Under the microscope: How has Leandro Trossard’s role changed for Brighton this season? | OneFootball

Leandro Trossard arrived at Brighton in the summer of 2019 from Belgian club Genk. He was Graham Potter’s second signing after Potter took charge of the Seagulls. Trossard joined Genk’s youth setup as a teenager following which he went on loan to Belgian second division sides Lommel United, Westerlo and OH Leuven before becoming a first-team regular at Genk. He captained Genk to their fourth Belgian league title in the season before his move to Brighton. Furthermore, he scored 22 goals and added a further 11 assists in 47 appearances in all competitions.

Since joining Potter’s side, he has made 75 appearances in the Premier League, scoring 11 goals and registering nine assists. Last season he made 35 appearances for the Seagulls as they finished 16 in the league. Ever since his debut for Brighton, Trossard has become an important and central part of Potter’s attack. Graham Potter prefers his players to be versatile and capable of playing in multiple positions to suit the needs of his team and Trossard fits the bill perfectly. Although he has been used mostly as a left and right-winger, he has displayed that he is capable of occupying the central position behind the striker. Since the beginning of this season, Trossard has been used more and more in the central role just behind Neil Maupay. Potter has stated that the central role suits Trossard more as he can impact the game by being closer to the goal.

In their recent game against Manchester City, although they lost 4-1 at home, it was evident that Potter’s second-half substitutions affected the match. Potter took off Maupey and deployed Lamptey as a fullback. He also sent Mwepu to occupy the advanced midfield slot. This allowed March and Trossard to exploit spaces between City’s defenders. Trossard was again a central piece to Potter’s tactics.

Let’s analyse some stats from last season and this season to understand how Trossard’s role has evolved.

Leandro Trossard Heat Map 2020-21

In addition to his wing play, Trossard has the ability to bypass defenders, cutting inside and drifting in central areas. He is threatening with the ball at his feet. His heat map displays the areas of the pitch where he is most active in.

Leandro Trossard Heat Map 2021-22

Comparing his heat map from last season and this season we can gauge that he has been more active in central areas in front of the goal. The red zones on his heat map from current season shows that he is becoming more and more involved in the central areas. He has been criticized in the past seasons for drifting in and out of the game, but a slight tweak in his position may prove beneficial for Brighton as the season moves forward.

Leandro Trossard Attacking & Creativity 2020-21

Trossard’s last season stats suggest that he showed consistency in his attacking and creativity metrics. He averaged 28.5 passes per match and ranked highly in terms of xG per 90, goals per 90 and shots per 90. His ability to receive the ball and carry it to dangerous zones can be fatal for the opponents. His creativity developed over time which gave him an edge over the opponents.

Leandro Trossard Attacking & Creativity 2021-22

In the number of matches he has played so far, we can see indications that his attacking and creativity metrics in some areas have improved. He has scored one goal and laid one assist from nine appearances so far this season. His average passes per match have also improved. As compared to last season, his average passes per match stands at 35.22 in the current season, a further indication that he has been more involved in the games this season.

Graham Potter’s use of Trossard in central areas has provided the Seagulls with an added threat in the attack, although he can still improve his numbers by a great margin. Trossard remains a prominent part of Brighton’s squad and will remain so for foreseeable future.