If you asked 100 people to choose their team of the season from all the players in Europe’s big five leagues, you’d get 100 different teams and lots of arguments. Fortunately, WhoScored are on hand to resolve all those arguments by putting together an XI based purely on cold, hard numbers.
As always, the reliable football stats site have put together their best team of the 2021-22 campaign, with players at all clubs in the Premier League, La Liga, Ligue 1, Serie A and the Bundesliga eligible.
Here, we’ve taken a look at those players, arranged in a 4-4-2 formation, and what they did to deserve the accolade.
GK: Mike Maignan – 6.92
When Mino Raiola convinced Gianluigi Donnarumma to move to Paris Saint-Germain last summer, Milan went out and signed Mike Maignan from French champions Lille.
The 26-year-old has helped the Rossoneri to the Scudetto for the first time in 11 years, forming part of a formidable defensive triangle with centre-back Pierre Kalulu and Fikayo Tomori.
Owing to that brick wall in front of goal, Maignan kept 17 clean sheets in the league.
He was recently rewarded with just his second start for France, lining up for the 1-1 Nations League draw with Croatia.
RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold – 7.51
Seeing Alexander-Arnold in a team of the season is now about as surprising as turning on the radio and hearing a Conservative minister lying through their teeth.
His immaculate crossing got him 12 Premier League assists, for a career total so far of 45. Given he’s just 23, the Liverpool man could go on to become one of the competition’s leading all-time assist providers. Not bad for right-back.
CB: Nico Schlotterbeck – 7.39
The most surprising name in the XI, Schlotterbeck was outstanding for Freiburg as they finished sixth with 55 points, which was enough for Europa League qualification and just three points off RB Leipzig in fourth.
Schlotterbeck recently joined Borussia Dortmund and upon his arrival, said: “There were many inquiries, but I made a conscious decision to join Dortmund.
“I could have earned more money at other clubs. But I’m only 22 years old, so money isn’t the most important thing for me.
“I’m attracted to Borussia Dortmund: I want to continue writing the club’s history and win trophies.”
Good for him.
CB: Joel Matip – 7.35
Virgil van Dijk is Liverpool’s best defender, right? Yesterday, today, tomorrow and forever.
Err, well, no. Or not according to the WhoScored statisticians. That’s…
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