Sandro Tonali
Newcastle United’s midfield trio, featuring Sandro Tonali, Bruno Guimaraes, and Joelinton, have delivered an exceptional season, establishing themselves as a formidable force in the Premier League. Their collective performances have made them one of the most feared midfields in the country. Each player has had standout moments, but it is their synergy that has dismantled some of the league’s best units. A highlight of their season was the powerhouse display in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley, where they dominated a Liverpool team that had previously cruised to the Premier League title.
Sandro Tonali has emerged as a pivotal figure in Newcastle’s midfield, effortlessly slotting into the No. 6 role. His ability to control possession, stride forward, and intercept plays has been crucial in knitting the team together. His performances have not gone unnoticed, with several top European clubs eyeing his progress at St James’ Park.
Sandro Tonali said: “Liverpool have got the best defender in the Premier League [Virgil van Dijk], fit, flying and leading the team. They have the best striker in the Premier League in [Mohamed] Salah, who has been amazing, and I think he’s had the best midfielder in Gravenberch, who has been Slot’s masterstroke. Gravenberch, playing in that new role. He was under the microscope, he didn’t play much last season, there was talk that [Jurgen] Klopp didn’t fancy him. Running with the ball from a deep lying position and getting his team up the pitch, he does really really well and Slot will have known that. He’s embraced it – he’s given him the confidence to play every week, he’s not looking over his shoulder, whether he’s going to be in the team. But you have to take responsibility to get on the ball, he’s constantly looking for it, always knows where people are. That’s what he does better than anyone in the Premier League at the moment.”
Newcastle fans and observers have noted that while Liverpool’s Ryan Gravenberch has had a remarkable season, his performances have been matched, if not surpassed, by Tonali. The Italian midfielder has contributed five goals and three assists, showcasing his ability to impact games from a deep-lying position. In the Wembley showdown, Tonali’s dominance led to Gravenberch being repositioned and eventually substituted, highlighting the Newcastle man’s superior performance on the day.
While Gravenberch has been consistently good this season, the notion that he is currently the best in his position may be overstated, especially given Tonali’s impressive contributions to Newcastle’s success.
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