Russell Martin explains “Why is Brereton Diaz failing to make an impact at Saints?”
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Russell Martin Manager
The 25-year-old player showed potential by confidently scoring a penalty in the Carabao Cup shootout at Everton. However, he missed an opportunity to score from a penalty against Manchester United. Throughout his play, he only managed a single shot on target which was a weak backward header, unlikely to challenge Brentford’s goalkeeper, Mark Flekken. Despite interest from Villarreal, Chilean international Brereton Diaz returned to English football with Sheffield United, scoring six goals in 14 matches last season. He made a strong Premier League debut with Sheffield, though they remained bottom of the league. Brereton Diaz’s goals included first-touch finishes from inside the box, ideal spots from which Saints are currently unable to connect him to the game.
Brereton Diaz averages only four touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes for Russell Martin’s Southampton side, a critical area where he should be receiving more plays. He is, however, getting as many passes as Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, but not making enough of an impact inside the box.
Russell Martin said, “I think just keep developing his understanding of why he needs to be where he needs to be at certain times. It’s not always easy. He’s been here before but played very differently with a team that had a bit less structure in possession, so he had a bit more freedom to go there. But he’s playing in a position now where he’s scored a lot of goals for Blackburn. I’ve got no doubt he’ll be fine. He is a talented player and he’s probably really frustrated with himself. We have to be patient and understand in the same way we did our forward players last season. We were a little bit rigid and sticky and then by the end, we scored a lot of goals and a lot of fluid moments. I’ve got no doubt Ben will be brilliant for us.”
Brereton Diaz demonstrated his skills during a friendly against Lazio by cutting in from the left to score a goal, showcasing his potential to Southampton supporters early on. However, the missed opportunity and penalty contributed to a shift in narrative against him, particularly after a match against AFC Bournemouth where fans voiced dissatisfaction. While reviewing his performance in a 3-1 defeat, it was evident that Brereton Diaz showed potential but failed to influence play inside the opponent’s box. Losing possession on key moves hampered his contributions, with errors like a failed backheel pass affecting perceptions.
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