Chelsea have become famous for buying and producing young talents and then loaning them out to different clubs. Some of these players end up playing for the Blues, while others are sold for profit. Ian Maatsen is one of the players who is also under the same policy. The Dutchman is just 20 years old and is currently playing for Burnley in the EFL Championship. This is his second consecutive stint in the Championship. His last spell was at Coventry City in the previous season.
This season Ian Maatsen has been a key figure in Burnley’s defence this season. He is a regular in the starting lineup and has led his side to the top of the table. We now look at some of the stats of the player that show why Ian Maatsen is becoming a big name in England.
Last season at Coventry City
Ian Maatsen plays on the left side of the defence. He can play as a centre-back, left-back, and left wing-back. The player made 40 appearances for his club in the EFL Championship and scored three goals along with one assist. The above pizza chart shows the percentile rank of the player in comparison to other left wing-backs in the EFL Championship last season. Ian Maatsen was ranked highly for attempting passes. He also likes to get forward and was ranked highly for attempting shots. Ian Maatsen is a fearless runner who likes to attack.
Taking Burnley back to the Premier League
Burnley are ranked at the top of the table in the EFL Championship. They have an 11-point lead and are likely to win the second division. Ian Maatsen has been a regular in Vincent Kompany’s setup and is making a name for himself. The defender has made 27 appearances for the Clarets. He has scored four goals and provided five assists in the period.
The above pizza chart compares Maatsen’s stats with those of other left-backs in the league. There are a lot of similarities in both the pizza charts. However, there is a significant improvement in the stats this season from last season. Ian Maatsen is ranked highly, except for his defensive stats.
Ian Maatsen has occupied the left flank for Burnley. He likes to run up and down the pitch. The 20-year-old likes to stay high on the pitch, and most of his defensive actions have taken place on the edge of the defensive third. Maatsen has won 59.9% of his defensive duels and 34.5% of his aerial duels this season. He intercepts the ball 4.15 times per 90 minutes. His defensive displays have been decent for an attacking Burnley side.
Impressive attacking display
Ian Maatsen likes to run with the ball on the left flank. He makes 2.79 progressive runs per 90 minutes, with most of them coming from inside his own half. The player has also had a great dribble success rate in the final third.
The 20-year-old is also good at passing the ball to his teammates. He attempts 56.98 passes per 90 minutes and has an 83.6% accuracy rate. These include 7.93 passes to the final third and 3.05 passes to the penalty box per 90 minutes. The progressive passes viz show that most of the progressive passes have been lateral passes. These passes shift the play from the left side to the centre. Maatsen has five assists to his name.
Ian Maatsen has added a goal-scoring touch to his game. The full-back has scored seven goals in the last two seasons. Of these seven goals, four have been scored in the current season. The above viz shows that Maatsen finds space inside the opposition penalty box, especially on the left side. He is not shy of taking shots towards the opposition’s goal.
Betting Analysis
Ian Maatsen is a key figure in Burnley’s team. His inclusion in the team will automatically lower the winning odds for Burnley. He will lower their odds according to the 1×2 odds rate.
Ian Maatsen has been one of the best young defenders in the EFL Championship. He likes to get forward and has made some crucial contributions to the team. Chelsea will be happy with the progress that Maatsen has shown and will expect him to deliver the same when he wears the Blue jersey.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine