Few players on this list will have had a greater variation in the quality of their performances last year than Fabián Ruiz, the only France-based player to feature in the Euro 2024 final.
Last summer, the Andalusian was one of the standout players as risk-taking Roja convincingly won their fourth continental title. Far from being a one-tournament wonder, Ruiz continued his impressive form on the international stage into the autumn, scoring a double in Spain's Nations League victory over Switzerland in September. In the Parc des Princes, however, it was a completely different story.
Whether his underperformance in Paris is due to a tactical mismatch or an ill-suited environment, the fact remains that the 28-year-old has been largely unconvincing during his time in the French capital. The former Napoli player is often singled out when PSG's rigidity and poor possession in midfield are criticized, and his performances at both ends of the pitch have done little to refute the critics.
At times, Ruiz even acts as the only defensive midfielder in Luis Enrique's lineup, as the departures of Danilo Pereira and Manuel Ugarte in the summer have left the team short in that position. In this role, his undoubted quality on the ball should see him break lines and dictate play from deep – as long as the opposition attackers grant him enough time in possession. Instead, the midfielder has struggled to make any creative impact on matches, but his main contribution comes in the form of some crucial last-ditch tackles.
However, the Spaniard has reproduced his international form in flashes this year with Les Parisiens, most notably scoring the eventual winner in the Coupe de France final in May. The flow of the game itself was a microcosm of what he brings to the table when he's at his best: a one-on-one battle won high up the pitch, a sliding tackle to get the ball back, before a intelligent movement suffers a setback. post cross.
The Andalusian's sudden decline in attacking prowess since his move to Paris has become all the more striking as he has found the net five times for La Roja in 2024 – the same as his total over three seasons in Ligue 1. While Luis Enrique has seemingly tried to remedy this By giving his compatriot even more permission to roam the pitch at times, it seems that only a change in the surrounding system will get the best out of Ruiz – whether that happens at PSG or elsewhere.
GFFN | Rafael Jucobin
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