The Best Centre Backs
A goalkeeper’s task is made more accessible if in front of him are quality central backs. Their function is to stop the opponent from getting dangerously close to your team’s goal.
On a centre back, two attributes assume particular importance in their performance: defending and physical.
A player with good at defending will have higher chances of dispossessing the opponent and avoiding him reaching his box. The physical attribute measures how likely the players are to win possession using their bodies.
Rating
Defending
Physical
Pace
Global Overview (CB)
There are plenty of quality center-backs in this league, but, in our opinion, Tomori and Škriniar are the best ones. They are very strong, fast, and only de Vrij defends as well as them. Our preference goes to Tomori, who is faster, but the defensive skills of Škriniar are also impressive.
Far from the quality of these two, you can also use Kim Min Jae, Bremer, and Ibañez. The South Korean center-back was one of the good surprises this year. He is fast, strong, and has a much better work rate than Roma’s defender.
There is also Bonucci, who is a good defender but too slow for most of the teams.
The Best Right Backs
Right backs have the same role as their team mates on the other flank. In other words, they try to make a winger’s job hard and participate in the team’s offensive manoeuvres.
Defending and pace are critical attributes for any right back.
As defenders that they are, they should have good defending capacities. This reduces a team’s risk of conceding.
A flanked game tends to be faster than a game in the middle of the field. Therefore, the players that fill these spaces need to be fast, penetrating, defensive and attacking moves of the team.
Rating
Defending
Pace
Global Overview (RB, RWB)
It’s not from today, but, as you probably know, there is a lack of quality on right backs from Serie A. In our opinion, Juan Cuadrado is still the best player in this position. He has the highest dribbling stats and the second-best pace and passing. Only Florenzi has better shooting than him. Unfortunately, Cuadrado is not as good on the defense.
There are players you may use, but your choice should consider their weak points:
- Danilo is slow and more focused on the defense.
- Dumfries, Kalulu, and Marušić have low passing stats.
- Lazzari is physically weak.
The Best Left Backs
Left backs have the same role as their team mates on the other flank. In other words, they try to make a winger’s job hard and participate in the team’s offensive manoeuvres.
Defending and pace are vital attributes for any left back.
As defenders that they are, they should have good defending capacities. This reduces a team’s risk of conceding. A flanked game tends to be faster than a game in the middle of the field. The players that fill these spaces need to be fast, penetrating, defensive and attacking moves of the team.
Rating
Defending
Pace
Global Overview (LB, LWB)
There is more quality on the left side of the defense than on the right side, which isn’t difficult. However, there are only 16 left-backs from which to choose. It’s easy to agree that Theo Hernández is the best left back in three of the six face stats: pace, defense, and physical.
If you can’t pay Hernandez’s price, we suggest you try Spinazolla. He is also very fast and good at dribbling.
Between Gosens and Kostić, our third and fourth options, we go for the first. The Juventus midfielder has the lowest defensive skills of this group of players, making him better in the other areas of the field.