Stats & Links: Player Of The Month – April

Thus far we had only two winners of our player of the month award: Thiago and Robert Lewandowski. In April it is time to honour someone new: Mats Hummels.

Maurice

May 4, 2017

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Mats Hummels

player of the month

The previous ones did not manage to convince to the fullest in the games against Dortmund and Real Madrid. Thiago struggled to link up with his teammates and was trapped in a triangle between Kroos, Modric and Casemiro. Lewandowski however suffered from his shoulder injury and did not reach his top-level performance.

Hence we have chosen Hummels, who had the desire to return to his home city, prior to the season.

In the beginning of the month not everything seemed to be running smoothly for the centre back. Just one day after the outstanding 4-1 win against Dortmund, he got an ankle injury, which forced him to sit out for the first leg against Madrid. People even were speculating that his season could be over.

So, why did we choose a player who only played 440 of 720 possible minutes?

**Our player of the month April: Mats Hummels**
(Image: CHRISTOF STACHE/AFP, Lars Baron/Bongarts, Matthias Hangst/Bongarts/ all Getty Images)

Three scenes from three different games give the answer.

Scene 1, Real vs Bayern, 39’

After an outstanding pass by Marcelo, which takes out Lahm, Alonso and Robben, Toni Kroos has a scoring opportunity straight ahead, about 12 meters away from the goal. It seems to be the perfect situation for him, from which he had scored several times in the past.

But not today! Hummels manages to get off Benzema and blocks the shot by jumping in front of it. The ball bounces off and a probable lead for Madrid is denied.

Scene 2, Bayern vs Mainz, 16’

After the knock out against Madrid, Bayern struggles against Mainz, who is fighting relegation in the Bundesliga. After just three minutes Bojan Krkic gives them the lead. Bayern appears to be irritated, so that Öztunali has another opportunity to increase the lead, but Sven Ulreich saves the shot.

Time for Hummels! First he takes the ball in the own half and moves forward to the half-way-line. He plays an outstanding pass to Thomas Müller, taking out half of the opponents team. Müller continues with a pass to Ribéry, Ribéry to Robben, goal – the equalizer.

Scene 3, Bayern vs Dortmund, 41’

Bayern has control of the game against the big rival from Dortmund. A Martinéz header equalizes the early lead of BVB, but in the following minutes they heavily struggled to convert their chances. After a corner, Hummels decides to stay up front. Alonso makes a great switch to Ribéry on the outside. Ribéry outplays Piszcek and passes to Hummels, who is left unmarked about 12 meters away from the opponent’s goal. He scores, bottom left, with an easy shot by sending Bürki in the wrong direction. Just like a born striker. As if it was nothing more than a simple build-up pass to David Alaba on the left wing. But it is the lead.

All three scenes are symbolic of the way Mats Hummels performed in April. Defensively he was always a safe bet and despite his injury he gave 100% in every situation. In build-up play he reached to the level of Jerome Boateng at his best and even offensively, Hummels was an on-going threat.