Bednarek earns prestigious recognition

This season hasn’t been easy for the Polish defender. Following great performances at the end of the previous season and a regular place in the starting line-up, Bednarek looked ahead to 2018/19 campaign with optimism. He managed to spend 90 minutes on the pitch in 5 out of 6 last matches of the previous season and even added a goal to his account in the clash with Chelsea. The center-back earned a lot of praise from the British media.

However, the 2018/19 campaign wasn’t what Bednarek expected. Until the start of December 2018, the Southampton coach let the defender appear on the pitch 4 times only – twice in league games (40 minutes in total), and two times in Carabao Cup clashes (against Brighton & Hove Albion and FC Everton). However, Hughes was soon dismissed following the match against Manchester United. Even though Southampton’s temporary coach Kelvin Davis didn’t give a chance to the Polish defender either, when Ralph Hasenhuttl took over the English side, Bednarek once again became a regular starter.

Ever since the Austrian manager joined Southampton, Bednarek did not miss a single minute on the pitch, having played whole 90 minutes in the last 16 games. The English club has been winning points regularly and managed to accumulate 24 of them over this period – that gives 1.5 points per match, whereas, under the lead of Hughes, Southampton collected 0.64 points per game. In the recent games, Bednarek also got his first league assist (against Burnley) and received even more positive attention from the British media.

An example of the recognition Bednarek got recently is WhoScored.com U23 best team of the season so far. The line-up is based on average rating of footballers from La Liga, Premier League, Bundesliga, Ligue 1, and Serie A. The Polish defender accumulated an average rating of 7,12 which put him in WhoScored.com U23 line-up next to RB Leipzig’s defender Ibrahima Konate.

Other names seen in the line-up are players well known on the international arena. AC Milan’s keeper Donnaruma was chosen for the goal, whilst the likes of Achraf Hakimi from Borussia Dortmund were placed in the defense. The U23 team’s midfield was secured with Nicolas Pepe from Lille OSC and Jadon Sancho from the previously mentioned Bundesliga team. Meanwhile, Hoffenheim’s Joelinton and the World Cup winner Kylian Mbappe earned a place at the front of the offense.

Here is how WhoScored.com described Bednarek’s recent performances:

"Southampton have been a far stronger side with Jan Bednarek in the starting XI, with Saints’ win ratio increasing from 7.1% to 37.5% when the Polish defender features from the off. Indeed, it’s translated to a fine WhoScored rating of 7.12, securing the centre-back’s spot in this side. Returns of 1.9 tackles, 2.5 interceptions and 6.7 clearances per game has helped land such a notable rating.”

Source: WhoScored.com