Tap on a talent to see more information about the FIFA 21 player. If youve got the cash, then there are very few better options out there. We've compiled the top 10 cheap centre backs with excellent potential ratings in our best cheap CB FIFA 23 guide. When looking at the games in which Tottenham start with a back four, they get far more productive passing from their two centre-backs when the pairing is a left-footer with a right-footer rather than two right-footed players. Author: Matt K Published on: Oct 4, 2020 | Updated on: Oct 6, 2022 Contents [ hide] 1 Matthijs de Ligt (OVR 85 - POT 92) 2 Dayot Upamecano (OVR 79 - POT 90) 3 Edmond Tapsoba (OVR 78 - POT 88) 4 Ibrahima Konat (OVR 78 - POT 88) 5 William Saliba (OVR 74 - POT 87) Join the conversation using #FIFARatings on social media! SEE www.ea.com/games/fifa/fifa-21/game-offer-and-disclaimers FOR DETAILS. Leading from the back is the centre back's mantra and we've got the best young players at this key position to sign for your Career Mode. Swami khedira instead of Keane could work mate. And those solutions were evident in the return fixture against West Ham in March. Alongside Andrea Barzagli, Andrea Pirlo, Radja Nainggolan, and Miralem Pjani, Kalidou Koulibaly has made it into the Serie A Team of the Year four times, making a strong case for a fifth selection even though he only played 25 games due to multiple injuries last season. A cheaper option, Bard has middling stats but a lot of potential to improve them with 83 potential. Here a few defenders who might make less of an instant impact, but have bright prospects. This season, he's averaged over 60 passes per game for the Yellow Submarine, completed 25 of his 29 dribbles, and ranks third for progressive carrying distance with the ball, only behind Barcelona's Lionel Messi and Frenkie de Jong. - Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, more (U.S.). He may be in his mid-30s, but Ramos still has all of the attributes that you look for in a top FIFA 21 CB, including 88 composure, 88 interceptions, 92 reactions, 90 sliding tackle, 88 standing tackle, 85 strength, and 85 marking. In the list below you'll find the top 100 centre back talents for your FIFA 21 Career Mode. Any potential deal for the 21-year-old will be complicated by the lack of a release clause in his contract, with Leverkusen unlikely to be eager to sell such a recent acquisition. All rights reserved. Goodbye. An important cog in Antonio Contes Inter side, but often linked with a move to the Premier League, Milan Skriniar is a hugely talented defender with enough mobility and awareness to slot into any team. Heres another example, this time with Torreira on the ball. Use them as your own super stars or sell them . The reasons are two-fold: passing angles and trajectories. Struggling to build a team with one in Kamilflage 6236 posts Big Money Move January 3, 2017 11:41AM FIFA 19 . Juventus defender Matthijs de Ligt is the centre back with the highest potential on FIFA 21. Over his 650 games for Los Blancos, Ramos has stacked up 97 goals and 39 assists, claiming 13 of those goals and one of those assists in his 44 games last season. Buy these talents for a low price (if they play at a small club) and let them grow quickly. The Argentine defender is highly regarded and considered one of the best young centre-backs in the game right now, and has the potential to be one of the best defenders in the world. Presnel will be hoping to continue to perform optimally to cement his reputation as one of the best defenders in the game. One of the leading lights is Dayot Upamecano, who currently plays his football for RB Leipzig in the German top-flight. Chiellini may be especially famous for his tackling and placement, but he is also of massive help when Juve opts to play our from the back. He gave a reason for why Laporte was so vital to City from the back but not an explanation of how being a natural left-footer actually helps. Entitle FIFA 21 on either PlayStation 4 or Xbox One before the release of FIFA 22 and upgrade your game for the equivalent next generation console (PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X) at no additional cost. Subscribe to The Athletic for in-depth coverage of your favorite players, teams, leagues and clubs. Get more out of your FIFA 21 career mode with other talents lists. Stergiou is a real bargain, and his defending stats will quickly grow with training thanks to his 86 potential. The club brought in Pablo Mari of Flamengo, and then signed Gabriel from Lille last week. Manchester City and Pep Guardiola dropped a massive 65m to sign Aymeric Laporte in the 2017/18 season's winter window to fulfill Pep Guardiola's request for a left-footed central defender. Official FIFA 21 Player Ratings Revealed: Mbapp, Hland, Joo Flix, and over 100 more! A purely defensive presence, Koulibalys main assets are his ball-winning abilities and physicality, boasting a 91 for marking, 89 for his standing tackle, 94 for strength, and 87 for his sliding tackle. A natural left-footer here would open up their body more, let the ball run across them, and hit the large space to their left (as circled below). The signing of Virgil van Dijk for 75 million in January 2018 is what transformed Liverpool from top-four challengers to title contenders. In todays game, there are a growing number of centre-backs who use the left foot and are also excelling. Hugely expensive, but with great stats across the board, Grimaldo has long been a Career Mode favourite - and thats no different in FIFA 21. FIFA 22 Career Mode: Best Young Centre Backs (CB) to Sign September 28, 2021 You can find the best young centre backs to sign for your career mode right here. Equally, as a general rule -- though there are endless exceptions -- defenders, who tend to be less agile than forwards, prefer to turn and position their bodies, often in a fraction of second, with the weight on their stronger foot. FIFA 21 Clubs; FIFA 21 Leagues; FIFA 21 Nations; FIFA 20 Ultimate Team. Both players have 88 potential, and this could be an unfortunately realistic signing in light of the current real-life financial situation at Valencia. Lorenzo Pirola (AC Monza) Initial FIFA 21 overall: 64. Sokratis has the ball and is under relatively weak pressure from the home teams Felipe Anderson. Again according to fbref, this game saw Arsenals two centre-backs combine for 146 passes overall, eight progressive passes and eight into the final third a huge improvement in getting the ball forward from the back. Koulibaly is known for his aerial ability, anticipation, intelligence, positioning, tackling, character, technique, and passing ability as a centre-back. With the exception of clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City, who have nearly endless financial reserves, his release clause will be difficult to meet. His contributions saw Bayer Leverkusen finish in fifth place in the Bundesliga, guaranteeing them a place in the Europa League. Started off as a sports writer with a focus on football, ice hockey, boxing, and American football. FIFA 21 launches October 9th. The Juventus talisman continues to hold strong ratings where it counts, too, boasting an 88 for interceptions, 94 for marking, 90 for his standing tackle, 88 for his sliding tackle, 87 strength, and 84 composure. Pau is a left-sided defender who plays for Spanish side Villarreal. Hes technically a Barcelona player, but wont join them until the summer when their deal kicks in. At the opposite end are the centre-backs from teams defending from a low-block, preferring a direct approach over long spells of possession. In possession, he's equally smart -- habitually advancing through the first line of pressure with ease and picking out the right movement in midfield or further up the pitch. Like Upamecano, Konat has spent the last three seasons with the East German side, where he has made 74 appearances in all competitions. On that note, here are the five best left-footed centre-backs in the world. Almost every single team that has won the most prestigious trophies have been able to do so because they feature at least one elite-level centre back. Here are all the best centre back (CB) wonderkids in FIFA 21 Career Mode. Here are all the best centre back (CB) wonderkids in FIFA 21 Career Mode. 73 @FCBayernENs David Alaba won 73% of his Bundesliga games among all players with at least 250 Bundesliga games nobody has a higher win percentage than him. Although he's not too adventurous while travelling in possession, the Brazil international can control the ball too; he often finds options in the middle with line-break passes and the sensitivity of his left foot also sees him initiating attacks with a well-placed long ball. Value: 3.6m. Which duo has the most goal contributions in Europe this season? Entitle FIFA 21 on either PlayStation 4 or Xbox One before the release of FIFA 22 and upgrade your game for the equivalent next generation console (PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X) at no additional cost. One of the most coveted young centre-backs in European football, he is reportedly being monitored by practically every top club on the continent, including Man City and Chelsea. All in all, this is what you need. In FIFA 21, Van Dijk weighs-in as the best CB in the game, boasting a whole stack of user-friendly attribute ratings, including 89 reactions, 90 composure, 90 interceptions, 77 ball control, 93 marking, 93 standing tackle, 86 sliding tackle, 90 jumping, 92 strength, and an 86 for the Dutchman's long passing. He's a rock in defence who is comfortable bringing the ball out from the back and spraying it around the pitch with ease. You'll be pleased to know that his 82 potential is the lowest in our list, but the 18 year old is here because of his 61 starting rating. When you have a player as crucial as Laporte whos had a recent long-term injury, it makes sense to invest heavily in a back-up. The difference here is that United shouldnt be reliant on the finer elements of building out from the back to defeat the likes of a Watford side that ended up relegated but in games against top opposition, such as Chelsea, this efficiency in doing so is important. He gives more options, more solutions, he opens up the pitch more.. 28 players have met the criteria and you can view how they've performed this season below. At the foot of the article, you will find a full list of all of the best wonderkid centre backs (CB) on FIFA 21 including those currently on-loan and have the potential to reach an overall rating of at least 81. After narrowly beating Sheffield United 1-0 at Bramall Lane in January, Pep Guardiola was asked his thoughts on the importance of Aymeric Laporte to his team. Boasting 90 pace and stamina, coupled with nearly 80 strength and defending, he has the quality to make an impact on many levels of squad, while still having room to grow. The presence of Mari led to greater balance on the left side of the field and created situations such as the one below early in the game. The French national team have a wealth of riches in almost every position at the moment, including a host of young stars. All talents are maximum 21 years old. The 25-year-old is a highly adept and competent centre-back who is comfortable with the ball at his feet, making him one of the best ball-playing defenders in football. Sign up to receive emails about EA SPORTS FIFA and EA products, news, events, and promotions. All rights reserved. This is one of the few times in the first half where the passing lane out to the left is clear Robert Snodgrass had a great first half when it came to blocking Arsenals progress down the left. Calum Chambers lines up on the right of defence with Sokratis who used his left foot the joint-least among Premier League centre-backs last season in terms of the percentage of passes he made with it on the left side. A towering presence hailing from the Netherlands, Van Dijk was worth every penny of the world-record fee for a defender, with his five goals through 38 Premier League games last season showing that he contributes much more than just rock-solid defending. On this page, youll find features of each of the best five centre backs in FIFA 21, with a full table of all of FIFA 21s best CB position players at the base of the piece. FIFA 21 Career Mode: Best Young Players to Sign, FIFA 21 Career Mode: Best Left Wingers and Left Midfielders (LW & LM), FIFA 21 Career Mode: Best Contract Expiry Signings in 2022 (Second Season), Fact-Checking, Corrections & DMCA Takedowns, EA Sports have revealed their highest-rated players, one of the best pre-contract signings of FIFA 21, FIFA 21 Career Mode: Best Strikers (ST & CF), FIFA 21 Career Mode: Best Centre Midfielders (CM), FIFA 21 Career Mode: Best Left Backs (LB & LWB), FIFA 21: Tottenham Hotspur Player Ratings, 93 Marking, 93 Standing Tackle, 90 Interceptions, 93 Jumping, 92 Heading Accuracy, 90 Sliding Tackle, 94 Strength, 91 Marking, 89 Standing Tackle, 89 Marking, 89 Standing Tackle, 88 Sliding Tackle, 94 Marking, 90 Standing Tackle, 90 Aggression, 91 Interceptions, 90 Marking, 88 Standing Tackle, 89 Marking, 87 Standing Tackle, 87 Interceptions, 89 Jumping, 87 Standing Tackle, 87 Marking, 88 Strength, 86 Marking, 85 Standing Tackle, 92 Marking, 87 Standing Tackle, 86 Aggression, 90 Marking, 87 Interceptions, 86 Standing Tackle, 90 Marking, 90 Interceptions, 86 Standing Tackle, 89 Standing Tackle, 88 Marking, 86 Composure, 88 Reactions, 85 Marking, 85 Free-Kick Accuracy, 88 Marking, 87 Standing Tackle, 86 Interceptions, 93 Strength, 88 Standing Tackle, 87 Sliding Tackle, 86 Sliding Tackle, 86 Marking, 85 Standing Tackle, 87 Sliding Tackle, 86 Jumping, 86 Interceptions, 86 Interceptions, 86 Standing Tackle, 85 Marking, 87 Marking, 87 Standing Tackle, 86 Strength, 85 Strength, 85 Jumping, 84 Interceptions, 88 Marking, 86 Interceptions, 86 Standing Tackle, 86 Strength, 85 Aggression, 84 Interceptions, 85 Standing Tackle, 84 Interceptions, 83 Reactions. If reports are to be believed, Alaba is set to join Real Madrid come summer, which could give the Blancos a superb option in defence as he will be the only left-footed central defender in their side. When advancing into the attacking areas, the centre-back also occasionally ends up in crossing positions in the last third, rendering a spot-on delivery paramount. Another with a strong starting overall and high potential for a mid-tier team in a top league, prising Ozan Kabak from struggling Schalke might prove to be an astute signing. There are high expectations for the 19-year old William Saliba, who will be looking to break into the Arsenal first-team soon. *CONDITIONS AND RESTRICTIONS APPLY. Saliba made only 12 appearances in the league after suffering a hamstring injury early in the season, which was followed by a metatarsal fracture. pic.twitter.com/qO7LYZiPzs. The second player from RB Leipzig to make this list is another Frenchman, Ibrahima Konat. Centre backs are often the difference between victory and defeat, with Sir Alex Ferguson saying: attack wins you games, defence wins you titles. Though this may have been an oversimplification, it isnt a coincidence that the best teams in the world are well-stocked with top-class central defenders. The Paris Saint Germain and France defender is currently one of the best left-footed centre-backs in the world. Tanguy Nianzou (Bayern Munich) Initial FIFA 22 overall: 71. Upamecanos best attributes are his 90 strength, 88 jumping, and 84 sprint speed, with the Frenchman being a big and powerful defender, not unlike his Bayern Munich counterpart, Niklas Sle. Only players that have played the majority of their games at left-back have been listed. With the recent departure Jan Vertonghen, who was their only naturally left-footed option in central defence, Spurs options when building up are going to be limited. Hell cost the earth, but has many years left at the top of his game yet to come. Arguably the top left-footed (though classed as two-footed by some) centre-back in the game, the Austria international's well-known flexibility -- he was originally a left-back at Bayern Munich before being switched to centre-back and central midfield -- makes him one of the most versatile too. At 23, Kimpembe is already one of PSG's most important players across all fronts and is sure to get even better in the coming years. Left-footed centre-backs are in demand right now They help bring about a lot of balance to their sides and that's exactly what managers try to do with their defence as well. Required fields are marked *. The Spaniard played a prominent role in Villarreals successful run to the Europa League title in 2021, scoring in the penalty shoot-out to help his team beat favourites Manchester United in the final. Captaincy chaos and Waldrum ultimatums - Will Nigeria be ready for World Cup? Heres a good example of a situation in which a left-footed centre-back can make a pass more often and comfortably than a right-footed one can. Authority. The Austrian has played more passes into the final third than any Bundesliga player this season (218) and ranks fourth for touches, progressive passes, progressive carries and carrying distance. He will write regularly for ESPN on the business of soccer and the process of scouting. READ MORE: FIFA 21 Career Mode: Best Young Centre Backs (CB) to Sign. FIFA 23 best centre backs. Usually starting on the left of a back-three, the young left-footed defender has been excellent at carrying the ball forward, switching play, and finding his teammates with superbly weighted passes across the pitch. Join the conversation using #FIFARatings on social media! Solskjaers side regularly played with a fully right-footed backline last season, but the merits of having a left-footed option in defence were tangible away to Chelsea in February. Value: 1.3m. Machine. Not because the other players are not good but because Laporte is the only left-footed central defender.. But that's not to say these players are worse than their . He explained; While there aren't too many left-footed centre-backs available in the market, there are some currently plying their trade at the highest level of European football. They all play centre back (CB) as one of their favourite positions. pic.twitter.com/CVui2x9i3E. Mbabu has great athletic ability, without compromising too much technically. Yet just an estimated 20% of players at the top end of the game are naturally left-footed (with an equal number being classed as two-footed), so the underrepresentation of top-quality left-footed centre-backs is also a matter of mathematics, simple economics, and supply and demand too. Team: LiverpoolBest Position: CBAge: 29Overall Rating: 90Nationality: DutchWeak Foot: Three-StarBest Attributes: 93 Marking, 93 Standing Tackle, 90 Interceptions. Tom Worville is a Football Analytics Writer for The Athletic. The 27-year-old is very comfortable in possession and strong in physical confrontations making him hard to get off the ball. pic.twitter.com/GfkLYzkYka. Here's an example of what happens when a right-footed defender plays at left centre-back, from Arsenal's 3-1 win away to West Ham United last December under caretaker manager Freddie Ljungberg. Hes also quite nimble and technical on the ball for someone of his big size. Digital purchase required for consoles without optical disc drive. Learn more about Dual Entitlement. Entitle FIFA 21 on either PlayStation 4 or Xbox One before the release of FIFA 22 and upgrade your game for the equivalent next generation console (PlayStation 5 or Xbox Series X) at no additional cost. Football is a game that triggers a lot of emotions such as joy, frustration, Soccer players reach their peak in their mid-20s and start declining in their, Puma is a sports and casual wear manufacturing company that has been in, It is interesting to find out which teams are the oldest football clubs in the, The number 3 is usually reserved for players who feature in the left fullback. Your email address will not be published. Transfer window Q&A: Everything you've always wanted to know, Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, MLS, more (U.S.). Moving . Manchester United are the most obvious, given Ole Gunnar Solskjaer practically told the world what hes looking for in the transfer market, "We need a left-footed centre back, so keep going. These qualities have been brought to the fore playing at central defence as Alaba has been vital in driving his side forward. Most importantly they are sorted on potential rating. Potential FIFA 21 overall: 82. Best Centre Backs. Emerson is incredibly well rounded - with tons of stats nearing 80 - which is a tantalizing prospect when he has 88 potential to fill. In FIFA 21, Van Dijk weighs-in as the best CB in the game, boasting a whole stack of user-friendly attribute ratings, including 89 reactions, 90 composure, 90 interceptions, 77 ball control, 93 marking, 93 standing tackle, 86 sliding tackle, 90 jumping, 92 strength, and an 86 for the Dutchmans long passing. Man City's Portuguese star packs an overall rating of 88 and the potential to rise to 91, making him technically the best centre back in FIFA 23. Although he's been sidelined due to injuries and has played second fiddle to John Stones this season, Laporte's ability on the ball has been a massive addition to Manchester City. The natural flight of the ball spins away towards the touchline, over Jeremy Ngakias head. Choose from any player available and discover average rankings and prices. Digital purchase required for consoles without optical disc drive. Learn more about Dual Entitlement. While left backs and right backs with high dribbling - and even 4 star skill moves - can prove to be instrumental in setting up counterattacks. CONDITIONS & RESTRICTIONS APPLY. Buy these talents for a low price (if they play at a small club) and let them grow quickly. To see this content please enable targeting cookies. The Chelsea centre-back is great in possession, loving to advance with the ball from his defensive position to contribute to the attack. Why nobody can argue with Benzema's Ballon d'Orwin (1:24). (1:24). The combination of the two shows a stagnant centre-back pairing, unable to build effectively from the back. Koulibaly usually plays on the left side of the defense. Edmond Tapsoba burst onto the seen after a stellar second half of the season with Bayer Leverkusen, having joined Die Werkself in January from Portuguese side Vitria Guimares for around 16 million. Pre-order* now to get a head start in FIFA 21 Ultimate Team! Yet just an estimated 20% of players at the top end of the game are naturally left-footed (with an equal number being classed as two-footed), so the underrepresentation of top-quality left-footed . There's no practical reason to go for a left-footed goalkeeper as you're not likely to be busting out too many fakes or turns with him, but I like consistency and felt I couldn't really call this a Lefty XI with a right-footer in the sticks. Please enable JavaScript to see comments. After leaving RealSport, I diversified my writing substantially, kept with sport, but also learned much more heavily into pop culture, iGaming, travel, business, tech, and especially gaming. This swiss youngster isnt the tallest, but has high jumping, along with good starting strength and stamina to make up for it. As youd assume from a player picked by Pep Guardiola, Laporte boasts strong passing attributes, with an 82 for short passing and 80 for long passing, as well as sound defending fundamentals, such as 89 marking, 89 standing tackle, and 87 interceptions. At just 25, Dias is good for nine . This all points to why Manchester City were so willing to pay 41 million this summer for Bournemouths Nathan Ake there are very few top left-footed centre-backs in the market at the moment. Team: Arsenal FCBest Position: CBAge: 19Overall/Potential: 74 OVR / 87 POTValue (Release Clause): 8.5M (N/A)Wage: 25K a weekBest Attributes: 80 Strength, 77 Interceptions, 75 Jumping. Shaka Hislop and Alejandro Moreno praise Karim Benzema after he won the Ballon d'Or. These are the best Centre Back Talents for FIFA 21 Career mode. Not all the time will it cost you but it eventually will at some point. If you want to source your own picks, SoFifa is a good resource for career mode. Here are five of the best to be found playing in European football at the moment. Calm. 5 Transfers that dramatically changed the fortunes of a club, 5 Greatest big-game players in world football right now. All rights reserved. Alternatively, a pass with the left instep leads to a trajectory that is further away from all of the highlighted trio. Struggling to build a team with one in. Furthermore, with many clubs fielding three centre-backs, the preference for a left-footer on the left (or vice-versa) of the trio assumes even more importance. If Sokratis attempts to pass with the instep of his right foot, the ball will curve in a convex manner, the path of which is naturally closer to the three highlighted West Ham players. The highlights on Konats ratings sheet are his 85 standing tackle, 83 strength, and 79 sprint speed. There are many actions to build up to make our play quicker, better but we cant do them. In fact, it takes Arsenal eight more passes and 30 seconds before the ball eventually reaches Ozils feet. De Ligt has everything that you could want in a defender, as his stats illustrate. Heres an example of Mari lifting the ball forward over West Hams midfield, aiming for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Heres an example of what happens when a right-footed defender plays at left centre-back, from Arsenals 3-1 win away to West Ham United last December under caretaker manager Freddie Ljungberg. FIFA 21 Wonderkids: Best Young Centre Backs (CB) to sign in Career Mode, All of the best young wonderkid centre backs (CB) in FIFA 21, FIFA 21 Wonderkids: Best New Wonderkids and Top U19s Prospects, FIFA 21 Wonderkids: Best Young Goalkeepers (GK) to sign in Career Mode, FIFA 21 Wonderkids: Best Young Left Backs (LB) to Sign in Career Mode, FIFA 21 Wonderkids: Best Young Defensive Midfielders (CDM) to Sign in Career Mode, FIFA 21 Wonderkids: Best Young Croatian Players to Sign in Career Mode, FIFA 21 Wonderkids: Best Young Mexican Players to Sign in Career Mode, Fact-Checking, Corrections & DMCA Takedowns, All of the best young wonderkid right backs (RB) in FIFA 21, FIFA 21 Wonderkids: Best Young Attacking Midfielders (CAM) to Sign in Career Mode, FIFA 21 Wonderkid Wingers: Best Young Left Wingers (LW & LM) to Sign in Career Mode, FIFA 21 Wonderkids: Best Young Colombian Players to Sign in Career Mode, FIFA 21 Wonderkids: Best Young Polish Players to Sign in Career Mode, FIFA 21 Wonderkids: Best Young Russian Players to Sign in Career Mode. Internazionale have made some questionable decisions in the transfer market over the last few seasons, but signing young Atalanta academy product Alessandro Bastoni for a massive 31m has proven to be an excellent move so far. For centre backs, height is a big consideration, since they need to be strong in the air both from corners and open play. SEE www.ea.com/games/fifa/fifa-21/game-offer-and-disclaimers FOR DETAILS. However, it looks like the loan back hasnt quite gone through in-game yet, so you can get your hands on a real prospect for a cheap fee. high line left foot CENTER BACKS to sign. Finally, well highlight a few fun picks of players whore worth trying out and adding to your team. There are some obvious reasons why it works: when entering a one-vs.-one situation, a defender is understandably more comfortable in dealing with the opponent whose strong foot is closest to the byline, so any attempted cross into the box can be blocked with the defender's stronger foot and the positioning of their body movement feels more natural. Logically this scarcity obviously makes an impact on the transfer fees. Stay tuned to the EA SPORTS FIFA Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram channels for more FIFA 21 Ratings. Although the Uruguayan is playing in midfield and not at the back, this is another right-footed pass that shows the structural reasons why left-footed passers are so revered. No one can stay at the top of the game forever, and it always pays to look to the future. pic.twitter.com/D6HEFZ3TRn. In a high-pace game broken down into an infinite number of fragmented moments, coming out of on top from such situations are likely to be crucial. United started with a back three of Luke Shaw, Eric Bailly and Harry Maguire, with the left-footed Shaw completing nine progressive passes. In the football world, the left-footed player has long been considered aesthetically superior -- more skilled, technically gifted and easier on the eye -- as opposed to those relying on their right, despite the evidence being overwhelmingly anecdotal or unsupported by science.