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.
