Player Profile: Benjamin Pavard
Man Utd’s new defender?
Before we get into it, I just want to get something off my chest. I DON’T want Pavard at United!
There I said it.
Why? He just seems quite boring both in terms of signing and a player. I know this is wrong to say as the manager seems to really want him, I back ten Hag and Pavard is obviously a good player. But what I’m feeling about this signing is just meh.
We’ve already had meh with Mount and for me, Pavard is meh x2. Brutal I know, perhaps a bit disrespectful to him as well, but other than that pretty epic goal he scored in the 2018 World Cup, I haven’t really noticed him much.
Playing for Bayern Munich means that you must have some quality because they don’t just sign anyone.
But what has he really done to suggest that he is a top defender?
Let’s find out.
Who is Benjamin Pavard?
He is a 27-year-old French defender who comes from Maubeuge in France. First time I had that city before.
His career began for Lille’s second team back in 2014 before he made the jump to their first team in 2015. That was followed by a move to Stuttgart in 2016 after which he went to current club Bayern Munich in the 2019 transfer window.
He signed a 5-year deal at Bayern meaning that he has 1 year left on his current deal. Not long on a players current deal usually signifies that they could be sold relatively cheap.
Style of Play
A positive already about Pavard is that he is versatile in that he can play at both RB and CB although he has previously stated that he prefers the more central position. Pavard told a French outlet: “I can help out on the right flank, but my position is central defender. I want to play central defender because that’s my position since the U19s. I feel very comfortable and fulfilled in this position.”
This will provide competition at centre-back (probably Varane) and at right-back for Wan-Bissaka and Dalot. The feeling that ten Hag may want to improve that RB spot is still there which explains why links to Pavard have come about.
What he can do when playing on the right is to move in centrally anyway. This allows his opposite full-back to push higher up the field and setup a back three during these times. While this is not something that ten Hag has done at United, it could be an alternative route to take should the Dutchman want to.
Pavard is really good when it comes to defending in 1v1s especially out wide and is super comfortable on the ball. In fact, he’s so good on the ball that in the past year, Pavard has an 88.9% pass completion rate (83rd percentile) out of 88.93 passes attempted (per 90). His passes attempted rank him in the 99th percentile. 99th percentile! Sheeeeeesh!
Benjamin is also quite tall at 1.86m and has a 2.29 aerials won per 90 putting him in the 62nd percentile. Not the best, but not the worst.
He is also a great carrier of the ball and great when it comes to progressive passes. Both of these two aspects sees him rank in the 92nd and 99th percentiles. Wowza 😲. I’m not big on stats but got damn.
I will say that he doesn’t appear to be the biggest or strongest centre-back you’ll ever see. Just by the look of him one can see that he has quite a slender build which could be a problem in the ultra physical league that is the PL. Oppositions will look to take advantage of that.
However, when it comes to output, Pavard actually has some decent numbers. He’s played 163 games for Bayern and scored 12 goals while also assisting 12 times. Not bad for a defender.
This is how he compares to our current centre-backs and full-backs:
*stats via FBREF.
We should take these stats with a pinch of salt because it is the Bundesliga and Bayern are the best team.
Due to that versatility of his, Pavard has also been used as a CM at times. When looking at those numbers of his on the ball, one can see exactly why Benjamin had been deployed in that position. He could even be used as CDM if push comes to shove.
How would he work for Utd?
It firstly depends on where ten Hag would use him. I think it will be more centrally but can see the manager utilize the Frenchman at RB at times.
When he plays more centrally, I think Erik would want him to play similarly to Varane. Benjamin is better on the ball than his French counterpart and better at carrying it as well. The only issue is that recovery speed which Raphael wins. Tbh, he wins against most.
I would be slightly worried about his physicality though. To have one central defender who isn’t particularly strong and another in Martinez who isn’t great in the air, could be a big issue in the Prem.
That versatility of his is such a big positive though because we know how ten Hag likes his players to be able to play in several positions. Last season, we saw him use many players in many different areas, most notably Bruno. Fernandes played as CAM, LW, RW, CM, CDM and false 9 throughout last season.
Luke Shaw and Marcus Rashford are other examples of this. At least Erik will know that he has a sort of jack of all trades if ever he needs a player to fill a position.
ten Hag could use him as a rotational player as well should he wish to allowing for others to have a rest while giving enough game time to Pavard so as to keep him fresh and ready at all times.
Final Thoughts
These numbers do make me feel a little better should we sign the Frenchman. But a part of me still isn’t entirely convinced. Nevertheless, Erik ten Hag wants him so I want him. I trust the manager whether I agree with who he wants to sign or not.
With Pavard being 27-years-old, he is in his prime and can come in and challenege straightaway for a starting spot. This will immediately put pressure on those currently in that starting lineup which will only be a good thing.
He is also quite experienced and is a winner as well. Benjamin has already won 4 Bundesligas (which isn’t really a surprise) but also a Champions League, CWC, Super Cup and the big one, one World Cup in 2018 alongside Raphael Varane.
This deal makes a lot of sense for many different reasons when looking at it. I hope he proves me wrong should he join the club.
Would you like to see the Frenchman at United?
#PAVARD #TRANSFERS #ERIKTENHAG #MUFC #GGMU #GLAZERSOUT
