5 minute read
Europa League
Ones to watch
Nick Bidwell picks out 12 players to keep an eye on in the knockout stages
Teun KOOPMEINERS
ATALANTA
“Koopmania” has taken hold in a big way at the Stadio di Bergamo, where the Atlanta faithful worship at the feet of Dutch midfielder Koopmeiners.
Soon to turn 24, Koopmeiners did not exactly look ready for the anointing oil when moving to Lombardy from Eredivisie outfit AZ Alkmaar on the last day of the summer 2021 transfer window. In the eyes of his new Serie A fan base, he had it all to prove, merely a non-playing member of the Netherlands’ Euro 2020 squad and never having participated in the Champions League.
But without fuss or false starts, he quickly struck a chord with the
Fans’ favourite… Teun Koopmeiners
Nerazzurr i faithful, winning them over with his unbounded energy, vision, creativity, composure in the tightest of spots and leadership qualities. New arrivals on the Italian scene often have difficulty adjusting to the tacticsheavy Calcio culture. The cerebral Koopmeiners, though, has taken it all in his stride, cutting an impressive figure of elegance, power and quick thinking.
As his former AZ coach Pascal Jansen points out, he has “a left foot of gold” which serves many different purposes. He has an incredible range of passing, especially excelling in cross-field switches of play, and long, raking
balls straight to the feet of a team-mate. His ball control is of the adhesive variety, he is great in triangles, his set-piece delivery is peerless and he boasts a hammer of a long-range shot.
In his last two seasons with AZ (2019-20 and 2020-21), he scored no fewer than 33 goals in all competitions, albeit fortified by a heavy smattering of penalties. With Atalanta, he has yet to find his shooting boots – only registering a couple of goals in the first half of the season – but, with time, will surely improve on that quota.
Atalanta, renowned for scouring the globe for value-for-money acquisitions and turning them into high-flyers, can only be glad that they won the race for Koopmeiners’ signature. Leeds United, Arsenal, Roma, Nice and Monaco were all in the queue to wrest him away from AZ. Fortunately for Atalanta, they proved
Super signing… Ferran Torres
Fer r a n T O R R E S
BARCELONA
Barcelona head coach Xavi recently described the club’s latest purchase as a “spectacular signing” and should be proved right. Torres, bought for €55m from Manchester City, is a huge talent and can play in any number of attacking-third positions.
Vic t o r OSI MH E N
NAPOLI
The Sky Blues’ top scorer in Europe this term with four goals, the Nigerian striker clearly prefers continental action, where defences are not so compact as in Italy. Has bounced back well after a serious shoulder injury last term.
G R E G O R KOB E L
BORUSSIA DORTMUND
the most persuasive and persistent of the chasers, finally getting a €12 million deal over the line, a ridiculous fee for a player of such class and potential. Koopmeiners has revealed that one of the factors in his decision was a chat while on national team duty with fellow Dutch international Marten de Roon, currently in his second stint with Atalanta.
According to Dutch football insiders, Koopmeiners was so determined to move to Atalanta, he willingly gave up his transfer commission.
Koopmeiners was AZ through and through, spending 13 years there as an academy adolescent, youth, reserve and first-team stalwart. A pro debutant at the age of 19, he once proved his versatility with a spell in central defence and frequently skippered the side. Evidently, a man for all seasons. Behind a Dortmund back-line that is not always as watchful as it should be, the 24-year-old Swiss international has a well-deserved reputation for pulling the fat out of the fire. Not bad at all for his first season in the Ruhr.
Wen d e r s o n GAL E N O
PORTO
Previously on the books of Porto but unable to go beyond their B team, the Brazilian left-winger came on strong at Rio Ave and Braga to seal a return to the Dragons in January. With six goals in the group stage for Braga, he is the joint top scorer in this season’s competition.
J a r r o d B O WE N
WEST HAM UNITED
Catching the eye… Jarrod Bowen
After an unfashionable rise to the Premier League, starting at Hereford United before joining Hull City and then the Hammers, it has taken a while for the world to wake up to Bowen’s talents. More impressive displays in Europe would help to drive the point home. Now in his second full season as a Sociedad starter, the homegrown talent is nothing less than the midfield brains of the side, a player with metronomic passing ability. Won a silver medal with the Spanish Olympic team last year.
K ar l T O KO -E K A M B I
LYON
The other man to hit six goals in the group stage seems determined for international success in 2022, having impressed for Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations. Able to operate off either flank or as a central striker.
Pat r i k S CH I C K
BAYER LEVERKUSEN
Leverkusen largely negotiated the group stage without Schick, who only played 61 minutes as his side topped Group G. Having Thursdays off helped him hit 18 Bundesliga goals in 17 games, and he’ll be unleashed for the knockout rounds.
C h r i s t o p h er NKUN KU
RB LEIPZIG
The Paris-born attacking midfielder has been in the form of his life this season, piling up goals and assists in both the Bundesliga and Champions League. “He has practically no weaknesses,” says his former coach Jesse Marsch.
In form… Nkunku
Aur e l i e n T C H O UA M E N I
MONACO
The 22-year-old has established himself as Monaco’s midfield metronome, a France international of seven caps, and one of the most in-demand players in Europe. A strong campaign in the rest of the competition will only enhance his burgeoning reputation.
LUI Z F E L I P E
LAZIO
Classy Italo-Brazilian centre-back, who was called up by Azzurr i coach Roberto Mancini for a three-day training camp in January. The 24-year-old’s recent good form has seen him attract interest from the likes of Barcelona, Milan and Inter.
