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Moussa Sissoko could be the key man in the Champions League final on Saturday when Tottenham Hotspur take on Liverpool.
On the Chalkboard
The above sentence would never have been written by anyone with half a brain 12 months ago.
But after a season in which Sissoko has emerged as quite possibly the best central midfielder outside the top two in the Premier League, he could hold the key to Spurs winning their very first Champions League trophy.
He will surely start. There has been much deliberation over whether or not he will be partnered by Harry Winks but, at the end of the day, if Sissoko turns up, it might not really matter very much.
Per WhoScored, in seven Champions League starts, he averages 1.1 key passes in the Champions League, with a pass success rate of 87.5% along with one dribble, 1.9 tackles and one interception.
A France international, Sissoko was key to their semi-final outing against Ajax, repeatedly collecting the ball on the edge of the area prior to rampaging forward, taking the ball on the transition and breaking Spurs forward.
Against a team that has a number of shuttling midfield players – the likes of Jordan Henderson, Fabinho, James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum are not the most dynamic players but they carry the water in the hope that Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino will turn it into wine – Sissoko has the ability to bypass the Reds’ press, regardless of who plays alongside him in the middle.
Turnaround complete
Spurs have to win the midfield battle if they are to win the game.
It sounds simple but this is the perfect opportunity for Sissoko to complete his renaissance.
Having been seen as a £30million flop after his move from Newcastle United, he now heads into the encounter with the Reds with the club’s destiny on his shoulders.
On his day, the Frenchman is so good that he is essentially a one-man midfield, having become the embodiment of Mauricio Pochettino’s ideal player.
He is press-resistant, an excellent carrier of the ball, passes it well and is strong in the tackle.
If Sissoko turns up on Saturday, don’t bet against Spurs winning.