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Chelsea centerback scouting part five: Maxence Lacroix

By Olaoluwa Nwobodo

COLOGNE, GERMANY - DECEMBER 05: Maxence Lacroix of VfL Wolfsburg is challenged by Salih Ozcan of 1. FC Koeln during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Koeln and VfL Wolfsburg at RheinEnergieStadion on December 05, 2020 in Cologne, Germany. Football Stadiums around Germany remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images)
COLOGNE, GERMANY - DECEMBER 05: Maxence Lacroix of VfL Wolfsburg is challenged by Salih Ozcan of 1. FC Koeln during the Bundesliga match between 1. FC Koeln and VfL Wolfsburg at RheinEnergieStadion on December 05, 2020 in Cologne, Germany. Football Stadiums around Germany remain empty due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in fixtures being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Lars Baron/Getty Images) /
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WOLFSBURG, GERMANY – APRIL 24: Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund scores their team’s first goal under pressure from Maxence Lacroix of VfL Wolfsburg during the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund at Volkswagen Arena on April 24, 2021 in Wolfsburg, Germany. Sporting stadiums around Germany remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Focke Strangmann – Pool/Getty Images)
WOLFSBURG, GERMANY – APRIL 24: Erling Haaland of Borussia Dortmund scores their team’s first goal under pressure from Maxence Lacroix of VfL Wolfsburg during the Bundesliga match between VfL Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund at Volkswagen Arena on April 24, 2021 in Wolfsburg, Germany. Sporting stadiums around Germany remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Focke Strangmann – Pool/Getty Images) /

Defensive actions

Lacroix beats Zouma in interceptions per 90 at 1.9 compared to Zouma’s 1.7 since the beginning of last season. This highlights the excellent reading of the game of the youngster as 1.9 interceptions per 90 is quite high for a centerback over two seasons. He also has more tackles per 90 (1.6) than Zouma, as well. This can also be explained by the amount of defensive actions each centerback is required to make per game. Lacroix has made more clearances per 90 (4.4) than Zouma (4.2) over the last two seasons.

Zouma has blocked more shots per 90, though that’s not a lot. He’s blocked 0.2 shots per 90, compared to Lacroix’s 0.1. Note, this is also heavily dependent on the amount of shots a team faces. Lacroix has also been dribbled past a lot more than Zouma per 90, 0.6 to 0.2. This doesn’t tell us much, as Lacroix makes more tackles and more pressures. Making more tackles also indicates contesting more tackles, which means getting dribbled past more often.

According to WhoScored, Lacroix and Zouma rise to 190 cm each. However, Zouma is heavier at 92 kg, compared to Lacroix’s 88 kg. It is then near unacceptable that Lacroix wins way more ground duels per 90 (3.2) compared to Zouma (1.3). Now, it’s been mentioned before that Zouma plays as a sweeper, so he’s required to get involved in way fewer ground duels per 90. The concern is not in the figure, it’s in the success rate, as Lacroix has won 62 percent of his ground duels per 90 in the time under scrutiny. Zouma won 48 percent. Zouma has to improve in this area, he should be winning most of his duels.

Lacroix though, is strong in ground duels, and this would be very handy for him should he move to Chelsea or play for a high possession team. In high possession teams, you’ll likely make a lot less defensive actions, but may need to win a majority of your ground duels to keep teams out. SofaScore calls 60 percent success rate a strength, so Lacroix is impressive in this regard. It shows he knows how to use his strength to his advantage. So far, Lacroix has dominated the defensive actions—which is logical—but it’s still good he passed that test as he was expected to, as you don’t want to find yourself making less defensive actions than a player in a more possession-based team.

The criticism of Zouma for ground duels is the same criticism for Lacroix on aerial duels. Zouma has won four aerial duels per 90 at a 72 percent success rate on average since the beginning of last season. This is compared to Lacroix, who has won 2.6 aerial duels per 90 at a success rate of a measly 47 percent. Lacroix rises to 6-foot-3, there are centerbacks shorter than him that win a better proportion of their aerial duels. Lacroix needs to improve this aspect of his game, and he will as he progresses with age. Aerial duels are as much timing of the jump as they are aerial reach. Zouma has nearly perfected this art, beating a 193 cm van Dijk in the air, as well as a 199 cm Jannik Vestergaard. It’s certain though, that a centerback as tall as Lacroix, should be winning a higher percentage of his aerial duels.

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