Three possible Antonio Rudiger replacements for Chelsea
1. Robin Le Normand (Real Sociedad, France)
Robin Le Normand was comfortably the best centerback on Spanish soil last season. He plays as a left-sided centerback for Real Sociedad, even though he’s right-footed. This season, he has been magnificent, as well. Le Normand’s team often tries to play out from the back whenever possible, which means the ball often goes through him. He’s as comfortable in possession as he is out of it, which is incredibly important in the system Tuchel is currently trying to perfect. Le Normand tallies 0.6 shots blocked per 90. He also has more clean sheets than any other La Liga outfielder this season (19) in 36 games. Le Normand averaged 1.3 interceptions per game, and 1.4 tackles per game, winning 88% of his tackles contested. He is the definition of dominant.
He is fantastic in duels, as he wins 1.9 ground duels per game, at a 61% success rate. The central defender also wins 2.9 aerial duels per game at a 61% success rate. At six-foot-two (1.87m) he’s not as tall as most centerbacks come, but he can clearly hold his own in the air. He’s not much of a goalscorer though, only managing to find the back of the net twice this season. Le Normand has made 50.4 passes per game at an 89% accuracy though. He has averaged 3.4 long balls per game and leads his team in passes per game, which only serves to reinforce the earlier point about the Frenchman being a focal point in Real Sociedad’s build-up play. He has a long ball accuracy of 56%, which is very good. Le Normand’s passing would be important if he was ever going to play for Chelsea as he’d make even more passes and attempt more long balls.
If he is going to play in a three-centerback formation—and there is everything to suggest he would if he switches to west London—he would need to drive into space that opens up in midfield. He can do that too. Progressive passes account for 5% of all of Le Normand’s passes and progressive carries account for 7% of all his carries per game. This is much less than Rudiger, who sits at 9% and 11% respectively. This is nothing to worry about though, as Le Normand would get more chances to pass and carry the ball forward at with the Blues.
Furthermore, Le Normand would be very good at counter-pressing. He and Rudiger average a similar number of pressures per 90, but the 25-year-old succeeds at a higher percentage than his German counterpart. He averages eight pressures per 90 at a 36% success rate, compared to Rudiger’s 8.7 pressures per 90, at a 31% success rate. Suffice it to say, Le Normand would be an excellent addition to Chelsea.