Anton Stach is an unassuming character in conversation, but if you looked at his Instagram profile you wouldn’t assume that to be the case. He’s been the face of many social media memes since his arrival at Leeds last summer, poking fun at himself as well as team-mates.
Striking the balance between the “silly and serious side” of football, as the midfielder puts it, is mightily important as Leeds attempt to navigate their eight-game run-in by collecting enough points to remain in the Premier League.
Daniel Farke’s side have not won any of their last five league games – their longest winless run this season – and only two of 13 since Christmas. The games in which they have picked up points, though, in draws with Crystal Palace, Aston Villa and Everton, Stach has been heavily involved.
And it’s because of this specialised involvement that the Germany international, speaking on the day he received his first call to the national side for over four years, has drawn comparisons with Manchester United playmaker Bruno Fernandes.
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Kick off 8:00pm
No player has created more chances from set plays in the Premier League this season than Stach’s 27, level with Fernandes. The Leeds cause is profiteering in a big way because of it, with a higher share of their league goals scored via set-pieces than any other side (13/37).
Stach is personally responsible for four of those.
“It’s great to be in a range with him because he’s an amazing player,” Stach tells Sky Sports from Leeds’ Thorp Arch training ground. “To get the right delivery and the right spot, we work on this a lot.”
Stach has excellent aim and the perfect target with which to direct his deliveries to. Dominic Calvert-Lewin, another to earn an international recall this week, has generated the fifth highest xG value (2.67) from set-plays of any player in the league across this campaign. That tally beats all of Arsenal’s contingent, widely accepted as the division’s best set-play converters.
He continues: “It’s also about a player’s movement, when you have a good delivery you need players running inside the box to score, otherwise you can’t create the chance. This is what you can’t forget.
“I practice corners and free-kicks and we work together to get the right automatism.” Stach’s expected assists tally from dead ball situations (2.29) can only be beaten by three players this term, including Fernandes, as well as Declan Rice and James Garner.
But the 27-year-old, playing outside of Germany for the very first time, is more than just a set-play connoisseur. His physicality and aggression are key to the way Farke wants to play. The foundation of this Leeds team is built around the stability of their midfield trio.
Stach is the one charged with recovering the ball high, a task he completes almost as efficiently as any other. Only Bukayo Saka (25) has won possession more times in the the attacking third than Stach’s 21, which allows others to swarm and press in dangerous parts of the pitch.
He bears a lot of all the best hallmarks of this battling Leeds team, clinical at set-pieces but also a hard runner, as keen to tackle and dominate duels as he is to find ways to unlock teams in possession. Stach controls the tempo, Leeds’ chief courier of passes into the final third and most accurate crosser of the ball.
“The mood around the team is very good,” he continues. “A good mix between the funny side and the competitive side and it’s important to keep it because the season is long. We have many games, some things hurt, so a good mood is important to create more energy.
“We need to be stable, we know this. Sometimes it’s just to adjust small things, the last three games we haven’t scored a goal, we’re working more in front of the goal to be greedy. It’s important not to change too much because the main idea is the same and should stay the same.”
Stach’s cavalier style shines through as he emphasises the need to “stay calm” but also be “so on it” for the visit of Brentford, live on Sky Sports on Saturday night. These are the kinds of occasions, with a frenzied home crowd, that tend to bring the best out of a Leeds side that has won 22 of 32 points at Elland Road this year.
Jayden Bogle was stunned by the quality of Stach’s free kick against Aston Villa in February
After failing to score in three consecutive league games a lift of some sort is certainly needed. Perhaps something Fernandes-esque from Stach can be the catalyst. “Some pressure is good but it can’t be too much that you limit yourself,” he adds.
“You have to take it easy sometimes but pressure can be good, maybe that’s why then you go one more metre and maybe that’s why you score the goal. I hope it will be hard for Brentford to be in the game.”
No doubt all-action Stach will make personally sure of that.
Watch Leeds vs Brentford live on Sky Sports Main Event on Saturday night; kick-off 8pm
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
