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May 11, 2023

When Football Becomes a Science – Opta Forum Takeaways from L’Equipe

By: L'Equipe

Sessions at the Opta Forum 2023 proved that the game has shifted into a scientific era, an idea supported by data and video.

While at the event Michael Edwards, former Liverpool Sporting Director said “Today, the evaluation of the quality of the pass responds to multiple notations varying according to the number of meters gained, broken lines, the zone where it is carried out, against which opposition, at what moment of the match, etc.”

The game has advanced to a point where players are evaluated differently going beyond basic scouting like if he had a good left foot, if he pressed when he lost the ball, if he was rigorous in his placement, etc. “I respect those who choose to work like this, but it's a very old approach. Today, the simple evaluation of the quality of a player's pass responds to multiple ratings varying according to the number of meters won, lines broken, the area where it is made, against which opposition, at what time of the match.”

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