Victor Nelsson-Scouting Report

Player Profile:

Name: Victor Nelsson

Age: 21

Nationality: Danish

Club: FC Kobenhavn

Position: Centre back

Introduction:

Fc Nordsjælland are a team well known for developing excellent young players and as of now they have the youngest squad in Europe, Victor Nelsson is another player that has come through the ranks at Nordsjaelland and featured predominantly for them since the age of 18 before moving to fellow Danish club Fc Kobenhavn in the summer window of 2019. Since then Nelsson has stamped his mark on the side becoming a leader from the back only missing two league games since his arrival.

Victor Nelsson has mostly played at right centre back for Kobenhavn this season but is comfortable playing on the left side of the centre backs as well. Kobenhavn like to have the ball for the majority of the game and often finish the game with above 55% possession. Due to their domination of the ball the two centre backs play the role of the modern ball-playing centre back.

In Possession:

Passing

Victor Nelsson is a great passer of the ball and is extremely composed and relaxed, more than comfortable of playing the ball with both feet. Playing for a Kobenhavn side that like to build up slow from the back, Nelsson sees quite a lot of the ball with the majority of passes are to his centre back partner or the full-back next to him. However, with this being said, Nelsson is also able to play forward passes zipped across the floor into the midfield or into the striker’s feet with the Dane playing 3.29 passes into the final third p90. He is also an accomplished long passer of the ball playing 3.3 long balls p90, these are either diagonals to the opposite winger, or lofted balls over the top for a striker or winger to run onto.

There is little room for improvement to be made in Nelsson’s passing game and his abilities when passing the ball would suit any side that dominate the ball.

Progressive Carrying

To go with his passing abilities he is also capable of brushing past the first press and playing the ball into midfield. He is great and positioning himself where he is able to receive the ball from the keeper and then using his technical ability to take the ball up the bitch. He also manages to evade pressure well and overall never looks fazed when in possession of the ball.

Defending:

Awareness

Nelsson has fantastic defensive and positional awareness and has great knowledge of the game averaging overall 1.2 interceptions p90. He makes it very hard for strikers and proved that when he came up against probably his toughest opponent yet in Odsonne Edouard in the Europa league when he defended superbly against him throughout the entire game. He is great at clearing the ball from crosses and positions himself well in the box and is also great at heading away balls from corners. Nelsson also has great decision making when either stepping out or dropping deep and is rarely caught out.

1v1

Nelsson’s ability to defend 1v1 is superb and over the season has made numerous important tackles for his side winning 69% of his defensive duels and is barely ever beat by his opponent with him being dribbled past a scare 0.4 times p90. He is able to make a sliding challenge as well, and the majority of the time these challenges are clean and well timed which shows the maturity of Nelsson’s game at just 21. He is well disciplined and hardly fouls his opponent averaging just 0.5 fouls p90. Nelsson also has good recovery speed, and the rare event the opponent gets in behind him, he manages to catch up and win the ball back for his side.

Aerial and physical presence:

Nelsson isn’t as tall as some defenders nowadays at 6ft1, but that doesn’t at all affect Nelsson when competing in aerial duels against his opponent rarely loosing out. In the Danish Superliga this year he has averaged 3.3 aerial duels p90 with a success rate of 70%! They are great numbers for a defender, especially for one which isn’t above 6ft4. Nelsson has great strength which helps with his success in aerial duels and also his overall defending.

Conclusion:

Overall, I think we will be seeing Nelsson in the top five leagues very soon. His great technical abilities on the ball in addition with his excellent 1v1 defending he would be a real asset to any possession based side.

The fact that he is only 21 and is already a very mature defender only proves that he will get better and will grow into a great centre back.