Ansu Fati’s Numbers Drop at Brighton, Reflecting His Altered Role

Ansu Fati’s stint at Brighton has seen him netting three goals in his last five games, hinting at his growing adaptability. Nevertheless, a closer examination of his statistics this season indicates that he’s attempting fewer take-ons compared to his time at Barcelona last season. This observation was keenly made by a fan known as La Pausa on social media.

“It’s notable just how little he’s moving with the ball or having the opportunities to do so [at Brighton],” the fan tweeted.

“22-23 (Barça) – 3.5 take-ons per 90

“23-24 (Brighton) – 1.3 take-ons per 90”

“There’s almost no sense of a (former) winger there, even though he’s playing more centrally.”

Fati’s drop in numbers is closely associated with his current position at Brighton. Roberto De Zerbi, Brighton’s manager, prefers to deploy Fati as a number 8, playing behind the striker. This tactical choice positions Fati as a key player in the heart of the midfield.

Here’s how Brighton frequently sets up their attack when Fati is in the starting lineup:

This system allows Fati even more opportunities to arrive in the box, score goals, and create goal-scoring opportunities. It’s the ideal role for a clinical player like Ansu, enabling him to maximize his goal-scoring potential.

While Fati may not engage in as many dribbles or take-ons as he did in the past, he’s on course to score more goals. In football, goal-scoring prowess is a crucial metric, and it seems that Fati is adapting his game accordingly. As a testament to this adaptation, the youngster currently has as many goals for Brighton as Joao Felix has for Barcelona.