he would have stats fairly reminescent of Kvaratskhelias outcome in what the georgian managed in combined goals and assists at least in serie a.
Besides of that he has been one of the younger transfers in recent years that has addapted the fastest to the team.
Exactly! Great observation dude!
Rob not sure if it was meant as a reply to my post but if so then then the dude abides 😀
This is the reality even if KDB comes to Milan form Manchester city and the attack fails to convert the chances he creates, he will be termed as a failure. Unless our attack can finish with minimum wastages we’d think CDK isn’t effective.
Exactly.
CDK created a lot of chances. But the forwards just failed most of them.
CDK is only criticized by people that don’t watch the games but just check that score sheet at the end of the game. If they don’t see him on the score sheet with goals or assists they automatically think he didn’t play well.
For the short time he has been a Milan player he has been good and will only get better
In fact he’ll only get better and better. His vision of the game is really remarkable, CDK is a very intelligent player.