The signing of Franck Kessié (25 years old, Ivory Coast) invokes the memory of Barcelona’s past successes. Surely Xavi thought of Yayá Touré, a compatriot of the former Milan player, and Seydou Keita to approve the hiring of a footballer who hardly resembles the player profile that defines culé DNA. Kessié will add from the difference as others did before. It is different from everything that was there and hence its undisguised importance if everything turns out as the Blaugrana coach considers. The African’s physical fitness, dynamism and recuperative ability will strengthen the midfield and offer variants to the game that Barcelona did not have.
‘Box to box’ manual
If there is a footballer who naturally defines the term
from ‘box to box’ that’s Frank Kessié (Ivory Coast, 25 years old).
His presence covers the entire field and handles different records of the game.
It does not stand out for its positional reading,
but it takes up a lot of space.
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
He was a decisive player in
the resurrection of Milan for various reasons.
‘Box to box’ manual
If there is a footballer who defines by
nature the term ‘box to box’ that
is Frank Kessié (Ivory Coast, 25 years old).
His presence encompasses the whole field
and manages different records of the game.
It does not stand out for its positional reading,
but it takes up a lot of space.
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
He was a decisive player
in the resurrection of Milan
for various reasons.
‘Box to box’ manual
If there is a footballer who naturally defines the term
from ‘box to box’ that’s Frank Kessié (Ivory Coast, 25 years old).
His presence covers the entire field and handles different records of the game.
It does not stand out for its positional reading,
but it takes up a lot of space.
2017-18
2018-19
2019-20
2020-21
2021-22
He was a decisive player in
the resurrection of Milan for various reasons.
Stefano Pioli made Kessié what she is today. He was able to leave the San Siro, but the arrival of this coach changed his role. He became a main element in Pioli’s 1-4-2-3-1, forming the double pivot. He had to readapt his game and limit his offensive incursions somewhat in order to give more containment to the tactical system. Although he does not stand out for the rigor of it, He has so many physical qualities that he is capable of fixing compromising situations for his team. That is what Xavi expects, among other things, to do in Barcelona as an inside player in the 1-4-3-3. Kessié will have to enrich the Blaugrana team in defensive withdrawal, duels, coverage and high pressure due to his effective activation after loss and power. In addition, it is a rock, with hardly any injuries in his career. Since he made his debut for Milan in the 2017/18 season, he has played more minutes (14,741) than any other midfielder in Serie A.
protective shield
Kessié offers solidity to the defensive system of his teams.
He is a man of containment and attentive in coverage.
In the body to body usually
to come out winner.
Since 2017/18, only Marten de Roon has made more recoveries
than Franck Kessié among the midfielders of the Italian Serie A.
As a midfielder, he helps in his own area in situations of risk that
are generated externally. Great cut before Salah’s inside dribble (Liverpool).
Prepared to defend forward, activate after loss and be a reference
in high blood pressure due to his intuition and physical ability. Theft against Napoli.
Coverage in the band before the rival break (Barella, Inter Milan) and subsequent recovery.
protective shield
Kessié offers solidity to the system
defense of their teams. He is a man
of containment and attentive in the coverage.
In the body to body usually
to come out winner.
From 2017/18, only Marten
de Roon made more recoveries
that Franck Kessié among the
Italian Serie A midfielders.
As a midfielder he helps in
own area in risk situations
that are generated externally. great cut
before the inside dribble
of Salah (Liverpool).
prepared to defend
forward, activate after loss
and be a reference in high blood pressure
due to his intuition and ability
physical. Theft against Napoli.
Band coverage suede
the rival break (Barella, Inter Milan)
and subsequent recovery.
protective shield
Kessié offers solidity to the defensive system of his teams.
He is a man of containment and attentive in coverage.
In the body to body usually
to come out winner.
Since 2017/18, only Marten de Roon has made more recoveries
than Franck Kessié among the midfielders of the Italian Serie A.
As a midfielder, he helps in his own area in situations of risk that
are generated externally. Great cut before Salah’s inside dribble (Liverpool).
Prepared to defend forward, activate after loss and be a reference
in high blood pressure due to his intuition and physical ability. Theft against Napoli.
Coverage in the band before the rival break (Barella, Inter Milan) and subsequent recovery.
But Kessié is not a defensive center. Not much less. He is a player more arriving than positional, who covers the entire field, with the ability to step on the baseline and bite into space well, as has already been seen in the first contact with Barcelona. Against Rayo he was almost a second striker, very out of place, but he launched some interesting break. From the route and verticality of him, he can star in game actions that were not integrated into the philosophy of Xavi’s block. His movements can be completed perfectly with the associative criteria of Busquets, Pedri and Gavi. Kessié gives passing lines to his teammates and appears in places freed up by his good sense of space. And opponents can’t stop him. Also, he’s technically a resource player. In the last course in Italy he has averaged 73% success in dribbling. His big problem may be his adaptation to the game of position: when to fix, when to advance, when to turn. In the premiere he lost a couple of dangerous balls. Xavi has a job there.
Criteria and dynamism
Although he doesn’t handle the position game, he is a good footballer
technical conditions, participative and neat in the touch.
He is not a player specially trained to filter balls
between lines; usually look for the sides in their shipments.
An arrival midfielder
Kessié has an offensive soul and shows it whenever she can.
Record more than one shot per game. As an arrival, he stands out by achieving
stand out from its brand thanks to its physical qualities.
In transitions he stands out for his driving and imposing stride.
He has a talent for starting and finishing them.
Criteria and dynamism
Although he does not handle the position game,
he is a footballer of good conditions
technical, participatory and neat
on the touch.
He is not a player especially
trained to filter balloons
between lines; usually search
costs on your shipments.
An arrival midfielder
Kessié has an offensive soul
And he shows it every time he can.
Record more than one shot per game.
As an arrival, he stands out by achieving
decouple from your brand thank you
to their physical qualities.
In transitions it stands out for
his driving and imposing stride.
He has a talent for starting and finishing them.
Criteria and dynamism
Although he doesn’t handle the position game, he is a good footballer
technical conditions, participative and neat in the touch.
He is not a player specially trained to filter balls
between lines; usually look for the sides in their shipments.
An arrival midfielder
Kessié has an offensive soul and shows it whenever she can.
Record more than one shot per game. As an arrival, he stands out by achieving
stand out from its brand thanks to its physical qualities.
In transitions he stands out for his driving and imposing stride.
He has a talent for starting and finishing them.
Kessié frequently appears in the rival area from that second line to make the penultimate or last pass or finish the play. Not at all he feels uncomfortable in the last meters and makes bad decisions. The offensive virtue is identified in Kessié, who does not shy away from scoring either, as evidenced by the fact that he is the one who scored the most goals with the rossoneri in Serie A since 2017-18: 35, 21 penalties (33 from Ibrahimovic). His arrival has not had as much commotion as those of Koundé, Raphinha or Lewandowski, he has almost landed as a cover, but promises to justify his signing. A different player for a Barcelona that surely needs someone like that.
goal specialist
No midfielder scored more goals than Kessié
in the last two seasons of the Italian Serie A: 19, the same
than Pasalic (Atalanta) and Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio). There is a trick, of course.
Map of goals in Serie A
Kessié is a great thrower from eleven meters,
with a percentage of 85% success in Milan.
goal specialist
No midfielder scored
more goals than Kessié in
the last two seasons
Italian Serie A: 19,
the same as Pasalic (Atalanta)
and Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio).
There is a trick, of course.
Map of goals in Serie A
Kessié is a great pitcher since
the eleven meters, with a percentage
of 85% success in Milan.
goal specialist
No midfielder scored more goals than Kessié
in the last two seasons of the Italian Serie A: 19, the same
than Pasalic (Atalanta) and Milinkovic-Savic (Lazio). There is a trick, of course.
Map of goals in Serie A
Kessié is a great thrower from eleven meters,
with a percentage of 85% success in Milan.
