Jan Bednarek Scout Report At Southampton 2018/2019: The Polish Anchor – Player Analysis

Southampton have had a tumultuous season.

After struggling severely in the first half of the season, including spending a brief amount of time in the relegation zone, the club sacked manager Mark Hughes.

Since then, however, the Saints have hired former RB Leipzig manager Ralph Hasenhuttl and have made an inspired return to safety.

Multiple factors, from a change in tactical system to player selection, have been the backbone of this recent comeback.

Few players have been as instrumental throughout it as defender Jan Bednarek.

Who Is Jan Bednarek?

Jan Bednarek began his football career at the academy of Lech Poznan, the same club at which Robert Lewandowski and Dawid Kownacki, among other prominent Polish players, amplified their skills.

There, he made his professional debut at only 17 years of age.

In 2017, he helped lead the club to the Polish Cup Final and a third-place finish in the Ekstraklasa.

Following his success in his homeland, Bednarek transferred to Southampton that summer.

Despite scoring on his Premier League debut against Chelsea near the end of the 2017/18 season, Bednarek was sparsely played by then-manager Mark Hughes.

Ralph Hasenhuttl however has started Bednarek in virtually every league match since signing on as manager, and the Polish centre-back has begun to show promise.

Jan Bednareks Positioning

Since Hasenhuttl took over at Southampton, the defence has been reorganised as a back five.

Bednarek plays as the right centre-back alongside right wing-back Yan Valery and either Jack Stephens or Maya Yoshida to his left.

Defensive positioning has been a major factor in Bednarek’s success.

He has consistently been successful in covering for Valery on the right when the wing-back pushes forward in attack.

In these heat maps from Southampton’s recent 2-1 victory over Tottenham, you can also see Bednarek’s positioning when playing in a deep block.

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