Youri Tielemans

Tielemans plays passes that split defensive lines rather than moving the ball sideways, spotting a gap between two markers and threading it through before the picture closes. His range covers both the short combination and the long diagonal switch, letting United shift the point of attack whenever a game becomes predictable. He also strikes a shot from distance with real confidence, arriving late into the box after patient build-up play.

The tension around Tielemans is tempo, because his instinct for a slower pass sometimes clashes with a team that wants to move the ball faster than that. He has spent much of his career as the main creative outlet in midfield, and sharing that role with other passers requires a different discipline. Watch how quickly he releases the ball in tight areas, because that speed of decision decides whether his passing range gets to matter.