PSG acquired the services of former Bayern Munich defender Lucas Hernandez in the summer. He played for Atletico Madrid before joining the German giants in 2019. His World Cup triumph with France in 2018 was one of the bigger reasons behind his recognition in world football. He won the Bundesliga four times with Bayern Munich and also won the UEFA Champions League in his first season at the club. He also won the UEFA Europa League during his time at Atletico Madrid.
The French giants knew what they were adding to the team. Lucas Hernandez has the experience of playing football at the top level. He has won the biggest trophies, and PSG are also chasing the biggest glory at club level in Europe. Let’s take a look at how this French defender is aiding the defending champions of France.
With the injury to first-choice left-back Nuno Mendes, Lucas Hernandez has taken the role on the left side of the defence. During his time at Bayern Munich, he played as a centre-back. France manager Didier Deschamps also opts to play Hernandez in the centre. His brother Theo Hernandez is a natural full-back, and he takes the left-back role for his country, with his brother aiding him as the left centre-back.
Lucas has made nine appearances for PSG in his first season. He has scored one goal, and that came against Newcastle United in a humiliating away loss. The 27-year-old Frenchman has performed decently on the left side. He won 55.8% of his defensive duels, 50% of his aerial duels, and 60% of his loose ball duels. Lucas averages 4.58 interceptions per 90 minutes.
One area where Lucas Hernandez has impressed is making recoveries inside the opposition half. With more than 10 recoveries per 90 minutes, Hernandez makes 3.5 of these in the opposing half. He gets into good positions and ends up winning the ball within five seconds on most occasions.
Attacking threat
PSG have a lot of speedsters, with one of them being Achraf Hakimi on the opposite side of Lucas Hernandez’s defence. PSG create most of their chances from the right, but Mbappe’s involvement from the left side allows Lucas to join the attack. He makes most of the progressive runs through the middle and has a dribble success rate of 61% this season.
Lucas Hernandez knows how to keep the ball and rotate it. He averages around 80 passes per 90 minutes and has an 89% accuracy rate. Lucas’ progressive chart shows that he likes to dictate the play the progressive passes from the halfway line. The left-back looks for opportunity and prefers playing direct ball to the forwards. The 27-year-old averages 11.5 passes to the final third per 90 minutes and accurately delivers 80% of them.
Nuno Mendes is out for a lengthy period. Lucas Hernandez is the most reliable candidate to take that role. Once Mendes is back, Lucas is likely to play as the left centre-back. There are chances that PSG might play three at the back. For now, PSG’s new defensive addition has turned out to be a positive one, and he will look to continue in the same form.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine
