Tottenham star revealed as WORST performer in Europa League so far – as Sofascore names its best and worst XIs from the league phase
The inaugural league phase of the Europa League has come to a close after an action-packed final matchweek, with British sides faring among the best under the new format.
Manchester United and Tottenham breezed through to the last 16 as they finished third and fourth respectively, bypassing the tricky play-offs to ease their ever-strained schedules.
The Premier League pair were joined by Scottish giants Rangers, who secured their place in the knockouts with a final day win over Union Saint-Gilloise to ensure all three British clubs placed in the top eight.
However, despite their strong collective showing, it wasn’t enough for one top-level talent to avoid being subject to an unenviable stat.
Tottenham defender Radu Dragusin had the ignominy of being the worst performing player in the Europa League so far, according to Sofascore.
Included in their Worst XI from the league phase, Dragusin registered an average rating of 6.11 – the lowest of any player in the team.
Radu Dragusin has been revealed as the worst performing player in the Europa League so far
Rangers striker Cyriel Dessers was also named in Sofascore’s Worst XI for the league phase
Malmo saw two of its players included in the Sofascore’s Worst XI – the most out of any team
The Romanian centre-back has endured a turbulent time at Tottenham since signing for £25million from Genoa last winter.
His troubled tenure so far has been demonstrated in the Europa League this term, bookending his league phase with a red card in the opener against Qarabag before being forced off with a knee injury against Elfsborg on Thursday.
Other notable inclusions in the Worst XI was Rangers frontman Cyriel Dessers – the striker who very nearly rescued Rangers a famous point at Old Trafford.
Dessers delightfully controlled James Tavernier’s long ball before drilling past Altay Bayindir into the bottom-left corner to equalise against Man United in the 88th minute.
However, his strike would be in vain as United skipper Bruno Fernandes came up with the goods in stoppage time to snatch the win for the Red Devils.
Other than that moment of brilliance, Dessers has largely been a bit-part player up top for the Gers, earning him his place in Sofascore’s Worst XI.
But among the odd dud for the Europa League’s British contingent, there were also a number of standout performers who helped build Sofascore’s Best XI of the league phase.
Man United star Fernandes was the phase’s second best performer with an average rating of 7.90, coming to his side’s aid on multiple occasions to steer them to a top-three finish.
Bruno Fernandes was the league phase’s second best performer with an average rating of 7.90
Pedro Porro joined Fernandes in Sofascore’s Best XI, bagging two assists from right-back
Two ex-Premier League names – Angelino (left) and Betrand Traore – made their way into the Best XI, thriving beyond British shores
Fernandes’ average rating only fell short of Lyon talent Rayan Cherki, the tricky forward who has reportedly gained the admiration of Liverpool in recent times.
Fernandes is joined by dynamic Spurs right-back Pedro Porro, who played the full 90 minutes in six of the Lilywhites’ eight league phase fixtures, bagging two assists from down the right.
There are also a couple of ex-Premier League names in the Best XI, with former Manchester City left-back Angelino one of three Roma players to line the defence – joining centre-back pairing Evan Ndicka and Gianluca Mancini.
Bertrand Traore, once on the books at Chelsea and Aston Villa, earns a place a right-wing having found form again back at Ajax.
Ex-Napoli talisman Dries Mertens finds himself on the left-wing, with the now 37-year-old still thriving during his career twilight years at Galatasaray.
Elsewhere, Union Saint-Gilloise’s Charles Vanhoutte and Bodo/Glimt’s Patrick Berg finish off the midfield, while Ukrainian stopper Heorhiy Bushchan is in between the sticks as the highest performing goalkeeper of the tournament so far.
With all three British teams avoiding the play-offs, all eyes now turn to preparing for the last 16, which will be held on March 6 and March 13.
Separated by just a place in the league phase, last 16 prospects are the same for both Tottenham and Man United, who will each come up against one of Real Sociedad, Galatasaray, AZ Alkmaar or FC Midtjylland.
Lyon talent Rayan Cherki is the Europa League’s highest performer from the league phase
Dries Mertens is proving that he’s still got it at 37, earning his place in the Best XI at Galatasaray
Roma make up three of the four defenders in the Best XI, conceding just six in the league phase
Rangers – who finished in eighth – will face one of Bodo/Glimt, Anderlecht, FC Twente or Fenerbahce.
The Europa League quarter-finals will follow on April 10 and April 17 before the semi-finals are held on May 1 and May 8, with all three of United, Spurs and Rangers hoping to be in the final, which will take place at Athletic Club’s San Mames Stadium on May 21.
