{"id":1084920,"date":"2019-04-19T13:54:08","date_gmt":"2019-04-19T12:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1084920"},"modified":"2019-04-19T13:54:08","modified_gmt":"2019-04-19T12:54:08","slug":"team-of-the-champions-league-season","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/team-of-the-champions-league-season\/","title":{"rendered":"Squawka’s team of the 2018\/19 Champions League season so far"},"content":{"rendered":"

This season’s Champions League is the gift that keeps on giving.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After an incredible last 16, which involved some of the most amazing comebacks in tournament history, spectators were treated to another round of beautiful attacking football.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7234057-i-can-t-think-of-any-potential-arsenal-signings-that-make-more-sense<\/p>\n

And now we are left with just four teams, each including extremely talented individuals looking to write their own unique chapters in football history.<\/p>\n

So as the semi-finals draw near it’s worth asking who the standout players have been.<\/p>\n

To feature in our XI there are two criteria to abide by. Firstly, as harsh as it may sound, the player needs to be still active. And secondly, we set a maximum of three players per team to deny a single club dominating and keep things interesting.<\/p>\n

Here’s what we came up with…<\/p>\n

The team was decided upon with reference to stats but is, essentially, opinion-based – so let us know if you’d make any changes in the comments below or on Twitter through @Squawka<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n

GK: <\/strong>Marc-Andr\u00e9 ter Stegen<\/h2>\n

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Club:<\/strong> Barcelona<\/p>\n

Appearances:<\/strong> 9<\/p>\n

Ter Stegen is now firmly embedded in the conversation regarding who the world’s best goalkeeper is.<\/p>\n

He’s shining this season between Bar\u00e7a’s sticks. Back-to-back clean sheets against Manchester United – his fourth and fifth in this season’s Champions League, the most of any goalkeeper in the competition – stands the German shot-stopper in good stead ahead of what is coming.<\/p>\n

Key stat:<\/strong>\u00a0Ter Stegen has the best save percentage (80%) of any goalkeeper to have made the knockout stages of this season’s Champions League.<\/p>\n

Honourable mention:<\/strong>\u00a0Alisson (Liverpool)<\/p>\n

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Club:<\/strong> Liverpool<\/p>\n

Appearances:<\/strong> 9<\/p>\n

Liverpool’s exciting young right-back continues to go from strength to strength. Heading into the Champions League quarter-final meeting with FC Porto, he had no assists to his name, despite being a prolific provider in the Premier League. But, like London busses, two came along at once.<\/p>\n

In this case, one in each leg to put Porto out.<\/p>\n

Key stat:<\/strong>\u00a0Alexander-Arnold has created more chances from open play (16) and made more recoveries (57) than any other right-back in the Champions League this season.<\/p>\n

Honourable mention:<\/strong>\u00a0Noussair Mazraoui (Ajax)<\/p>\n

CB: Matthijs de Ligt<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Club:<\/strong> Ajax<\/p>\n

Appearances:<\/strong> 9<\/p>\n

There’s no doubt De Ligt has a bright and wonderful future. The much-talked-about teenage Dutch centre-back is justifying the hype. Despite his young years, De Ligt’s maturity earned him the captain’s armband at Ajax and he’s played a pivotal role in leading them to a first Champions League semi-final appearance for 22 years.<\/p>\n

Key stat:<\/strong> The youngest starting captain in a Champions League knockout match ever.<\/p>\n

Honourable mention:\u00a0<\/strong>Jan Vertonghen (Spurs)<\/p>\n

CB: Virgil van Dijk<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Club:<\/strong> Liverpool<\/p>\n

Appearances:<\/strong> 9<\/p>\n

De Ligt’s international teammate is arguably the preeminent central defender in European football today. Van Dijk, who has barely put a foot wrong in Liverpool’s campaign, must be relishing the upcoming duel with Lionel Messi.<\/p>\n

Key stat:\u00a0<\/strong>Virgil van Dijk has not been successfully dribbled past in the Premier League or Champions League this season.<\/p>\n

Honourable mention:\u00a0<\/strong>Gerard Pique (Barcelona)<\/p>\n

LB: Jordi Alba<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Club:<\/strong> Barcelona<\/p>\n

Appearances:<\/strong> 9<\/p>\n

A while ago there were question marks hanging over Jordi Alba’s head. But he’s answered them and this season Bar\u00e7a’s dynamic left-back has returned to his very best.<\/p>\n

Key stat:<\/strong> No player left in this season’s Champions League has created more goals (4) than Alba.<\/p>\n

Honourable mention:\u00a0<\/strong>Andy Robertson (Liverpool)<\/p>\n

CM: Frenkie de Jong<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Club:<\/strong> Ajax<\/p>\n

Appearances:<\/strong> 9<\/p>\n

The 2018\/19 campaign has been a coming-of-age season for Frenkie de Jong, who this summer will join Barcelona bound.<\/p>\n

He’s not allowed intense scrutiny to infiltrate his game as his metronomic passing has been central to Ajax’s incredible semi-final run.<\/p>\n

Key stat:<\/strong>\u00a0Frenkie de Jong has played more passes than any other Ajax player in each of their four Champions League knock-out matches.<\/p>\n

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117 – Frenkie de Jong (21 years, 333 days) is the youngest player with at least 117 touches in a Champions League game from the quarter-finals onwards since Sergio Busquets in 2010 v Inter. DNA. pic.twitter.com\/GhSjCzwkUI<\/a><\/p>\n

— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) April 10, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n