4 January 2021
Each month, we select the TOTM featuring only Maurice Revello Tournament graduates who have shone with their clubs and/or their national teams. Let’s take a look at the players who stole the show in December 2020.
Six matches played, five clean-sheets and no defeats. The Maurice Revello Tournament 2013 winner had an almost perfect month of December on a personal but also collective level as Manchester City slowly but surely begins its ascent in the Premier League table.
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Solid on the European stage, the 27-year-old Auriverde right-back also shone on the national scene this month with an assist against Paços de Ferreira (2-1). Although his first experience in Europe between 2015 and 2017 (Fiorentina and Hellas Verona in particular) was not a great one, the former Fluminense player feels like a fish in water at Benfica.
Regular and efficient, the English international (12 caps, 1 goal) has not ceased to impress observers in recent weeks, including the former legend and now pundit Rio Ferdinand. The reason? Several high-level performances in December, especially against top teams such as Chelsea and Leicester.
Michael Keane vs. Chelsea
— The Tactical Times (@Tactical_Times) December 12, 2020
78% Pass accuracy
2/5 Accurate long passes
4/5 Aerial duels won
1/3 Ground duels won
2 Interceptions
9 Clearances
1 Shot blocked
One of four at the back who were close to flawless. From the positioning to the timing, Everton defended for their lives. pic.twitter.com/aDn5PaNcdi
The CONCACAF Champions League, which was stopped because of the health crisis linked to COVID-19, resumed in mid-December from the quarter-finals. It was an opportunity for Tigres UANL to make history as the Mexicans won this continental title for the first time in their history after failing three times in final (2016, 2017 and 2019). The Mexican international (47 caps, 1 goal) played a very big role in this success as Ayala helped the Monterrey club keep their goals clean in the quarter-finals against New York City (4-0) then in the semi-finals against Olimpia (3-0) before scoring the equaliser in the final against Los Angeles FC (2-1).
While observers rightly sing the praises of Jack Grealish, another of his teammates has been in good shape since the beginning of the season and particularly in December: Matt Targett. The 25 year old left-back has shown himself to be tough on his side with some great performances against West Bromwich Albion and Crystal Palace.
Big shout out to Matt Targett. Sensational yet again #avfc pic.twitter.com/kc56WEUnZl
— B6 Villans (@VillansB6) December 26, 2020
Since his return to his native country in the summer 2019, the legendary Brazilian right-back has been a regular fixture in the midfield. A change of position that suits the former Barcelona star perfectly. The 37-year-old is one of the best players in São Paulo, currently the leader of the Brazilian league. The Maurice Revello Tournament 2002 winner does not seem to feel the weight of the years!
🔎 @DaniAlvesD2 tem a maior Nota SofaScore do São Paulo em 2020 (7.61)!
— SofaScore Brazil (@SofaScoreBR) December 23, 2020
⚔️40 jogos
⚽️7 gols
🅰️6 assists
🔑102 passes decisivos
🛠12 grandes chances criadas
👣4.307 ações c/ a bola
↪️33% acerto no cruzamento
✅3.058/3.455 passes certos (89%)
🆚73 desarmes
💯Nota SofaScore 7.61 pic.twitter.com/h7BQrMMdaN
Kaoru Mitoma (Kawasaki Frontale) :
After an exceptional season, Kawasaki Frontale was crowned Japanese champion for the third time in their history, with an 18-point lead over its runner-up, Gamba Osaka! A success to which Kaoru Mitoma greatly contributed. If the Maurice Revello Tournament 2019 finalist began his first professional season as a substitute, the 23-year-old attacking midfielder ended the year as a rocket. The result? Mitoma scored 13 goals and made 12 assists in 30 J-League games this season (whom only 11 as a starter!). Performances that have logically earned him a place in the team of the year in the Japanese league. Amazing.
🏆ベストイレブン発表🏆#川崎フロンターレ#三笘薫 選手が受賞❗️
— Jリーグ (@J_League) December 22, 2020
三笘薫 選手おめでとうございます🎉 @kaoru_mitoma @frontale_staff #Jリーグアウォーズ #Jリーグ pic.twitter.com/z7R75N0lpH
As he celebrated his 19th birthday in December, the French attacking midfielder, spotted at the Maurice Revello Tournament 2019, is establishing himself week after week as a major player for Reading. This month, Olise delivered two assists and found the net twice, bringing his total to 4 goals and 7 assists in 20 Championship games this season. His performances have attracted the attention of several Premier League clubs according to local media reports .
Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus) :
7 games played in December, 7 goals. The months go by and they all look the same for the 35-year-old Portuguese legend. The Maurice Revello Tournament 2003 winner once again burst the screen by scoring three braces: against FC Barcelona (3-0) in the Champions League, then against Genoa (3-1) and Parma (4-0) in Serie A. What more can we say?
Very often on loan in recent seasons without ever really exploding (Preston North End, Wolfsburg, Middlesbrough), the 22-year-old striker seems to have finally found the right club to express his talent: Anderlecht in the Jupiler Pro League. On loan from Manchester City, the Maurice Revello Tournament 2018 winner is making himself a name in Belgium. With five goals in as many games played in December, Nmecha has scored 10 goals in 16 Jupiler Pro League matches this season.
Named as player of the month in November in Ligue 1, the Algerian international confirmed again in December that he is probably in the shape of his life: in four Ligue 1 games, the 29-year-old striker delivered two assists and scored two sensational goals, including this jewel against Lille. Enjoy it...
Amayes Brahmi & Mathieu Lauricella
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