The Pride of London
Fansided

Chelsea centerback scouting part four: Benoit Badiashile

By Olaoluwa Nwobodo

METZ, FRANCE - AUGUST 30: Benoit Badiashile Mukinayi of AS Monaco during the Ligue 1 match between FC Metz and AS Monaco on August 30, 2020 in Metz, France. (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/BSR Agency/Getty Images)
METZ, FRANCE - AUGUST 30: Benoit Badiashile Mukinayi of AS Monaco during the Ligue 1 match between FC Metz and AS Monaco on August 30, 2020 in Metz, France. (Photo by Jeroen Meuwsen/BSR Agency/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Nice’s French forward Alexis Claude-Maurice (L) challenges Monaco’s French defender Benoit Badiashile Mukinayi during the French L1 football match between AS Monaco and OGC Nice at the “Louis II Stadium” in Monaco on February 3, 2020. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
Nice’s French forward Alexis Claude-Maurice (L) challenges Monaco’s French defender Benoit Badiashile Mukinayi during the French L1 football match between AS Monaco and OGC Nice at the “Louis II Stadium” in Monaco on February 3, 2020. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images) /

Defensive actions

Again, it is worth noting that Monaco would be expected to make more defensive actions per game, as it keeps less of the ball than Chelsea and Liverpool.

Badiashile has averaged more interceptions per game (1.8) than his Premier League counterparts, with Zouma averaging 1.7 and van Dijk averaging 1.1. It’s only natural that the Frenchman lead this category as he makes more defensive actions per game. All this means is that Badiashile is intelligent and he reads the game well. Badiashile also makes more tackles per game (0.9) than his centerback counterparts, with Zouma averaging 0.7 and van Dijk 0.6.

A clearance at the right time can be the difference between a “play-out from the back routine” gone wrong and a clean sheet. Zouma leads this category, averaging 4.3 clearances per game since the beginning of last season, but van Dijk and Badiashile are almost identical in average clearances at 3.0 and 3.1 respectively. It may seem odd that Badiashile records about the same number of clearances as van Dijk with the gap in ball possession, but it may be systemic that Monaco players have been instructed to clear the ball less often. Badiashile still leads the Monaco players in that category over two seasons.

Badiashile has averaged 0.5 blocked shots per game, tied with Zouma and higher than van Dijk (0.3). Monaco has conceded the sixth fewest shots since the start of last season, and has conceded the fewest shots this season. This is impressive considering that Monaco averages less possession of the ball than at least three other teams. Liverpool and Chelsea have conceded the second and third fewest shots respectively since the start of the 2019/20 league season. This indicates Badiashile’s superb positioning and intelligence, as you cannot block shots if you’re not in the right position. All these stats are likely to change for Badiashile if he goes to the Premier League, depending on which team he joins, it’s not really important as defensive actions are just one third of what a defender would need to do in a game.

Van Dijk averages 1.2 ground duels per game, winning 67 percent of his ground duels. Badiashile actually averages more duels per game (1.7), but that accounts for a 50 percent success. Zouma’s 1.2 ground duels per game accounts for 49 percent. Clearly, van Dijk and Zouma do not get into many ground duels, which is understandable as they are sweepers in their respective teams. The percentage of ground duels won may not be so much of an issue for Badiashile at Chelsea, as he may not need to get involved in nearly as many as he currently does.

All three centerbacks are aerial threats though, as Badiashile gets into 3.4 aerial duels per game, winning 70 percent since the beginning of last season. Van Dijk has won 3.7 aerial duels per game, same proportion as Badiashile. Zouma leads in this category though, winning 3.8 aerial duels per game at a 73 percent success rate. Badiashile will find himself contesting a lot of aerial duels in the Premier League, and he’ll do just fine.

Home/Chelsea FC News