{"id":1104598,"date":"2019-09-03T16:18:35","date_gmt":"2019-09-03T15:18:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1104598"},"modified":"2019-09-03T17:07:27","modified_gmt":"2019-09-03T16:07:27","slug":"fastest-sprints-2018-19-champions-league","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/fastest-sprints-2018-19-champions-league\/","title":{"rendered":"Revealed: the fastest ‘sprints’ from the 2018\/19 Champions League"},"content":{"rendered":"

Liverpool defender\u00a0Virgil van Dijk recorded the fastest ‘sprint’ across the entire\u00a02018\/19 Champions League campaign.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Dutchman was imperious in Jurgen Klopp’s backline as he helped guide the Merseysiders to a sixth European crown.<\/p>\n

Europe’s\u00a0fastest ‘sprinter’ from 2018\/19: Top four players…<\/strong><\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Virgil van Dijk:\u00a0<\/strong>34.5 km\/h against Barca (A).<\/li>\n
  • Leroy Sane:<\/strong>\u00a034.4 km\/h against\u00a0Hoffenheim (H).<\/li>\n
  • Kyle Walker:\u00a0<\/strong>34.2 km\/h against Spurs (H).<\/li>\n
  • Gareth Bale:\u00a0<\/strong>33.8 km\/h against Roma (H).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    https:\/\/audioboom.com\/posts\/7354781-emery-must-resist-his-crystal-palace-tribute-act-to-punish-unsettled-spurs<\/p>\n

    His defensive exploits not only yielded club football’s most prestigious trophy, but also the\u00a0UEFA Men’s Player of the Year accolade, and now the ‘top sprint’ gong.<\/p>\n

    According to UEFA’s technical report<\/a>, the towering centre-back clocked a waspish 34.5 km\/h\u00a0against Barcelona in the Reds’ first leg semi-final defeat, trumping the likes of renowned speedster\u00a0Leroy Sane and pace merchant Gareth Bale.<\/p>\n

    The former did, however, secure second place, registering a blistering speed of\u00a034.4 km\/h against Hoffenheim in the group stages, while his Man City teammate\u00a0Kyle Walker followed closely behind, coming in at\u00a034.2 km\/h against former club Spurs in the quarter-finals.<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Bale will be disappointed to have only racked up a top speed of\u00a033.8 km\/h, such is his break-neck acceleration, while\u00a0Breel Embolo,\u00a0Rafa Silva and Sane (once more) came in next, with the rapid trident collectively clocking\u00a033.5 km\/h in their individual matches.<\/p>\n

    Further down the list, but still coming in at joint-sixth was Romelu Lukaku, who\u00a0faced criticism over his weight, fitness and speed whilst at Manchester United; but hit back by posting data which revealed that he was, in fact, the\u00a0second-fastest player at the club during a speed test – he later deleted his post after backlash.<\/p>\n

    This prompted Gary Neville to tweet: “He admitted he was overweight ! He is over 100kg! He\u2019s a Manchester United player!<\/p>\n

    “He will score goals and do well at Inter Milan but unprofessionalism is contagious.”<\/p>\n

    \n

    Andy he admitted he was overweight ! He is over 100kg! He\u2019s a Manchester United player! <\/p>\n

    He will score goals and do well at Inter Milan but unprofessionalism is contagious ? ! ?<\/p>\n

    — Gary Neville (@GNev2) August 8, 2019<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n